http://www.blazersedge.com/2015/11/...lazers-travel-strain-nba-schedule-improvement I found this article to be interesting. It got me wondering just how much all the travel effected the way we played. I know we can't really blame our losses on this. But, the Blazers average 1100 miles traveling between each game in the last road trip in three different time zones....damn! Like the NBA is going to go out of its way to make things for the Blazers anyway.
We're always going to be the furthest traveling team. Think of the Wizards... I would bet close to 1/2 of their games are in the same time zone. We only have maybe 15 games that are in the western time zone (Road games)... All complete estimates... I haven't looked... it's probably more.
yep, lets roll the excuses out, can't be lack of talent can it? Why can't they just say it's a rebuilding year with a bunch of new and young guys who we will be developing, so don't expect too much in the win column but we'll play hard and be competitive
The end of that article, which talks about the division issues, doesn't seem to recognize that the team still plays teams in other divisions pretty much the same amount of time. While yes, it is farther to OKC than it is to LA, if the NBA moves the Blazers to the Pacific Division (which makes sense, you know, since the state borders the Pacific and Portland is the furthest west NBA team), it's not like it means they WON'T have to travel to OKC. The difference in times will help, but think about how east coast teams feel when they play on the west coast? A 7:15 tip off time is 10:15 PM for Boston, New York, Brooklyn, WDC, etc. They get screwed too (albeit, there are only 5 teams in the PST).
There was a real good proposal last year of 5 divisions that made good sense geographically then seed the teams 1-16. Division winners get HCA along with next 3 highest records. Play teams in your division 6 times or something. That could help. But yeah just changing us to the pacific only helps with maybe 2 road games a year which is insignificant.
The Rolling Stones have been doing this for a hundred years and travel a hell of a lot further. These players are young and a couple of hours of jetlag is what they get the big bucks for...what I dislike is seeing Western Conf teams east of the Mississippi
I really like the 5 regions in that map; makes a lot of sense. I also want to see teams seeded 1-16. It'll make playoff positioning more important and interesting. The way it is now often half the playoff teams are more or less locked into a spot with weeks left in the season. I'd rather see the Cavs fighting spots with the Thunder, Spurs and Clippers at the end of the year than resting their whole roster. They should also reseed each round as the NFL does. It would make the regular season more important as the best team is always facing the worst.
I just read Keith's book, like a lot of autobiographies of rock stars..it was more of an ocean of booze than anything but maybe that's where Damian got his inspiration to drink like a fish
Another idea they should work on is the mid season tournament. Have the top 24 teams play in a single elimination Vegas tournament. Teams that are eliminated have to fly home and make up games against other losing teams. The games would be in place of regular season games so all NBA teams still play 82 games in the season but we have a mid season tournament winner and that team get automatic playoff birth. It would discourage tanking as you don't want to be a bottom 6 team. Top 8 teams have a bye and get extra regular season home games. Next 8 host home game before Vegas to get in tournament so it provides a benefit to being 9-16 range "purgatory" team. It would provide a fun break from the grind of an 82 game season. It would be more unexpected and unpredictable basketball as march madness is except with the best NBA players.
The travel kicks your ass no matter what you think. The team that travels the least in the NBA is the Cleveland Cavs at an average of 35K a season. The most? Your Portland Trail Blazers at an average of 65K That my friends is a huge difference, not even close and DOES take a toll no matter what the talent level of the roster is.
I can take my pick of teams to watch.... the Blazers, the Niners, the Titans, and the Ducks. At least it seems like Oregon has turned things around. I tried to watch MM last night against the Jags and it was depressing as hell.
