On Monday, the NBA officially released the schedule for the upcoming 2019-20 season.
The schedule features exciting matchups, such as the Los Angeles Lakers opening their season against the Los Angeles Clippers. Both teams had busy offseasons, and fans are anticipating the games between these teams. The teams will face each other at the start of the season and will meet each other again on Christmas Day.
The 2019-20 schedule also features matchups such as the Brooklyn Nets and the Boston Celtics and several others. The Nets and Celtics will play on November 28 and will have three other meetings after that. Also, teams such as the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors and others will clash throughout the season. There are several matchups to look forward to as the season progresses. However, there will be a few slight changes.
According to reports, the 2019-20 NBA schedule will feature earlier tipoffs and less back-to-back games.
Sources: Earlier times for national TV doubleheaders this season: 22 of ESPN’s 36 doubleheaders and 12 of TNT’s 31 doubleheaders to start at 7:30/10 PM ET or 7/9:30 PM ET instead of 8/10:30 PM.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 12, 2019
When the NBA released the schedule, there were a few notable differences. The schedule has less back-to-back games, and there will be a time change for nationally televised games.
In some cases, nationally televised games on the West start at 10:30 p.m ET. Now, teams such as the Warriors and the Lakers will start games a half-hour earlier. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, 22 of ESPN’s doubleheaders and 12 of TNT’s doubleheaders have the time change. Their games will start at 7:30/10 p.m or 7/9:30 p.m ET. This is a difference from their start time of 8/10:30 p.m.
With some of the league’s biggest stars in the Western Conference, fans of the East benefit from the decision. Last season, 57 nationally televised games started at 10:30 p.m. This season the number falls to 33. This change causes a significant dip of 42 percent. So, the change will be noticeable.
The NBA season will be here in the blink of an eye. With the league’s new changes, there will be a difference. However, it could benefit both fans and the league.
Featured image courtesy of John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
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