Every sports fan saw the new NBA schedule and realized that a lot of games disappeared. A little bit of schedule analysis will reveal a lot more though. Let’s take a look at some of the games we got back, some of the games we lost, and other schedule-related quirks.
GAMES WE GOT BACK:
INDIANA PACERS vs. MIAMI HEAT: Jimmy Butler (Heat) and T.J. Warren (Pacers) squabbled the last time they played. Butler, on social media, posted a picture of a calendar where the date ‘March 20’ was circled. March 20th was the next game between the two but the season got suspended. Now we get to see them play in the NBA Bubble… twice!
LOS ANGELES LAKERS vs. HOUSTON ROCKETS: Lakers want this game back. They were the first team to play the Small Ball Rockets and lost. Losing in Staples Center made it more memorable.
PHILADELPHIA 76ers vs. TORONTO RAPTORS: Joel Embiid (76ers) must be preparing for this one. He never had a good game against the Raptors this season. First game: Zero points. Second game: 10 points. Third game: did not play.
HOUSTON ROCKETS vs. MILWAUKEE BUCKS: Remember James Harden (Rockets) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) in their war of words earlier this season? Let’s see how this plays out when they meet face to face.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS vs. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS: Los Angeles team versus the other Los Angeles team. Enough said.
GAMES WE LOST:
LOS ANGELES LAKERS vs. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: LeBron James would have been playing in his home state of Ohio.
BROOKLYN NETS vs. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: Imagine an injured Kevin Durant (former Warrior) sitting courtside in his first visit to Golden State’s new arena while fans taunt him for leaving. There is also a possible scenario where fans will be cheering him on as a “thank you” for bringing 2 more championships to the city.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS and their trip to CANADA: Danny Green, who was a part of the title-winning Toronto Raptors last season, was supposed to get his championship ring in front of the home crowd. There won’t be any type of home crowd when the Lakers play the Raptors next month in Orlando.
ATLANTA HAWKS vs. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: The future of the NBA. We missed Zion Williamson and Trae Young playing on the same court. There’s always next season though.
APRIL 6, 2020: The date for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Finals. The entire NBA would have been watching this game.
MILESTONES THAT ARE DELAYED OR GONE:
-The league (all 30 teams combined) was on its way to beating the record for most three-pointers made in a season.
-Lakers playing in “back to back to back” games. Remember those games for April 7, 8, and 9?… … They’re gone.
-The 76ers were enjoying a 123-game sellout streak at Wells Fargo Arena before the NBA suspension happened.
-San Antonio Spurs: They’ve made the playoffs in the last 22 years. This streak is now in danger.
–J.J. Redick has made the playoffs in the last 13 years. This streak is now in danger.
The Basketball World lost a lot during the past four months and will probably have levels of uncertainties moving forward… but at least, right now, we can say “The NBA is BACK!”
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