One of the most overlooked aspects of a team’s success or perhaps even lack of it is the schedule. The NBA has done an excellent job creating the optimal balance overall across the association. However, there will always be teams with more difficult schedules than others as opponents, travel, rest and other factors make perfect balance impossible. Here is a look at the NBA’s weakest schedules for next season.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics will benefit from playing in the same division as two of the NBA’s worst teams in the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers. An improved roster should help them compete with the Toronto Raptors for top spot in the Atlantic and they also benefit from not having too travel too much throughout the year. The additions of Jaylen Brown and Al Horford should help Boston from a talent perspective and it might just be enough to put them over the top as a true contender in the Eastern Conference.
Utah Jazz
Utah appears primed to take a major step forward in 2016-17 after they missed out on the playoffs with a 40-42 record a year ago. The Jazz are loaded with young talent led by Rudy Gobert, Trey Lyles, Dante Exum and Gordon Hayward while the additions of veterans Joe Johnson, George Hill and Shelvin Mack could help them take another step. Utah should benefit from one of the easiest schedules in the NBA according to opponent win percentage from a year ago and that should only boost their chances of improving their win total for next season.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors will once again benefit from one of the easier schedules in the NBA based on opponent win percentage, travel and rest. Toronto locked up DeMar DeRozan and brought in Jared Sullinger to replace Luis Scola, so there isn’t expected to be any drop off in terms of their talent. Boston is expected to be a legitimate challenger fro top spot in the Atlantic division and it will be very interesting to see if the Raptors can hold them off in their division. However, out side of the Celtics, the Raptors might be in the easiest division around with Brooklyn, New York and Philadelphia keeping them company.
Portland Trail Blazers
Portland surprised the rest of the NBA with a 44-38 record a year ago and the team is projected to continue to improve in the Western Conference next season. Having one of the easier schedules in the league should help.
One of the main reasons why they should have an easier time of things this year is because the strongest team in their division, Oklahoma City, got worse on paper with the loss of Kevin Durant. Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves are all still rebuilding. They will each be hard-pressed to challenge for a playoff spot. The Trail Blazers should benefit from playing in one of the easier divisions in the Western Conference and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they challenged the Thunder for top spot in the Northwest.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks made some major offseason changes, including substituting in Dwight Howard at center after they lost Al Horford. They also will be handing the starting point guard job to Dennis Schroder after trading away Jeff Teague. Atlanta still has the potential to improve on last year’s win total at 48 – especially with what projects to be one of the easiest schedules in the NBA. Many people are quick to make the assumption that this team will be worse, but remember that their division should be weaker.
Miami and Charlotte could both take steps back. The Heat lost Dwyane Wade and that will sting. Charlotte is still a question mark, for the most part. Meanwhile, Washington and Orlando could remain on the outside looking in to the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Magic are a complete mess in terms of strategy and direction and the Wizards may or may not be better. It depends on the type of guidance their young team is given by the new coaching staff. The Hawks have the talent to win the Southeast in 2016-17 and a relatively easy schedule will help them to achieve that goal.
