Report: NBA schedule to focus on rest and nationally televised games

Kevin-Durant,and-guard-Stephen-Curry.-(Sue-Ogrocki/AP)

Kevin Durant,and guard Stephen Curry. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)

The NBA sent out a memo this week with details on changes to the schedule ESPN’s Brian Windhorst is reporting.

In many star-studded matchup’s last season, all-star type players sat out the games due to rest. The new schedule will supposedly make sure teams aren’t playing on back-to-back nights before key nationally televised games.

Here are some of the alleged changes to the 2017-2018 schedule:

• Average of 14.9 back-to-backs per team, down from 16.3. 40 back-to-back games have been removed.

• There will be no more four games in five nights or 18 games in 30 days.

• Single-game road trips are reduced by 17 per cent. Only 11 single-game road trips per team.

• Increase in weekend games from 549 to 568 with Saturdays getting more games.

Windhorst also reports that teams can still petition the league for changes if they want to. The overall structure will stay the same.

The schedule is expected to be finalized this week with some of it be announced afterwards.

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