NBA Commissioner Adam Silver intends to ease the often compacted NBA scheduled in an effort to keep players at optimum health and rest.
Speaking at NBA All-Star weekend, Silver noted the number of back-to-back games and the times teams have had to play four games in five nights.
“It’s a math formula at the end of the day in terms of the number of days in the season and the number of games we play, but we think we can make a dramatic reduction there,” Silver said. “And while I don’t think we can completely eliminate four out of five nights, we hope to make tremendous progress.”
The Hawks play 21 sets of back-to-back games this season. They’ve already had one set of four games in five nights with another coming in the second half.
“We hear everyone loud and clearly,” Silver said. “Certainly our players and our teams, that there’s nothing more important than the health and welfare of our players. And ultimately we want to see players getting appropriate rest and playing at the highest level.”
One reason for a compacted schedule this season is the expansion of the All-Star break to be a week long.
Silver said the league is looking at numerous possible solutions, including shortening the number of exhibition games and getting help from the league’s television partners.
Teague ball fake
Jeff Teague has perfected a ball-fake move that has caught many a would-be defender out of position. Teague extends the ball in one hand and quickly pulls it back. It’s usually done in the paint on a drive to the basket and results in an open layup.
It turns out the move was discovered by mistake while playing at Wake Forest.
“On did it on accident,” Teague said. “I was dribbling and I lost the ball and the guy (defending) went flying. I was like ‘Man!’ The next three games I tried it again and it worked. In my second year in the NBA we played the Chicago Bulls and they hedge out kind of hard. I just tried to fake it and see if anyone would go for it. They went for it. I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Teague said now the move comes naturally.
