Comparing Suns vs. Lakers Schedule

[Mr. Sun]

The Suns are currently 15-7 with an 8-7 record on the road and a perfect record at home (7-0), whereas the Lakers are 17-3 with a 14-2 record at home. The Lakers have played only four games outside of STAPLES Center this season.

That’s right. Four games.

On top of that, they’ve only played two sets of back-to-backs. They squared off with the Rockets after they faced the Thunder and the Nets after the Warriors.

...

Back-to-back games are seen as the most challenging aspect of an NBA schedule. But what is giving the Suns difficulty is who they’re facing on the second half of those back-to-backs.

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The teams that the Suns play on back-to-backs this season totaled an 815-661 record. If those teams were to represent one NBA team, it would hold a .552 winning percentage.

The teams that the Lakers play accumulated a 605-871 record. That comes out to .410 winning percentage.

...

Another disadvantage the Suns face are those late 8:30 p.m. starts. The Suns have 10 of those this season.

Guess how many the Lakers have. That’s right, 0.

Now that late start may not seem like a big deal, but over the course of the season, those late nights add up. And before a trip, that extra time can be the difference between a late night, and a really late night.

For example, take this Friday. After the Suns host the Magic at 8:30 p.m., they’ll fly out for their game in Denver the next night.

Gentry, who is the last person to complain, finally admitted this much.

“Anytime you go to Denver from anywhere it’s going to be a long trip,” he said. “It’s a long drive from the airport. It’s an 8:30 game, so we’re looking at getting into Denver at 3-3:30 in the morning.

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But at least relief at home is coming in the near future. As one member of the press pointed out to Gentry, six of the Suns’ next eight games are at home.

“And six easy games it is, if I can recall,” Gentry joked. “There’s Orlando, and I think there’s Boston, uh, San Antonio, Cleveland and some other small team… Oh yeah, the Lakers. It should be an easy little home stand.”


http://blogs.suns.com/2009/12/3979/

[Jimmy76]

just gotta power through our way through the first half of the season gain ground in the second and cross our fingers in the playoffs

[PHXfan85]

This topic is like beating a dead horse. The whole league knows the Lakers schedule is easy peasy, but as the Lakers fans say, that's what you get when you're the champ.

At this point any discussion on this is like throwing chum into the Suns vs Lakers feeding frenzy.

[KLEON]

thank you david stern, trying to set up a lakers vs celtics finals again just to make money anyway LETS GO SUNS!!!!!!!!!

[BurningHeart]

thank you david stern, trying to set up a lakers vs celtics finals again just to make money anyway LETS GO SUNS!!!!!!!!!

Oh shut up. Championships are not won in November and December. Stop with that nonsense. Stop making Suns fans look like morons!

[OzzyAZ]

You forgot that they get to play an easier team in Phoenix four times a year whereas we have to play the much better Lakers four times. Yet another disadvantage of our schedule.


What exactly is the point of this thread?

[Classick]

thank you david stern, trying to set up a lakers vs celtics finals again just to make money anyway LETS GO SUNS!!!!!!!!!

Oh shut up. Championships are not won in November and December. Stop with that nonsense. Stop making Suns fans look like morons!

No they're not, but earning the #1 overall seed is a lot easier when you get the easiest first twenty games that any team can hope for. Sure, it all evens out over time- but momentum plays a big factor into the NBA.

[Mr. Sun]

You forgot that they get to play an easier team in Phoenix four times a year whereas we have to play the much better Lakers four times. Yet another disadvantage of our schedule.

You forgot they get to play the Suns who are playing a second game of b2b on the road twice.

What exactly is your point?

[BurningHeart]

thank you david stern, trying to set up a lakers vs celtics finals again just to make money anyway LETS GO SUNS!!!!!!!!!

Oh shut up. Championships are not won in November and December. Stop with that nonsense. Stop making Suns fans look like morons!

No they're not, but earning the #1 overall seed is a lot easier when you get the easiest first twenty games that any team can hope for. Sure, it all evens out over time- but momentum plays a big factor into the NBA.

You're right. I've made my opinion about the scheduling thing known many times. It simply makes no sense for it to be so unbalanced. Either way, that has nothing to do with that guy spouting off conspiratorial crap.

[Joe Kleazy]

This is getting ridiculous, and this thread is pathetic. Eventually you will fall back into your designated place, out of the race for the division and you will have excuses for that time made here in November and December.

Not making the playoffs and being a team that not many care to see is the reason for YOUR schedule. While I'm not excited about us having so many home games this early......we have proven our status on the road too.

In the end its still 41 games on both ends and if you feel we are getting some advantage, it will show and wont make a difference if we get our wins now or later. Only problem is that we are a good road team and as your 8-7 road record shows you can't say the same.

Our early home schedule also reflects the fact that the staples center has its fair share of events that tend to alter our schedule, it just so happens that its noticed because we are winning so much at home. It was the same even in the past when we were rebuilding and your team was good.

Funny how you didn't seem to care what our schedule was then.

[Joe Kleazy]

This is getting ridiculous, and this thread is pathetic. Eventually you will fall back into your designated place, out of the race for the division and you will have excuses for that time made here in November and December.

Not making the playoffs and being a team that not many care to see is the reason for YOUR schedule. While I'm not excited about us having so many home games this early......we have proven our status on the road too.

In the end its still 41 games on both ends and if you feel we are getting some advantage, it will show and wont make a difference if we get our wins now or later. Only problem is that we are a good road team and as your 8-7 road record shows you can't say the same.

Our early home schedule also reflects the fact that the staples center has its fair share of events that tend to alter our schedule, it just so happens that its noticed because we are winning so much at home. You could say that its similar to how SA has that rodeo trip every year, but staples has more things going on. It was the same even in the past when we were rebuilding and your team was good.

Funny how you didn't seem to care what our schedule was then.

[lilfishi22]

This thread wasn't about complaining, it was an observation.

Alrite Laker fan, you can GTFO now. Thanks for the input.

[Miklo]

This thread wasn't about complaining, it was an observation.

Alrite Laker fan, you can GTFO now. Thanks for the input.

Typical Laker fan. Forums are for constructive posting and idea sharing. We as Suns fans are sharing ideas about scheduling; a topic which has been under a lot of discussion lately. Look at other teams' boards too - it's widely known how you guys got a lucky break with your schedule. It happens to every team. I'll take home stretches early in the season any day; gets you in the groove, etc.

No need for personal attacks or attacks against our team. Do we come into random threads of yours and do that? Feel free to post on the Suns page, but don't post stuff like "nobody wants to watch your crappy team anyway". You are just supporting the fact that you guys get a scheduling break because of entertainment value.

[rsavaj]

It'll all even out in the end. Mostly.

[grumpysaddle]

why did that Faker fan quote his own post right after he posted it? what a dolt.

[Classick]

Laker fans aren't really known for their smarts. Mostly because they don't have any.

[PHXfan85]

Prolly a double post.

Be nice fellas.

[MaryvalesFinest]

[rsavaj]

lol mary....what's up with your sig?

[MaryvalesFinest]

lol mary....what's up with your sig?

Nothing wrong with having Suns pride