While the NBA has been trying for several years to limit the number of back-to-backs (two games in two nights) and to encourage players to rest, the trend will start to rise again next season. The fault of a start of the season shifted by a week, and the establishment of the NBA Cup. Thus, on average, each team will play 14 back-to-backs this season, compared to 13 last season.
The worst-off franchises are the Hawks, Hornets, Cavs, Pistons, Warriors, Clippers, Lakers, Magic, and Kings with 15 back-to-backs.
25 sequences of three matches in four days for the Clippers!
However, the NBA welcomes one thing: the drop in back-to-backs that include a move. There are only 9 left on average per team. Which means that a third of the back-to-backs are played in the same city. This should not prevent the Clippers (Kawhi Leonard…), the Lakers (Anthony Davis…) or the Spurs (Victor Wembanyama…) from making their usual rests.
About the Clippers, they have not been spoiled by the NBA. Thus, they are the ones with the most “three matches in four days” streaks (25), and they will even have two “five matches in seven days” streaks! They are also the ones who will travel the most kilometers (50,670 miles).
Finally, Kawhi Leonard’s teammates will play 10 of their 41 home matches in the morning (at noon or 1:00 p.m.), and we know that players do not like playing at these times.
BACK-TO-BACKS
15 – Cavaliers, Clippers, Hawks, Hornets, Kings, Lakers, Magic, Pistons, Warriors,
14 – Blazers, Bucks, Bulls, Celtics, Grizzlies, Nets, Raptors, Rockets, Sixers, Suns, Thunder
13 – Heat, Jazz, Knicks, Mavs, Nuggets, Pacers, Pelicans, Spurs, Wizards, Wolves
