We’ve covered five NBA divisions, so here’s the last one. Our survey of weekend back-to-backs arrives at its final divisional installment, as we look at the Pacific Division.
We’ll continue to have more on this subject, but we’ll present accumulated totals and big-picture observations on a league-wide scale. For now, let’s examine the Pacific Division, where the proximity of two sets of teams to each other (the Clippers and Lakers in Los Angeles, and Golden State and Sacramento in that part of California) lends itself to more back-to-backs:
*
WEEKEND BACK-TO-BACKS: PACIFIC DIVISION
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Saturday, Dec. 5: at TOR, 5 Eastern
Sunday, Dec. 6: at BKN, 6
Verdict: properly handled
Saturday, Jan. 30: at PHI, 5 Eastern
Sunday, Jan. 31: at NY, 7:30
Verdict: properly handled
Sunday, March 6: at LAL, 3:30 Eastern
Monday, March 7: vs. ORL
Verdict: properly handled
Saturday, April 9: at MEM, 8 Eastern
Sunday, April 10: at SAS, 7
Verdict: poorly handled
*
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Sunday, Nov. 29: vs. MIN, 3:30 Eastern
Monday, Nov. 30: vs. POR
Verdict: properly handled
Saturday, Jan. 9: vs. CHA, 3:30 Eastern
Sunday, Jan. 10: vs. NOP, 3:30
Verdict: properly handled — but not as good as it would have been with a 6 or 7 p.m. tip time on Sunday evening, for more separation between games
Sunday, Feb. 7: at MIA, 2 Eastern
Monday, Feb. 8: at PHI
Verdict: properly handled
Saturday, March 19: at MEM, 8 Eastern
Sunday, March 20: at NOP, 6
Verdict: poorly handled
Sunday, March 27: vs. DEN, 3:30 Eastern
Monday, March 28: vs. BOS
Verdict: properly handled
*
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Sunday, Nov. 15: vs. DET, 9:30 Eastern
Monday, Nov. 16: at PHX, 9
Verdict: poorly handled
Saturday, Nov. 28: at POR, 10 Eastern
Sunday, Nov. 29: vs. IND, 9:30
Verdict: poorly handled
Sunday, Dec. 6: at DET, 6 Eastern
Monday, Dec. 7: at TOR
Verdict: poorly handled
Sunday, Dec. 27: at MEM, 6 Eastern
Monday, Dec. 28: at CHA
Verdict: poorly handled
Saturday, Jan. 16: at UTAH, 9 Eastern
Sunday, Jan. 17: vs. HOU, 9:30
Verdict: poorly handled
Sunday, Feb. 21: at CHI, 8 Eastern
Monday, Feb. 22: at MIL
Verdict: poorly handled
Sunday, March 27: vs. WASH, 9:30 Eastern
Monday, March 28: at UTAH
Verdict: poorly handled
Sunday, April 10: at HOU, 3:30 Eastern
Monday, April 11: at OKC
Verdict: properly handled
*
PHOENIX SUNS
Sunday, Nov. 22: at NOP, 6 Eastern
Monday, Nov. 23: at SAS
Verdict: poorly handled
Sunday, Dec. 6: at MEM, 3:30 Eastern
Monday, Dec. 7: at CHI
Verdict: properly handled
Sunday, Dec. 13: vs. MIN, 3:30 Eastern
Monday, Dec. 14: at DAL
Verdict: properly handled
Sunday, Dec. 20: vs. MIL, 5 Eastern
Monday, Dec. 21: at UTAH
Verdict: properly handled
Saturday, Jan. 2: at SAC, 5 Eastern
Sunday, Jan. 3: at LAL, 9:30
Verdict: properly handled
Sunday, Feb. 21: vs. SAS, 5 Eastern
Monday, Feb. 22: at LAL
Verdict: properly handled
*
SACRAMENTO KINGS
Saturday, Dec. 5: at HOU, 8 Eastern
Sunday, Dec. 6: at OKC, 7
Verdict: poorly handled
Sunday, Dec. 20: at TOR, 6 Eastern
Monday, Dec. 21: at WASH
Verdict: poorly handled
Sunday, Dec. 27: vs. POR, 9 Eastern
Monday, Dec. 28: at GSW
Verdict: poorly handled
Sunday, Feb. 7: at BOS, 1 Eastern
Monday, Feb. 8: at CLE
Verdict: properly handled
Sunday, March 20: at NY, 7:30 Eastern
Monday, March 21: at CHI
Verdict: poorly handled
Sunday, March 27: vs. DAL, 6 Eastern
Monday, March 28: at POR
Verdict: properly handled — once more, the 6 p.m. Eastern start time is fair in Sacramento and the Pacific time zone; it’s not fair in the Eastern or Central time zones.
