PORTLAND OR - JANUARY 9: Wesley Matthews #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates a three point shot against the Miami Heat during a game on January 9 2011 at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and or using this photograph User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
Howard Beck of The New York Times reports the following basics for the new 2011-2012 NBA schedule, which will include 66 regular season games rather than a typical 82-game season.
It will run Dec. 25-April 26.
Teams will avg 3.9 games/week, up from usual 3.5/week. About 2 extra games per month.
Every team will play at least one back-to-back-to-back set (i.e. 3 straight nights), and up to 3 back-to-back-to-back sets during season.
Teams will play 48 games in-conference (4 fewer than usual) and 18 games out-of-conference. Thus, not all teams will visit all cities.
During normal seasons, teams play 52 conference games and 30 non-conference games.
A drop from 30 non-conference games (15 road games against Eastern Conference teams) to 18 non-conference games (9 road games against Eastern Conference teams) theoretically means a significant reduction in total miles traveled for the Portland Trail Blazers, who play their home games in the NBA's version of the middle of nowhere.
Update: Here are the same details laid out a little bit more cleanly by NBA.com.
Regular Season Start Date: December 25, 2011
Regular Season End Date: April 26, 2012
Playoffs Start Date: April 28, 2012
Last Possible Finals Date: June 26, 2012Conference Games: 48
• Play 6 teams 4 times (2 home, 2 away)
• Play 4 teams 3 times (2 home, 1 away)
• Play 4 teams 3 times (1 home, 2 away)Non-Conference Games: 18
• Play 3 teams 2 times (1 home, 1 away)
• Play 6 teams 1 time at home
• Play 6 teams 1 time awayBack to Back to Backs: All teams with at least 1; no more than 3
Playoff Back to Backs: Possible in second round
Once the new schedule is released, it will be important to note which Eastern Conference teams the Blazers play once versus those they play twice. Home-and-homes with Charlotte, Washington, Cleveland, Toronto or Detroit have never been so eagerly anticipated!
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter
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