NBA Schedule 2011-12: Consecutive, Tightly Packed Games Hurt Older Teams
The 2011-12 NBA schedule is one that's going to be packed with action and each team will play at least one set of back-to-back-to-back games.
According to Howard Beck of the New York Times, there will be some interesting details in the truncated version of the 2011-12 season, and the pace of play might really hurt some of the veteran teams as a result.
As we all know, the season will begin on Christmas Day with a highly anticipated triple-header. The regular season will come to its conclusion on April 26, so the end date will be about two weeks later than typical circumstances.
Per Beck, that's an increase to an average of 3.9 games per week rather than the traditional 3.5, so it's really not a huge bump.
The real wrinkle in the outlined schedule comes in the form of the three consecutive games as mentioned above. Each club will have to endure at least one stretch of such action, but each franchise could see up to three back-to-back-to-back sets, and that could have some serious long-term impact.
While some are quick to think that a shorter season favors older teams, it's actually quite the opposite.
Despite some veteran teams having an advantage in the chemistry department heading into this year, older teams like the Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers will almost certainly endure some trouble in playing an expedited season.
It gives players less time to heal bumps and bruises, and without a proper training camp and preseason for some to gear up for the season, this could very well lead to more injuries than we've been used to seeing in past years.
Conversely, younger clubs filled with potential and promise that have proven to enjoy previous success like Oklahoma City, Indiana and Memphis could really benefit, as those clubs are built around young legs.
The Thunder are in a particularly good spot right now with the team's two stars in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook both just 23 years old, and the club is much better down low than it was a year ago at this time thanks to the emergence of Serge Ibaka and the arrival of Kendrick Perkins.
It's going to be imperative for veteran teams to manage their most important players very carefully during the regular season, as Beck also notes that each postseason team will have a back-to-back in the second round of the playoffs.
Teams will play 48 games in conference and only 18 out of conference, meaning that not every club will play one another, and that could also be a major factor in deciding which clubs make the playoffs in a shortened season.
It's going to be a fun year and there will be more on the line on every night during the regular season in the hopes of securing a spot in the postseason, and basketball fans will have plenty to watch on any given evening as there will be a bounty of action on the calendar.
