NBA 2011-12: The "Bataan Death March" on Each Team's Schedule

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Would you be surprised to learn that the media-darling New York Knicks and the league-owned New Orleans Hornets received, arguably, the “cushiest” rides through this crazy, 66-game NBA schedule, replete with “3-fers” and other Cracker Jack-style surprises that make four games in five nights seem like a shoot-around?

The NBA regular season, which commences today, will conclude in 124 days on April 26.  Since every team will receive a minimum of five days off over February’s All-Star Break, there are at most 119 dates on which to play 66 games—that’s exactly 17 weeks.

In its most recent labor-afflicted season, 50 games were squeezed into a 12-and-a-half week window, a rate of an even four games per week.  This year’s 66 games in 17 weeks offers 3.88 per week, a little better, but… (a normal 24-week, 82-game schedule computes to 3.42 games per week.)

Any way we factor this, it’s going to add up to many games being played on consecutive days.  The sum of this equation?  A good many “Tired Legs Games”; let’s call them TLGs.  The 3-fers have generated concern; each team has one and 13 teams were granted a second.  And two teams (Houston and MJ’s Bobcats) will play a daunting 21 back-to-backs.

Seven teams will play fully a third of their games on “Tired Legs” from having played the night before.  In this season’s NBA, a mere five games in seven nights elicits an “Aw, shucks!”  But while it’s tempting to presume that all 30 teams are in the same boat schedule-wise, the reality is that some of those boats are better accessorized than others.

On Opening Day, Abacus Reveals the most onerous aspect of each NBA team’s 2011-12 slate of game—maybe a few other fast facts, too.

Atlanta Hawks

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	4
Jan.	18
Feb.	13
Mar.	19
Apr.	12

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
1	4	6	4	15

 

3-fers:  2  (Home,Away,Home; Home,Away,Home)

TLGs:  19 games, 10 on the road

The Death March:  Larry Drew's Hawks begin their season Tuesday with nine games in 12 days, wrapping up with their first 3-fer Jan. 5-7.  Also, on March 23, the second 3-fer begins a seven-in-nine stretch to close out the month.

Boston Celtics

Nick Laham/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	4
Jan.	16
Feb.	14
Mar.	17
Apr.	15

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
0	6	8	5	19

 

3-fers:  1  (Away,Away,Away)

TLGs:  21, 13 on the road

The Death March:  The C's Big Three must keep a bit of gas in the tank for an absolutely brutal 11 games in 15 days, including their 3-fer, beginning on April 4 at home vs. San Antonio.  Seven of those 11, however, will not be at home.  Indeed, Boston plays 20 of its final 34 on the road, after the All-Star Break.

Charlotte Bobcats

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	3
Jan.	19
Feb.	11
Mar.	17
Apr.	16

 

Back-to-Backs  (tied for most in league)

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
3	9	4	5	21

 

3-fers:  1  (Away,Home,Home)

TLGs:  23 games (tied for most in league), 14 on the road

The Death March:  The NBA says Happy New Year to Michael Jordan's team with an 11-games-in-15-days stretch (3-fer included), a three-day respite, and then six more games in eight days--17 games in 26 days overall (10 on the road).  April kicks off with 10 games in an even two weels and concludes with a good old-fashioned four-in-five.  The one perk the league offers?  Six days instead of five at the All-Star Break.  Poor Paul Silas deserves better treatment.

Chicago Bulls

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	4
Jan.	19
Feb.	14
Mar.	16
Apr.	13

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
1	2	8	6	17

 

3-fers:  1  (Home,Away,Home)

TLGs:  19 games, 9 on the road

The Death March:  Beginning with their sixth game next Tuesday at home against Atlanta, the newly-minted Derrick Rose and his mates knock out 11 games in 15 days (including their 3-fer).  That's the bad news.  The good news for the Bulls is that, other than seven games in 11 days to close out the season, the worst stretch they face is four games in five days on only three occasions.  Looks like a ping-pong ball bounced their way or something, huh?

Dallas Mavericks

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	4
Jan.	18
Feb.	14
Mar.	17
Apr.	13

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
2	6	6	6	20

 

3-fers:  1  (Away,Away,Away)

TLGs:  22 games, 14 on the road

The Death March:  In Oklahoma City on Thursday, the defending champs will get their first experience with the Mr. Stern's newest toy of team torture, the 6-in-8 (simply three back-to-backs separated by single off days).  At the beginning of March, the 3-fer replaces the third back-to-back creating seven games in nine days, five of them away from home.  Mid-April offers a seven-in-10 stretch, again with five road games.  Mr. Cuban should be more cooperative with the Commish, maybe?

