Game 48: Memphis Grizzlies (29-21) @ Denver Nuggets (21-26) - 9:00 PM ET

[NuggetsWY]

I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I'm fairly certain there are a few teams with more "missed games" due to injury. I see most Jazz games and it's been astounding how many "missed games" they have had this year. There have been games where they are starting their 3rd string player and having guys play out of position and yet their record is well ahead of Denver's.

As for the travel, Denver is the second most isolated city in the NBA and that can be an advantage or a disadvantage. Add in the altitude and it makes sense for other teams to collectively out-vote Denver on the back-to-back issues. (((Who is the most isolated city in the NBA? Portland, by a long shot.

During my career, I've lived in multiple cities all over this country, including Portland & Denver. I often had to travel. From Portland, everything was a long ways. In NBA terms, LA, Sacramento, Oakland were 1000 miles or less; Salt Lake City also with Denver a little further. Any place else was a longer trip. If I had a meeting, I had to leave the night before - even for most afternoon meetings. I get it. From Denver, I traveled a little more and a frequent trip was Chicago - only 1000 miles but winter travel often included weather delays plus Chicago's airport is so busy that it slows everything down and then there's traveling once you get there. IMO LA & NY were the only cities worse than Chicago for getting someplace from the airport. Even Boston wasn't too bad.

Flying into/outof Denver or Portland is nice because of the relative lack of congestion - but it is still a longer flight than most teams prefer. So I get the gripes, but then again, I don't. One thing I know, people like to complain. It's a favorite American pasttime.