the same as just getting your lungs and legs back. It's getting into basketball shape, and getting your timing, rhythm, balance, quickness, reaction times, and depth of conditioning (i.e. playing at a high level for 25+ minutes) back that takes the longest.

Most have said it's not until Jan/Feb that they start to feel back to normal, and that really it takes a full year to get back to the basketball shape they were in pre-mission.

That said, we've seen with missionaries leaving earlier and training differently when they get home (no 5 on 5 for a few months), results have improved significantly. Look at KC, Ty Haws, and Nick Emery for examples of strong post-mission rookie campaigns.

Haws and Mika could very well be poised for something like that. It's just risky to expect fresh RM's to be counted on for consistent, healthy, high performance minutes all season long. And it's unusual to have 2 in the starting lineup with another (Dastrup) likely in our top 7 or 8 rotation players.

Plus you have Rose, Aytes, and Eli Bryant coming off extended periods of injury. This team is just not in the kind of basketball shape yet we'd want it to be a few weeks before tip off.