Details on this year's schedule

[Roy H.]

The NBA's regular season will run Dec. 25-April 26, a league source told ESPN.

The 66-game season will include 48 conference games, down from 52 last season. With only 18 games against teams from the other conference, teams will not visit every NBA city.

Teams will play about two more games per month, the report said, and each team will play on three straight nights at least once, but no more than three times.

Off days in the second round of the playoffs will also be limited.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7287323/nba-season-run-dec-25-april-26-source-says

How much do you want to bet that it's the Celtics that get scheduled for three back-to-back-to-backs?

[manl_lui]

i have the same feeling, for some reason i think we will be stuck with a lot of back to backs

[Kiorrik]

As a fan, I love it. Give me 5 games in a week, awesome. Actually, technically, 6 games in a week is going to be possible. Or 5 games in a week 3 times in a season. Nuts.

But yeh, not good.

What do you guys think about rotations anyway? Should PP, KG and Ray be sitting out entire games, or just playing limited minutes?

[hpantazo]

I'm a little disappointed that each team won't visit every NBA city, but I guess that's expected. The celtics are a lock to get the 3 back-back-back sets.

[Roy H.]

What do you guys think about rotations anyway? Should PP, KG and Ray be sitting out entire games, or just playing limited minutes?

I'd sit them out entire games, and force feed minutes to Avery Bradley and JuJuan Johnson early and often.

[csfansince60s]

I'm a little disappointed that each team won't visit every NBA city, but I guess that's expected. The celtics are a lock to get the 3 back-back-back sets.

I wonder if every game of the back-back-back sets will all be scheduled as home games.

Doesn't completely alleviate the situation, but might mitigate some of the potential damage it can cause to a veteran (old) team

[stylo617617]

knowing this if im danny im trying to get the best roster possible via trade,amnesty & vet min deals & not even bother with back to back to backs

all we need to make sure is we have one of the best 8 records in the east & keep oour guys fresh for the playoffs that will alos likely have back to backs

[Redz]

I wonder how they are choosing who plays who for those 18 non-conference games.  For instance, will the better teams from last year face each other twice?

[Kiorrik]

Any word on when we'll see the schedule?

[Roy H.]

Any word on when we'll see the schedule?

It's got to wait until both sides approve the deal, I believe.

[gpap]

Any word on when we'll see the schedule?

It's got to wait until both sides approve the deal, I believe.

Roy, any word on when the deal will get ratified by the players and owners? I haven't heard anything, yet.

[Roy H.]

More details on the schedule:

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/11/27/schedule/index.html

2011-12 NBA Schedule Breakdown

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, 2012
Individual Team Schedule Breakdown

Conference 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 away

Back to Back to Backs: All teams with at least 1; no more than 3

Playoff Back to Backs: Possible in second round

[Mike-Dub]

Any word on when we'll see the schedule?

It's got to wait until both sides approve the deal, I believe.

TP Roy I was wondering the same thing myself.  Also when are they expected to approve the deal and what exactly in the deal sill needs to be agreed upon?

[Kiorrik]

Well, with the 9th set as the start of free agency & training camp, that would be the date they would *have* to have sorted the deal by, I reckon.

How can you start free agency without a deal in place?

[Roy H.]

Any word on when we'll see the schedule?

It's got to wait until both sides approve the deal, I believe.

TP Roy I was wondering the same thing myself.  Also when are they expected to approve the deal and what exactly in the deal sill needs to be agreed upon?

From what I understand, the following steps need to happen:

1.  The 14 plaintiffs in the consolidated lawsuits need to sign off on the deal.  This will hopefully take place tomorrow;

2.  The Union needs to re-certify.  Again, this shouldn't take too long;

3.  The sides need to work out the rest of the "side items".  This could take longer.  Side issues include, among other things, drug testing, the D-League, and the age limit.  (One idea being floated is that the NBA will keep the age limit as it is, but authorize a committee to investigate increasing the age to 20.)