The NBA will announce the 2011-2012 NBA schedule Tuesday afternoon at 4:00pm pacific on NBA TV, at which point we will find out how this whole truncated schedule will work. Due to the league's extended lockout, the NBA will play a 66-game schedule with the playoffs bumped back a bit. The new schedule will feature 48 conference games and 18 non-conference games. The games will break down as follows:
Conference Games: 48
Play 6 teams 4 times (2 home, 2 away)
Play 4 teams 3 times (2 home, 1 away)
Play 4 teams 3 times (1 home, 2 away)
Non-Conference Games: 18
Play 3 teams 2 times (1 home, 1 away)
Play 6 teams 1 time at home
Play 6 teams 1 time away
Back to Back to Backs: All teams with at least 1; no more than 3
Playoff Back to Backs: Possible in second round
The back-to-back-to-back sets will be interesting, particularly depending on the team that gets them. A veteran team like the Celtics coming into town on the back end of three straight games could be ripe for an upset in such a scenario. It could make for some ugly basketball at the end of that kind of run.
The Warriors already know they will be playing on Christmas Day when they are reportedly going to host Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers. Their December home schedule is reportedly going to include games on December 17, 25, 26, 28, and 31. The Warriors are also slated to play two preseason games against the Sacramento Kings.