OKC Thunder: How each teams injuries could affect seeding and playoff results

An unusually large number of NBA superstar players are suffering injuries which could affect the playoff seeds and performance in the postseason.

This season the NBA made major changes to the schedule with a view to improving the dynamics for players in terms of fatigue levels. Preseason games were decreased, training camps shortened and fewer back to back games plus three in four nights were applied. Despite these efforts to make the schedule less onerous several key players have suffered injuries.

New this weekend that both Stephen Curry and Kyrie Irving would be out a minimum of three weeks sure throws a wrench in what was expected to be deep playoff runs for both squads.

Prior to the announcement Irving would have a ‘minimally invasive’ surgery there were some who though Brad Stevens was potentially just resting Irving. The surgery was completed Saturday to remove the screws inserted when he broke his kneecap three years ago.

Likewise the Stephen Curry injury came with whispers Steve Kerr was holding out players to get them rest. Conspiracy theories can be fun, however any team holding out player in this manner would also be risking them losing their fluidity and timing.

And, that is a real thing, some stars can’t afford to sit more than game. Just ask Avery Bradley who shut down his Dallas Mavericks for the final week of action after a 67 win season. Their reward was losing in the first round to the Baron Davis/Monta Ellis Golden State Warriors  in the first round.

Inequities still exist:

The schedule changes may simply be a matter of coincidence, but it feels like something else is at play. Perhaps the players are so accustomed to playing in one fashion it’s taking their bodies time to adjust. For some teams like the Golden State Warriors it’s explainable given three consecutive trips to the finals. Hence, they’ve played more ball than their opponents.

The league may have made adjustments to reduce back to backs and three games in four nights, but not every team has benefited. Nor has the league figured out a way to make it fair for every team. Some teams didn’t begin to travel to the opposite coast until the New Year whereas others were almost complete in the same time frame.

For example the Raptors began their season primarily on the opposite coast and completed all trips to the west on January 20th. Boston conversely still had 11 games to play on the west coast at that stage. Who benefits more? It’s hard to say, but obviously west coast lottery teams have far less invested at year end than they do at season start when their dreams of playoffs haven’t been vanquished.

Likewise, some teams benefit by playing the Lakers and Clippers in the same road trip while others have to travel to the west twice to play those same two games.

Ditto for teams who travel to play teams in Florida, Texas, New York, and other teams in close proximity.

Fixes still need to be made:

Every team plays 41 games at home and 41 on the road. But, some teams get extended home stands or suffer long road trips. Others get one four game home stand or only travel for four games at a time.

Certainly the suggestion here isn’t that schedule making is easy, but it does seem like a greater effort should be made to ensure all teams garner the same benefit or adversity. No one team should get the benefit of all factors while another suffers all the negatives.

Moving forward this new system will be analyzed with a view to tweaks and improvements next season. That said, with the league invested in getting the best teams to the playoffs it definitely behooves them to fix the bugs quickly given the current rash of injuries.

Other key injuries:

Asthe teams inch toward season end many will begin to give players days off to rest in preparation. Players rarely reach this point in the season without some nagging injury. It could be as little as bumps and bruises or more critical such as the Irving and Curry situation.

Other teams have players trying to nurse back to health from a major injury such as Kawhi Leonard of the Spurs or Jimmy Butler of the Wolves. In those instances their return could mean the difference between securing a seed and possibly winning a series.