Cleveland Cavaliers

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	3
Jan.	17
Feb.	13
Mar.	17
Apr.	16

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
3	9	6	2	20

 

3-fers:  1  (Away,Away,Home)

TLGs:  22 games, 12 on the road

The Death March: Either the squeaky wheel really does get the grease, or the basketball gods feel truly sorry for Dan Gilbert and his Cavs.  Except for the very last 17 days, Cleveland plays an almost normal NBA schedule.  But they face 12 games, including their 3-fer, in those final 17 days.

Denver Nuggets

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	4
Jan.	17
Feb.	15
Mar.	16
Apr.	14

 

Back-to-Backs  (fewest in league)

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
1	4	4	5	14

 

3-fers:  2  (Away,Home,Home; Away,Home,Away)

TLGs:  18 games, 10 on the road

The Death March:  Beginning this Wednesday, the Nuggets play five games in six nights, 3-fer included of course.  Their workload, even with a second 3-fer, will become no more burdensome.  February and March include only two back-to-backs each.  Heck, they play only two four-in-five's ALL SEASON.  What kind of dirt does Denver owner Stan Kroenke have on Stern?

Detroit Pistons

Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	4
Jan.	19
Feb.	14
Mar.	15
Apr.	14

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
4	5	5	4	18

 

3-fers:  2  (Away,Away,Away; Home,Away,Home)

TLGs:  22 games, 12 on the road

The Death March:  Early and late January provide the Pistons with a sample of this year's schedule with six games in eight days and seven in nine (including a 3-fer) respectively.  But that's just a warm-up for the 10-in-15 stretch, wrapped up by their second 3-fer, upon which they embark on April 5.

Golden State Warriors

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	4
Jan.	15
Feb.	13
Mar.	18
Apr.	16

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
3	3	4	7	17

 

3-fers:  1  (Away,Away,Away)

TLGs:  19 games, 12 on the road

The Death March:  New coach Mark Jackson's troops don't play on the Ides of March, but they sure play all around it during a murderous 13-game-in 19-day marathon that launches on March 10.  Get this—it doesn't even include their 3-fer.

Houston Rockets

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	4
Jan.	17
Feb.	15
Mar.	16
Apr.	14

 

Back-to-Backs  (tied for most in league)

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
3	5	5	8	21

 

3-fers:  1  (Home,Away,Home)

TLGs:  23 games (tied for most in league), 14 on the road

The Death March:  The Rockets, under the leadership of new coach Kevin McHale, face three schedule challenges, all heavy on road games, none of which include their 3-fer.  Their 2012 commences with 10 games, six away from home, in 15 days.  Mid-March confronts them with eight games (seven on the road) in 13 days, while a week later a six-in-eight includes four road tilts.

Indiana Pacers

Elsa/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	4
Jan.	16
Feb.	14
Mar.	17
Apr.	15

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
2	8	8	1	19

 

3-fers:  2  (Home,Away,Home; Away,Home,Away)

TLGs:  23 games (tied for most in league), 11 on the road

The Death March:  January 31 begins a 17-day stretch of 11 games culminated by their initial 3-fer.  Then a six-in-eight run (March 10-17) and an eight-in-11 stretch (March 28-April 7), interrupted by their other 3-fer, combine to create an absolutely murderous 19 games in 29 days.  Why are Commissioner Stern's schedule folk showing so little love to both Bird's Pacers and Jordan's Bobcats?

Los Angeles Clippers

Harry How/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	3
Jan.	15
Feb.	14
Mar.	20
Apr.	14

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
4	2	4	6	16

 

3-fers:  2  (Home,Away,Home; Away,Away,Away)

TLGs:  20 games, 11 on the road

The Death March:  A Death "March" indeed it is for these Clippers, the only NBA team required to play as many as 20 games in a calendar month.  They begin with six consecutive road games in the first nine days, then after a single off day have nine games in the next 12 days, culminated by an all-road 3-fer.  Et tu, Mr. Sterling?

