NBA fans think the 2020-21 schedule is a bit too condensened
And the injuries would seem to back it up.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Each week, we send out questions to the most plugged in Golden State Warriors fans, and fans across the country. Sign up here to join Reacts.
If you’re feeling exhausted by the Golden State Warriors season, just know this: you are not alone. It’s felt like a physically taxing and emotionally overwhelming season even for fans and media, and that’s despite the NBA cutting 10 games off the schedule.
The Warriors 72-game season ends on Sunday, marking 145 days between their first and last games. For reference, in 2018-19, the last time the Dubs played a full season, there were 156 days between games No. 1 and No. 72.
That takes a toll. The Warriors haven’t had an overabundance of back-to-back games, but what they’ve sorely lacked is stretches of rest. It feels like they’ve played every other day for the entire season, and consecutive off days have been at an absolute premium.
You could make the case that the condensed schedule has been the driving force behind the large amount of injuries we’ve seen this year. Superstars like LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and Kevin Durant have missed big chunks of time, while players like Jamal Murray have suffered devastating injuries.
The Warriors have had their fair share of injury bugs, as well: by the time the season ends, James Wiseman will have missed 33 games, and Kelly Oubre Jr. will have missed 17. Eric Paschall has missed 29 games (though a few of those were to health and safety protocols), and Steph Curry and Draymond Green have been out for eight. Marquese Chriss played in only two games before suffering a season-ending injury, though it’s hard to blame that one on the schedule.
NBA fans who participated in the SB Nation Reacts survey agree that the schedule is way too condensed, with more than two-thirds of responders feeling the league crammed too many games into too short of a time.
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Fans also gave their take on who should win MVP this season. While Steph Curry might be the popular choice for Warriors fans, the bulk of surveyed NBA fans still believe that Nikola Jokić has done enough to bring home the hardware.
That’s understandable, but Chris Paul finishing second — ahead of Curry — is probably not going to sit well with you.
Or me, for that matter.
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Curry fared a bit better when fans were asked who the best player in the world is, as he finished second only to LeBron James. That’s better.
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To vote in the Reacts surveys — they’re a lot of fun, I promise — and have your voice heard each week, sign up here.