Does the modified NBA schedule favor youth or experience?
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The start of the NBA season on Christmas Day will mark the beginning of an intense schedule of 66 games in 124 days for each team. The Lakers, for example, open the season with three games in three days, and they will have to play in back-to-back situations 17 times, three more than last season.
Eight teams will have to play three games in three straight days on two occasions this season.
Writers from around the Tribune Co. discuss who will benefit from the condensed schedule. Check back throughout the day for more responses and feel free to join the discussion with a comment of your own.
Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun Sentinel
Hmm. Let’s see: Two weeks to get ready, room for about 10 practices the entire season if you don’t practice after back-to-backs or after road games, ands barely enough time for scouting reports on opponents to dry before they become obsolete.
No, the kids will not be all right. This will be a season for those who have been there, seen that, done that.
While fresh legs could mean plenty, the lockout-shortened NBA in 2011-12 will probably instead be more of a head game, nightly chess matches of how to get through the 48 minutes with enough left in reserve to move on to the next immediate challenge.
This will not be the year of the rookie. Neophytes need not apply.
Ultimately, figure on development programs being put on hold in favor of 13th, 14th and 15th men who can contribute, in order to compensate for injuries and better distribute minutes that will keep on coming.
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