NBA mandates rest for the weary
New schedule has Raptors opening Oct. 19
The NBA was determined to raise the quality of its product by building more rest into its gruelling schedule.
It appears that mandate was a success, based on the 2017-18 blueprint, released Monday evening.
The league has eliminated stretches where teams play f our t i mes in f i ve nights ( down from 20 last season and from 70 in 201415) and the number of backto- back contests have been reduced from 16.3 per team in 2016- 17, to 14.4, an alltime low for the third consecutive year.
The Toronto Raptors play 14 back- to- backs, down from 17 and about five fewer than the norm of just a few seasons ago.
More rest results in better performance by athletes and the NBA is cognizant of that fact.
The bad press from teams deciding to sit out superstars for high profile games in recent years also spurred on the changes, which include not skedding any games involved in back-tobacks on the American national TV schedule.
The campaign kicks off earlier than ever, with the Raptors hosting the Chicago Bulls at the Air Canada Centre on Oct. 19, followed by a visit from Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 21.
The Raptors will then embark on the longest road trip of the season from Oct. 23- Nov. 3, heading to San Antonio, Oakland, against the defending champion Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles ( for a date with Lonzo Ball and the Lakers), Portland, Denver and Utah.
The regular season concludes on April 11, which is also the earliest in the club’s 23 seasons of existence.
Friday will be the busiest day, with 18 games, including 12 at home.
No surprise there, with the rising Maple Leafs locking down Saturday nights. In a mild throwback, the team will play a couple of Sunday matinee contests at home, including a tilt with MVP Russell Westbrook, Paul George and the revamped Oklahoma City Thunder.
The l ongest stretch at the ACC is four games, from Feb. 2- 8.
LeBron James and Cleveland only make one Canadian appearance, on Jan. 11, vanquished first round opponent Milwaukee, featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo arrive for a New Year’s Day battle, the Warriors hit Toronto on Jan. 13, the Lakers on Jan. 28, Andrew Wiggins, Jimmy Butler, KarlAnthony Towns and t he Minnesota Timberwolves on Jan. 30.
The Raptors’ schedule includes 12 American national television appearances, including four on ESPN and one on TNT.
The always complex Canadian television schedule will be released at a later date.