Comparing Suns vs. Lakers Schedule
Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:20 am
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.
...
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.
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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.
...
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/
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.
...
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.
...
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/
