Before we move to the next division in our survey of weekend back-to-backs for the 2015-2016 NBA schedule, let’s pause for a moment.
If you read our Atlantic and Central Division pieces on this issue — with layouts of all the weekend back-to-backs teams face in the coming season — you noticed that there are appreciable differences between or among teams within the same division. In the Atlantic, the New York Knicks faced only two such back-to-backs, while the Philadelphia 76ers faced five. In the Central Division, the Chicago Bulls have to deal with only two weekend back-to-backs in the upcoming schedule. The Detroit Pistons must go through seven. This doesn’t even begin to touch on whether the structure (more precisely, the time-slotting) for these back-to-backs is properly or poorly handled, a distinction we’re making when we present each weekend back-to-back on our divisional rundowns.
This is a clear source of imbalance in the NBA schedule, and once we’re done compiling each division, we’re going to give you some larger overall assessments of this schedule and get into some comparisons of teams within divisions.
With that preamble over, let’s tackle the Southeast Division for 2015-2016:
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WEEKEND BACK-TO-BACKS: SOUTHEAST DIVISION
ATLANTA HAWKS
Sunday, Dec. 20: at ORL, 6 Eastern
Monday, Dec. 21: vs. POR
Verdict: poorly handled
Sunday, Jan. 31: at MIA, 6 Eastern
Monday, Feb. 1: vs. DAL
Verdict: poorly handled
Sunday, Feb. 7: at ORL, 1 Eastern
Monday, Feb. 8: vs. ORL
Verdict: properly handled
Saturday, March 12: vs. MEM, 7:30 Eastern
Sunday, March 13: vs. IND, 6
Verdict: poorly handled
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CHARLOTTE HORNETS
Saturday, Jan. 9: at LAC, 3:30 Eastern
Sunday, Jan. 10: at DEN, 8
Verdict: properly handled
Sunday, April 10: at WASH, 1 Eastern
Monday, April 11: at BOS
Verdict: properly handled
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MIAMI HEAT
Sunday, Dec. 13: vs. MEM, 6 Eastern
Monday, Dec. 14: at ATL
Verdict: poorly handled
Sunday, Jan. 3: at WASH, 6 Eastern
Monday, Jan. 4: vs. IND
Verdict: poorly handled
Saturday, Feb. 27: at BOS, 3 Eastern
Sunday, Feb. 28: at NY, 7:30
Verdict: properly handled
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ORLANDO MAGIC
Sunday, Dec. 20: vs. ATL, 6 Eastern
Monday, Dec. 21: at NY
Verdict: poorly handled
Sunday, Jan. 31: vs. BOS, 6 Eastern
Monday, Feb. 1: at SAS
Verdict: poorly handled
Sunday, Feb. 7: vs. ATL, 1 Eastern
Monday, Feb. 8: at ATL
Verdict: properly handled
Sunday, March 20: at TOR, 4:30 Eastern
Monday, March 21: at BOS
Verdict: properly handled
Sunday, April 10: at MIA, 6 Eastern
Monday, April 11: vs. MIL
Verdict: poorly handled
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WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Sunday, Dec. 6: vs. DAL, 6 Eastern
Monday, Dec. 7: at MIA
Verdict: poorly handled
Sunday, Feb. 28: vs. CLE, 1 Eastern
Monday, Feb. 29: vs. PHI
Verdict: properly handled
Sunday, April 10: vs. CHA, 1 Eastern
Monday, April 11: at BKN
Verdict: properly handled
