Chicken Soup for the Blazer Fanatic

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Blazer Fanatic

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The Blazers are 12-3 on the road, the best road record in the NBA. Only the LAC/Utah/Cha/GS have played as many games on the road. Portland was 3-1 on this 4 game and 5 night road trip, which is a much greater accomplishment than some fans seem to appreciate. They only lost the last game in Minnesota, and only the 1st half of that game. The biggest issue in that terrible half was that the team looked very sluggish (not to be confused with slug-ish). They were quite literally slug slow. So why were they so bad in the 1st half, and how were they able to play so much better in the 2nd half?

Dr. Fanatic is about to drop some medical knowledge on y’all, so take notes – there will be a quiz later.

Let’s examine the facts:
Portland, played the 4th game in 5 nights, came out flat in the 1st half.
Portland played well in the 2nd half.

DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) is the result of strenuous exercise which leads to microscopic tears in the muscle. While DOMS can lead to inflammation and soreness, it should not be not be confused with “acute soreness” which is pain caused during the activity, and can lead to greater injury and muscle damage. Soreness as a result of DOMS is experience most strongly 24 to 72 hours after a given exercise. Yes, even professional athletes are susceptible to DOMS. One of the effects of DOMS is swelling. Ice reduces swelling. Did anyone see Batum and LA with ice on their knees during the 4th quarter of game very first game of this road trip (Philly)? Swelling and related soreness typically subsides after 72 hours, and disappears up to 7 days after the strenuous exercise occurred. Further activity alleviates soreness, even though it may cause more pain initially, it does not exacerbate muscle damage.

Conclusion:
The loss to Minnesota is a result of the schedule more so than any other factor.


Aside: How to improve the NBA

The goal:
1) reduce injuries and fatigue
2) increase the quality of basketball
3) create a more equitable playing field

How to accomplish this:
1) cut the 82 game regular season down to 72 games (36 home 36 away)
2) eliminate divisions - the attempts to create rivalries and reduce travel is antiquated
3) have teams continue to play the opposing conference once at home and once away
4) have every team play the other teams in their conference 3 times a piece, and alternate every year as to the team that will get the 2 home games versus a respective opponent
5) eliminate the 4 games in 5 nights or any variation thereof (5 games in 7 nights, 7 games in 10 nights)
6) reduce, if not eliminate back-to-back games (no team should play 2 or more b2b games more than any another team)
7) schedule as many home/home, or home/@home back-to-backs in place of random back-to-backs as possible, or ensure that both team are playing the 2nd of a back-to-back if it is unavoidable

I said there will be a quiz, so I hope you took notes.

Quiz:
Are you a Blazer fan?





Solutions:
If your answer is yes, settle the fuck down.
If your answer is no, fuck off.
 
-The playing conditions are equitable because just about every team in the league endures a stretch just like the one we saw over the past 4 games.

-What owner is going to cut their revenue by eliminating 5 games?

-The Blazers don't even have one of the more grueling schedules this year

-Who is upset and needs to settle the fuck down?
 
Those are great stats and explains a lot, but there is zero chance the nba will take aeway any games. They make too much money to do that.

As for your other points, the b2b are tough. There is nothing more to say about it. I wish there wasn't as many as teams are getting and I really think one team getting more than the other is total bullshit!

The biggest concern is I want one conference and multiple divisions. The schedule keepers can look at past season to determine the amount of games a team has, only having the current division being the 4 game.
 
-The playing conditions are equitable because just about every team in the league endures a stretch just like the one we saw over the past 4 games.

-What owner is going to cut their revenue by eliminating 5 games?

-The Blazers don't even have one of the more grueling schedules this year

-Who is upset and needs to settle the fuck down?

I think SAS and LA have some of the most grueling stretches. Don't they play like 12 or 13 road games in a row because their building has something going on?
 
Those are great stats and explains a lot, but there is zero chance the nba will take aeway any games. They make too much money to do that.

As for your other points, the b2b are tough. There is nothing more to say about it. I wish there wasn't as many as teams are getting and I really think one team getting more than the other is total bullshit!

The biggest concern is I want one conference and multiple divisions. The schedule keepers can look at past season to determine the amount of games a team has, only having the current division being the 4 game.

