The scheduling this year in the NBA is absolutely terrible. More often than not, you will find teams that are done facing their division rivals as early as December, that just isn't right. Making division rivals player 4 games against each other in only the first month or so of the season is wrong and makes for very lackluster games at the end of the season. Rather than division rivals facing each other on the last day or week of the season battling for a playoff spot, division rivals are finished playing each other in December! Teams at the end of the season that behind only 1 or 2 games can no longer completely control their own fate. There is a reason for the last 2-3 weeks in an MLB season, the only games teams play are against their division rivals. A perfect example of this is Washington and Miami, these two teams will not play each other again this season because we will already have our fourth meeting this Wednesday, yet the Wizards and Heat are top teams in the east and will definitely be battling each other for the #1 seed in the SouthEast division later on in the season. I guess the people who made the schedules assumed the Wizards were going to be bad this year, so might as well get those games out of way early on for the Heat, bleh. Scheduling should be done based on division rivals, not based on whatever can get you the best TV ratings... oh well. Division rivals should play each other only once before the allstar break and then three times after the allstar break. Eastern conference teams should get all of their play against western conference teams done before the allstar break and reserve the second half of the season for exciting division and conference rivalries where every game is crucial, moreso than if you were playing teams outside of your conference.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Accord:</div><div class="quote_post">A perfect example of this is Washington and Miami, these two teams will not play each other again this season because we will already have our fourth meeting this Wednesday, yet the Wizards and Heat are top teams in the east and will definitely be battling each other for the #1 seed in the SouthEast division later on in the season.</div> I see what you are saying, but this is not a very good example. How many people do you know who thought that the Wizards would be fighting for #1 seed in the Southeast? NBA schedules are made before the season starts. They can't go back and change it just because a former lottery team has suddenly become elite.
IMO, the NBA should schedule the teams in the same conference to play each other for the final time in the end of March or around April. I'd love to see a game towards the end of this season where the winner determines their playoff position. Now that they are done playing each other things won't be as heated. I will say the NBA has done a great job at scheduling games on holidays. Nothing can beat Christmas day with the Lakers vs Heat and Pacers vs Pistons.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">I see what you are saying, but this is not a very good example. How many people do you know who thought that the Wizards would be fighting for #1 seed in the Southeast? NBA schedules are made before the season starts. They can't go back and change it just because a former lottery team has suddenly become elite.</div> I never said it should be done on a team by team basis. It doesn't matter if the Wizards had 50 wins or no wins last season, this scheduling is absolutely terrible. Scheduling should be done league wide where division rivals all play each other in the second half of the season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ice:</div><div class="quote_post">I will say the NBA has done a great job at scheduling games on holidays. Nothing can beat Christmas day with the Lakers vs Heat and Pacers vs Pistons. </div> true true. a real christmas treat i must say. anyway this topic is indeed relevant. im always pumped up for a timberwolves/kings match and it seems like there has been too many of those already.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Accord:</div><div class="quote_post">I never said it should be done on a team by team basis. It doesn't matter if the Wizards had 50 wins or no wins last season, this scheduling is absolutely terrible. Scheduling should be done league wide where division rivals all play each other in the second half of the season.</div> That is a horrible suggestion, and makes the 2nd half of the season extremely boring. We dont get to see the Lakers vs the Spurs or Wolves. No Cavs vs Nuggets. No rivalries other than "Lakers-Kings" and Pistons Pacers. Most divisions only have 1 or 2 good teams. So basically the 2nd half of the season would consists of strong teams beating up on the weaker teams in their division? Nobody would want to watch that. TNT Thursday being match-ups with the Spurs vs Hornets and Kings vs Warriors? Nobody would watch that crap.
^but how often would that be. I have to totally agree with accord. Alot of terrible scheduling has been occuring, not just form a spectator's perspective but from a player's perspective too. But I also differ from Accord's opinion. Division rivals can only be determined if there is a long term rivalry, but if a team like the Wizards come along and suddenly start to win, it makes it very unpredictable. I would rather see a balanced schedule. Where (Example: Eastern Team) a team would play each team from their own conference twice, and only play the opposite conference once and vice versa the next half of the season. However there are always scheduling issues(shared arena, concerts etc,.). Hopefully hockey is locked up by the time NBA has already had their schedule made and the NBA can get some sort of precidence(SP). But overall, I would liek to see schdule's balanced. I understand road trips, but I dont like so many back to backs a season.
