I noticed gameshape staying at 8 or 9 every week for all players when I trained gameshape. I had a massage doctor and the players played 80 to 90 minutes a week.
I had 5 good players play all 48 minutes, they have 5 starters and then backups play during 48 minutes. The advantage they might have in gameshape is lost because my starters play the whole match and perform better than their backups. So over the whole game you have an advantage.
I don't think you lose money, you can still train 2 rookies a week in your scrimmage.
I only bought the team half way through last season and won every game except 1 for the rest of the season and then in the last few weeks I knew I couldn't relegate and I was sitting in 4th spot and so I sold my team to get more money and enjoy a few weeks with no costs. Otherwise I was gauranteed a playoff spot last season if I wanted it. So the tactic works.
And I am 8th at the moment because I sold my team, if I had kept the team I had last season I would probably be first or second at the moment. I'm just trying something different at the moment.
And I disagree the strategy is too short term because if I got a great team together I could promote this season, make it to the ABBL, then tank all of next season and rake in the money, fall back to div 2 and dominate.