Western elites back-to-back look

With the NBA releasing their schedules today let's look at the back-to-back games. As we saw last season with the Nuggets ... they played in 21 sets of back-to-back games and posted an overall record of 25-17 in the 21 sets or 42 total games that came in back-to-back format.

• On the first night of back-to-backs the Nuggets finished with a 16-5 record (6-1 at home and 10-4 on the road.)
• On the second night of back-to-backs the Nuggets finished with a 9-12 record (4-4 at home and 5-8 on the road.)

A funny stat: The Nuggets played in 15 games at the Pepsi Center involving a back-to-back and in 27 road games involving a back-to-back . THANKS SCHEDULE MAKERS!!

2009-2010 Season: Let's take a look at the elite teams (my opinion) in the Western Conference and how their back-to-back schedules play out this season. 

The Nuggets will have 53.6% of their games coming this season by way of back-to-back. On the opposite end, the San Antonio Spurs will only have 41.4% of their games coming by way of back-to-back.

Denver will need to again play very well in the first games of their back-to-backs.

Let's break down Denver's back-to-backs even more:

Total of 44 games in back-to-back sets.

• 12 total home games in back-to-backs.
  • 5 of the 12 home games will be Game 1's of back-to-backs.
  • 7 of the 12 home games will be Game 2's of back-to-backs.
• 32 total road games in back-to-backs.
  • 17 of the 32 road games will be Game 1's of back-to-backs.
  • 15 of the 32 road games will be Game 2's of back-to-backs.

Denver posted an overall road record of 21-20 last season and a 15-12 record in road back-to-back games. So, Denver posted a 6-8 record on the road in games that were not back-to-backs.

This season Denver will be asked to up their road back-to-back games from 27 to 32. Luckily 17 of those are Game 1's ... much easier to win than the second night on the road. Remember Denver posted a 16-5 overall record (10-4 on the road) in Game 1's of back-to-backs.

The initial look at the schedule looks pretty daunting, but you know what they say about taking the easy way out ...

ntimmons73@yahoo.com