That is an option as well, adding an additional 4 games, thus bringing the total number of games to 76. Six fewer games would still have an impact on the flexibility to avoid the ridiculously tough back-to-back/day off/back-to-back situations. I believe Portland has 3 such stretches.
 
Reducing the schedule and getting rid of back to backs does not make the league more equitable all it does is reward teams for having the strongest starting unit.

Reducing the schedule takes millions of dollars away from the players and the league so that is never going to happen.

Also telling people to fuck off is trolling and it undermines your entire article.
 
Reducing the schedule and getting rid of back to backs does not make the league more equitable all it does is reward teams for having the strongest starting unit.

Reducing the schedule takes millions of dollars away from the players and the league so that is never going to happen.

Also telling people to fuck off is trolling and it undermines your entire article.


So you answered "no" to the quiz. I gotcha ya.
 
-The playing conditions are equitable because just about every team in the league endures a stretch just like the one we saw over the past 4 games.

The Blazers have three separate 4-in-5 road trips this season (this one, Jan 17-21, and Mar 24-28). The Suns are the only other team with even two. Our next 4-in-5 trip will be against teams with combined records of 72-28.
 
The Blazers have three separate 4-in-5 road trips this season (this one, Jan 17-21, and Mar 24-28). The Suns are the only other team with even two. Our next 4-in-5 trip will be against teams with combined records of 72-28.

I thought so. Thanks. :)
 
The Blazers have three separate 4-in-5 road trips this season (this one, Jan 17-21, and Mar 24-28). The Suns are the only other team with even two. Our next 4-in-5 trip will be against teams with combined records of 72-28.

Wait so you mean to tell me that no other team has 3 of the 4-in-5? Mainly only one throughout the season?
 
The Blazers have three separate 4-in-5 road trips this season (this one, Jan 17-21, and Mar 24-28). The Suns are the only other team with even two. Our next 4-in-5 trip will be against teams with combined records of 72-28.

They also don't have any especially long road trips this year and got gifted a a pretty cushy schedule in the first quarter of the season, which has probably played no small part in accelerating their learning to play with each other.
 
They also don't have any especially long road trips this year and got gifted a a pretty cushy schedule in the first quarter of the season, which has probably played no small part in accelerating their learning to play with each other.

As much as this is hard on the "fatigue factor" for this ball-club, I agree with your point. We are really developing some nice chemistry, having to play a lot of road games and being so close together.
 
They also don't have any especially long road trips this year and got gifted a a pretty cushy schedule in the first quarter of the season, which has probably played no small part in accelerating their learning to play with each other.

But they have six separate 4+ game trips, including what was basically a 8 game trip early in the season (4 road, then H/R/H/R), and another virtual 7 game trip 3/22 through 4/1 (1 home game between 6 road games). But it's not the consecutive games that is the issue as much as the games in quick succession. As mentioned by the OP, 4-in-5 or 5-in-7 stretches are killers.
 
-The Blazers don't even have one of the more grueling schedules this year

I disagree. Simply by being in the West the Blazers schedule is more "grueling" than 15 other teams. Also, by being secluded in the northwest they have to travel more than any other team.
 
But they have six separate 4+ game trips, including what was basically a 8 game trip early in the season (4 road, then H/R/H/R), and another virtual 7 game trip 3/22 through 4/1 (1 home game between 6 road games). But it's not the consecutive games that is the issue as much as the games in quick succession. As mentioned by the OP, 4-in-5 or 5-in-7 stretches are killers.


You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to PtldPlatypus again. :( May my uber rep power sustain you for the entirety of this thread.
 
I disagree. Simply by being in the West the Blazers schedule is more "grueling" than 15 other teams. Also, by being secluded in the northwest they have to travel more than any other team.

Well then I guess the only solution is to move the team to Kansas City.
 
The NBA schedule is very stupid, they should have less games. The product suffers because no team in the league can play hard every night. Remember the Spurs resting those players in the primetime game last year? The NBA should take a look at the NFL, the league makes way more money because games are intense and each one matters. How many more season ticket holders would there be if you knew 10 noncompetitive stupid games were removed from the schedule?

The NBA regular season should have games spaced out just the same as the NBA playoffs.
 
