08/09 Schedule coming next week?

[Flacolaco]

Here's an interesting article about the man who makes the NBA schedule...

http://newsok.com/matt-winick-does-a...?tm=1217214866

By Mike Baldwin
Staff Writer

Matt Winick spends six months compiling the NBA schedule.

Winick juggles games around concerts, the NHL, a rodeo or a circus. This season, he must work around Oklahoma City hosting the Big 12 men's and women's basketball tournaments at the Ford Center in March. The Blazers and Yard Dawgz will factor into the process, too.

"We have 1,230 games,” said Winick, the NBA's vice president of operations who has drawn up NBA schedules for 24 years. "It's like a puzzle with 1,230 pieces. They all have to fit. It's extremely complicated. At times during the process it can be frustrating.”

Winick starts in February. Teams supply at least 50 to 60 available dates. Six months later, the final schedule is completed.

Because of the Sonics' uncertain home base, Winick worked with two different schedules the first five months, one for Seattle and one for Oklahoma City. The uncertainty ended July 2 when team chairman Clay Bennett announced the Sonics were relocating to Oklahoma City.

The NBA schedule traditionally is announced the first week of August. Winick said he's about "three or four days behind” his usual pace.

"Oklahoma City is part of it,” Winick said. "Some other arenas have been part of it. But there are a number of factors. Free agency is part of it, because it affects some television matchups we have to move around.”

The Sonics relocating to Oklahoma City, combined with Vancouver's move to Memphis five years ago, has given Winick less flexibility when East Coast teams are sent to the West Coast. But now there is more flexibility when teams head south.

In previous years, some teams would play the Mavericks, Rockets and Spurs in one road swing. Winick can now rotate in Oklahoma City, Memphis and New Orleans with the Texas trio.

"It's more of a challenge with the Pacific and Mountain time zones,” Winick said. "But it's opened up possibilities with six teams in that geographic region. We can even tie in a trip with Atlanta.

"Oklahoma City, in and of itself, has not been the cause for the delay. I think we'll get this done soon. But I've been through this enough sometimes you have a hard time scheduling those last two or three games. We're getting close.”

[jthig32]

That sounds incredibly tedious and seems like it would be a complete beating.

[Flacolaco]

Free agency is part of it, because it affects some television matchups we have to move around.”

My favorite part.

I wonder how much this guy has ABC and TNT in his ear.

[GuerillaBlack]

Oklahoma ruins everything.

[Ummmmm Ok]

curious as to why someone hasn't made a program that would do this for him!

[mqywaaah]

Originally Posted by GuerillaBlack

Oklahoma ruins everything.

You mean to say the "Thunder" ruins everything? LOL

[sp3nc3r13]

Its going to be interesting going to a bunch of Oklahoma City games next year being a huge Mavs fan. I got lucky, moving to OKC/Norman area for college managed to put me in perfect position to become an OKC fan haha

[MavsX]

that job would suck! i hate/ have trouble confirming a flight. Jesus. He better be making some fat cash

[Bayliss]

The good thing about them moving from Seattle is that is 2 less games I have to stay up til 12:00+ just to watch a game.

[GuerillaBlack]

Originally Posted by mqywaaah

You mean to say the "Thunder" ruins everything? LOL

What a horrible name. "Thunder". That's like...D-League...

[horse900703]

wow~~~

[MavsFanFinley]

A few bits of the schedule are being released in some papers.

According to the AZ Republic the Spurs will host the Suns on opening night and will be in Phoenix on Christmas day.