I'd have to say after the Raptors, the Pistons have on of the other most stupid shcedules, and the Wizards and Heat would have already played all four of their games for the year tommorow. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I see what you are saying, but this is not a very good example. How many people do you know who thought that the Wizards would be fighting for #1 seed in the Southeast?</div> You mean how many people didn't truly understand why the Wizards lost and were just hating on them because they haven't won in a while without actually looking at how good the team was
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">You mean how many people didn't truly understand why the Wizards lost and were just hating on them because they haven't won in a while without actually looking at how good the team was </div> Well how many Wizards fans are running around saying "I told you so" now that the Wiz are doing well? It's easy to say that you knew your team was going to have a good year once they start having one. It's also easy to jump on a slow moving bandwagon. I guess when they were scheduling NBA games they should have looked at the Wizards roster and realized that they'd be a top eastern team .
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Accord:</div><div class="quote_post">The scheduling this year in the NBA is absolutely terrible. More often than not, you will find teams that are done facing their division rivals as early as December, that just isn't right. Making division rivals player 4 games against each other in only the first month or so of the season is wrong and makes for very lackluster games at the end of the season. Rather than division rivals facing each other on the last day or week of the season battling for a playoff spot, division rivals are finished playing each other in December! Teams at the end of the season that behind only 1 or 2 games can no longer completely control their own fate. There is a reason for the last 2-3 weeks in an MLB season, the only games teams play are against their division rivals. A perfect example of this is Washington and Miami, these two teams will not play each other again this season because we will already have our fourth meeting this Wednesday, yet the Wizards and Heat are top teams in the east and will definitely be battling each other for the #1 seed in the SouthEast division later on in the season. I guess the people who made the schedules assumed the Wizards were going to be bad this year, so might as well get those games out of way early on for the Heat, bleh. Scheduling should be done based on division rivals, not based on whatever can get you the best TV ratings... oh well. Division rivals should play each other only once before the allstar break and then three times after the allstar break. Eastern conference teams should get all of their play against western conference teams done before the allstar break and reserve the second half of the season for exciting division and conference rivalries where every game is crucial, moreso than if you were playing teams outside of your conference.</div> I completly agree with you. I remember last year on easter when L.A. and Sacremento played each other it was a crucial game to both teams because of the long rivalry and it was getting close to the beginning of playoffs. Division rivals should only meet once or twice before the allstar break then play the other two or three games after. That would make the season more exiting and have something to look forward to. But scheduling all four games befor the allstar brek is stupid because, take the Heat and Wizards for example, will not meet again this whole season. Washington is playing good right now and if both teams stay consistent then they will be battling for a playoff seed. That could even possibly change the whole playoffs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">Well how many Wizards fans are running around saying "I told you so" now that the Wiz are doing well? It's easy to say that you knew your team was going to have a good year once they start having one. It's also easy to jump on a slow moving bandwagon. I guess when they were scheduling NBA games they should have looked at the Wizards roster and realized that they'd be a top eastern team .</div> Meh...the Wizards haven't played many tough teams though, but I most of us, Kobe 8 Ball etc expected the team to get 40+ wins in the summer, so people did underatte the team, but we'll see how the guys keep it together against tougher opponents. <u>Strength of Schedule Rankings in the NBA</u> http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/nba0405.htm Raptors - #1 Bulls - #2 Bucks - #3 Grizzlies - #4 Celtics - #5 _ _ _ _ Bobcats - #25 Magic - #26 Knicks - #27 Clippers - #28 Wizards - #29 The Clippers, Knicks and Wizards have had the easiests schedules so far this year with the Raptors, Bulls and Bucks having the hardest.
Mavs owner Mark Cuban was arguing about the schedule in the beginning of the season. He said that many important games were put on dates that were important on holidays or special days of the year. He was very upset in the past how season-opening games were on Halloween. This year games started on Election Day. That could cause somewhat of a rave during games on what`s going on outside of the court. After seeing the Raptors and Bulls schedules it shows you how tough it can be to start off right. The Bulls started 0-9, they are now 5-15....the Raptors just ended a seven games losing streak, they are now 8-16.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting flamehead:</div><div class="quote_post">true true. a real christmas treat i must say. anyway this topic is indeed relevant. im always pumped up for a timberwolves/kings match and it seems like there has been too many of those already.</div> I cant wait for this day to arrive! Christmas Gifts put aside! GAME ON!!!!!
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Isn't it kinda unfair on the players to make them play on Christmas day or New Year's day?</div> I always thought that, but I guess that`s how it goes...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Nylex:</div><div class="quote_post">Isn't it kinda unfair on the players to make them play on Christmas day or New Year's day?</div> I would love to play in an NBA game on Christmas day. Whichever team wins it's sort of like a present for them.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Nylex:</div><div class="quote_post">Isn't it kinda unfair on the players to make them play on Christmas day or New Year's day?</div> Yeah unlike soccer all the leagues (spanish, italian etc) will rest for 2 weeks for the winter holidays. But what I know is, this is definately a good news for the bball fans
