The idea of playing a balanced schedule is a rarity in American professional sports. An NFL team that finishes in first place in their division one year draws other first-place teams on the schedule the next year. NHL calendars lean heavily on divisional matchups and regional rivalries. MLB moved to a more balanced schedule in 2023, reducing the number of division games and increasing interleague play to even things out.
The NBA does not play a balanced schedule, but the biggest factor in an individual team’s success often feels like it has more to do with the travel arrangements than who they’re playing on a particular night. Trimming the NBA’s...
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