The NBA schedule is very stupid, they should have less games. The product suffers because no team in the league can play hard every night. Remember the Spurs resting those players in the primetime game last year? The NBA should take a look at the NFL, the league makes way more money because games are intense and each one matters. How many more season ticket holders would there be if you knew 10 noncompetitive stupid games were removed from the schedule?

The NBA regular season should have games spaced out just the same as the NBA playoffs.

What if they did like college and have all the teams in the playoffs, with the best 2 teams with a first round bye? The series is best of 5 for the first 28, Best of 5 vs the 16, Best of 7 vs. the final 8, Best of 7 vs. the final 4 and Best of 7 in the finals.
 
-The playing conditions are equitable because just about every team in the league endures a stretch just like the one we saw over the past 4 games.

-What owner is going to cut their revenue by eliminating 5 games?

-The Blazers don't even have one of the more grueling schedules this year

-Who is upset and needs to settle the fuck down?

Its frustrating for fans to watch NBA games when the players are clearly not at their peak. Yes the Blazers get the benefit of this too when playing home games against tired opponents. It would be more exciting to see two teams battling at their peak than to have multiple games where one team has a schedule advantage.

The owners would make more money if they used a reduced schedule in a way to market the league better. The NFL has less than 20% of the games as the NBA but makes 300% as much money. Look at all the injuries to star overworked NBA players in the last year; Kobe, Derrick Rose, Steph Curry, Wade. Many of those could be avoided with less grueling schedules and having more stars playing games would make the league money.
 
Its frustrating for fans to watch NBA games when the players are clearly not at their peak. Yes the Blazers get the benefit of this too when playing home games against tired opponents. It would be more exciting to see two teams battling at their peak than to have multiple games where one team has a schedule advantage.

The owners would make more money if they used a reduced schedule in a way to market the league better. The NFL has less than 20% of the games as the NBA but makes 300% as much money. Look at all the injuries to star overworked NBA players in the last few years; Kobe, Derrick Rose, Steph Curry, Wade. Many of those could be avoided with less grueling schedules and having more stars playing games would make the league money.

Just wait for the playoffs.
 
What if they did like college and have all the teams in the playoffs, with the best 2 teams with a first round bye? The series is best of 5 for the first 28, Best of 5 vs the 16, Best of 7 vs. the final 8, Best of 7 vs. the final 4 and Best of 7 in the finals.

With more than 1/2 the teams getting a play-off birth, I don't think this is necessary. The goal is exciting/competitive basketball. Despite the 1st seed vs 8th seed being won by the 1st seed by a huge margin, it's still better than a majority of regular season games. When you're playing for something, it's always more exciting. I'd be be open to extending the play-offs to more teams before I'd give teams a bye.
 
Its frustrating for fans to watch NBA games when the players are clearly not at their peak. Yes the Blazers get the benefit of this too when playing home games against tired opponents. It would be more exciting to see two teams battling at their peak than to have multiple games where one team has a schedule advantage.

The owners would make more money if they used a reduced schedule in a way to market the league better. The NFL has less than 20% of the games as the NBA but makes 300% as much money. Look at all the injuries to star overworked NBA players in the last year; Kobe, Derrick Rose, Steph Curry, Wade. Many of those could be avoided with less grueling schedules and having more stars playing games would make the league money.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Draco again. This is becoming a pattern. :(
 
With more than 1/2 the teams getting a play-off birth, I don't think this is necessary. The goal is exciting/competitive basketball. Despite the 1st seed vs 8th seed is won by the 1st seed by a huge margin, it's still better than a majority of regular season games. When you're playing for something, it's always more exciting. I'd be be open to extending the play-offs to more teams before I'd give teams a bye.

Oh what would be more exciting than all teams having the opportunity to be in the playoffs? Could you imagine the 28th seed knocking off the 3rd best team in the league? How many awesome upsets we could witness!!! And the revenue would be greater, while we could still shorten the season and have the playoffs start in March!
 
Oh what would be more exciting than all teams having the opportunity to be in the playoffs? Could you imagine the 28th seed knocking off the 3rd best team in the league? How many awesome upsets we could witness!!! And the revenue would be greater, while we could still shorten the season and have the playoffs start in March!

I'm not for it, but I would absolutely trade the 10 fewer games in the regular season for adding 2 more teams from each conference to the play-offs. It would be like adding 4 wild card games, 5 game series. And it would give the top 2 teams a bye, so to speak.
 
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