Los Angeles Lakers

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	5
Jan.	17
Feb.	13
Mar.	17
Apr.	14

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
1	6	2	8	17

 

3-fers:  1  (Home,Away,Home)

TLGs:  19 games, 15 (tied for most in league) on the road (one "roadie" is in LA)

The Death March:  His Highness, David Stern, wouldn't let them keep Chris Paul, but he did show some compassion for the old legs of his negotiating rival Derek Fisher.  The Lake Show opens its season with its 3-fer and six games in eight days, four at  home.  One other six-in-eight, three months later and also featuring four home games, is their only other daunting stretch.

Memphis Grizzlies

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	3
Jan.	18
Feb.	14
Mar.	15
Apr.	16

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
2	4	8	4	18

 

3-fers:  1  (Away,Home,Away)

TLGs:  20 games, 9 on the road

The Death March:  The good news is that the Grizzlies receive a full week off at the All-Star Break; the bad news is they'll need it.  They'll pull into it closing out a 15-games-in-23-days stretch.  They later face 16 games in 23 days, wrapped up with four back-to-backs separated by single off days—that's eight games in 11 days between April 11-21.  Talk about limping into the playoffs, huh?

Miami Heat

Doug Benc/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	4
Jan.	17
Feb.	13
Mar.	16
Apr.	16

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
7	5	1	5	18

 

3-fers:  1  (Away,Away,Away)

TLGs:  20 games, 12 on the road

The Death March:  As if this team doesn't have enough advantage!  The Heat face only two bumps in their regular-season road:  a six-in-eight that features their 3-fer (early February) and a tougher eight games in 11 days as an April playoff tune-up.  Is this their year?

Milwaukee Bucks

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	3
Jan.	17
Feb.	15
Mar.	17
Apr.	14

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
1	4	10	5	20

 

3-fers:  1  (Home,Away,Home)

TLGs:  22 games, 10 on the road

The Death March:  While exactly one-third of their games will be played on "tired legs," they face only two compact stretches—six games in nine days (Feb. 3-11); and five games in six days, including their 3-fer (March 22-27).

Minnesota Timberwolves

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	3
Jan.	18
Feb.	15
Mar.	17
Apr.	13

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
3	4	3	6	16

 

3-fers:  2  (Away,Away,Home; Away,Away,Away)

TLGs:  20 games, 13 on the road

The Death March:  While those road-heavy 3-fers are daunting (the second actually begins with two games in LA), their worst stretch of schedule is six games in nine days in early February.  Not nearly as bad as the hand dealt to some other teams toiling under a new coach.

New Jersey Nets

Warren Little/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	4
Jan.	18
Feb.	14
Mar.	18
Apr.	12

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
0	2	10	4	16

 

3-fers:  2  (Home,Home, Away; Away,Home,Away)

TLGs:  20 games, 8 (fewest in league) on the road

The Death March:  Coach Avery Johnson's team opens with six games in eight days through the New Year and faces a five-in-six (aligning with their second 3-fer) just before the All-Star Break.  The Nets (and Hawks) have the lightest April load in the league.

New Orleans (or Is It the NBA's) Hornets

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	3
Jan.	18
Feb.	14
Mar.	17
Apr.	14

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
3	6	3	4	16

 

3-fers:  1  (Away,Away,Away)

TLGs:  18 games, 12 on the road

The Death March:  The most formidable scheduling challenge faced by these Hornets is five games in seven days, really just a minor nuisance this season.  They even get the All-Star Break to rest up from their one and only 3-fer.  Won't somebody please buy this team?

New York Knicks

Nick Laham/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	4
Jan.	17
Feb.	15
Mar.	17
Apr.	13

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
2	8	3	6	19

 

3-fers:  1  (Home,Away,Home)

TLGs:  21 games, 15 (tied for most in league) on the road

The Death March:  Other than the 15 back-end away games, the toughest stretches of games facing Carmelo and Company are six in nine days.  The first ends with their 3-fer the first week in February while the other kicks off with a home-and-home series with Indiana in mid-March.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Brett Deering/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	5
Jan.	15
Feb.	15
Mar.	16
Apr.	15

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
5	5	5	3	18

 

3-fers:  1  (Home,Away,Home)

TLGs:  20 games, 9 on the road

The Death March:  The first half of this season will be a challenge to the young Thunder.  Their season opens with seven games in the first 10 days, a string which expands to 12-in-18 by Jan. 11.  February gets no easier, as stretches of six-in-eight and seven-in-10, separated by a 3-day break, spans the 3rd to the 23rd.

Orlando Magic

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	4
Jan.	17
Feb.	15
Mar.	16
Apr.	14

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
0	9	4	6	19

 

3-fers:  1  (Away,Home,Home)

TLGs:  21 games, 15 (tied for most in league) on the road

The Death March:  The Magic season opens with six games in nine days, while January ends with a six-in-eight.  Oh, and in between is their 3-fer.  You know, if they trade him to the right team, Dwight Howard could wind up playing 82 games after all.

Philadelphia 76ers

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	4
Jan.	17
Feb.	15
Mar.	16
Apr.	14

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
2	7	3	4	16

 

3-fers:  2  (Home,Home,Away; Away,Home,Away)

TLGs:  20 games, 13 on the road

The Death March:  January presents coach Doug Collins and his troops seven games in nine days, including their initial 3-fer, while the second triple winds up an eight-in-12 stretch in Mid-April that involves five road games.  Indeed, nine of the Sixers' final 11 games are away from home.

Phoenix Suns

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	4
Jan.	16
Feb.	14
Mar.	17
Apr.	15

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
4	1	6	6	17

 

3-fers:  2  (Away,Away, Home; Home,Away,Home)

TLGs:  21 games, 8 on the road

The Death March:  The two 3-fers create separate six-games-in-eight-days challenges in mid February and mid-March for the Suns, but the schedule-maker was otherwise kind.

Portland Trail Blazers

Steve Dykes/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	3
Jan.	18
Feb.	14
Mar.	17
Apr.	14

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
3	4	2	7	16

 

3-fers:  2  (Home,Home,Away; Home,Away,Home)

TLGs:  20 games, 13 on the road

The Death March:  Three weeks in January (5th to 25th) can make or break the Blazers.  The 14 games in those 21 days conclude with their first 3-fer, while that tough stretch commences with seven games in 10 days.  A six-in-eight sequence leading up to the All-Star Break features the other 3-fer.

Sacramento Kings

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	4
Jan.	17
Feb.	13
Mar.	18
Apr.	14

 

Back-to-Backs  (fewest among team with only one 3-fer)

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
3	2	2	8	15

 

3-fers:  1  (Away,Away,Home)

TLGs:  17 (fewest in the league), 11 on the road

The Death March:  The Kings face five games in six days (3-fer included) beginning on New Years Eve, then are not royally inconvenienced again until a nine-games-in-13-days stretch ends on April 11.

San Antonio Spurs

Harry How/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	4
Jan.	18
Feb.	13
Mar.	15
Apr.	16

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
4	4	1	8	17

 

3-fers:  2  (Home,Away,Home; Away,Away,Away)

TLGs:  21 games, 15 (tied for most in league) on the road

The Death March:  Gregg Popovich's Spurs won the championship during the last labor-affected season.  The cards seem stacked against them this time around, though.  January offers a tough 11-games-in-16-days stretch.  But that pales in comparison to the final 35 days of their season, which includes both 3-fers (in less than a month's time) and features a five-in-six, a seven-in-10, and an eight-in 11.  Pop himself may be suiting up before all is said and done.

Toronto Raptors

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	3
Jan.	19
Feb.	13
Mar.	17
Apr.	14

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
2	4	3	8	17

 

3-fers:  2  (Home,Away,Home; Away,Home,Away)

TLGs:  21 games, 14 on the road

The Death March:  The Raptors play seven games in nine days, including a 3-fer, in early January, while their St. Patrick's Day game will conclude a six-in-eight.  Those 14 "back-end" road games will present a challenge, as well.

Utah Jazz

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	4
Jan.	15
Feb.	15
Mar.	19
Apr.	13

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
2	7	6	4	19

 

3-fers:  1  (Away,Away,Away)

TLGs:  21 games, 13 on the road

The Death March:  The Jazz open their season Tuesday with six games in eight days, which quickly expands to 12-in-20.  The final 10 days of March hold seven games, four of them on the road.  Neither stretch includes Utah's 3-fer, which falls in the middle of February.

Washington Wizards

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Monthly

Dec.	3
Jan.	18
Feb.	14
Mar.	16
Apr.	15

 

Back-to-Backs

Home/Home	Home/Away	Away/Home	Away/Away	Total
0	3	9	4	16

 

3-fers:  2  (Home,Away,Home; Home,Away,Away)

TLGs:  20 games, 10 on the road

The Death March:  The Wizards' two 3-fers occur within two weeks of each other during the final four weeks of the season.  The first contributes to a five-games-in six-days stretch, while the other concludes a seven-in-nine; this all adds up to 12 games in 17 days between March 21 and April 6.