OKC Thunder: comparing the second-half schedule to opponents

OKC Thunder players huddle after player introductions Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
OKC Thunder players huddle after player introductions Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /
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OKC Thunder must watch games Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant. Mandatory Credit: Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlantic Division Breakdown:

Celtics:

In the back end of the schedule, the Celtics have the fourth easiest strength of schedule (.475) landing in the middle or easier side of the main categories.

Total Games: 36
Road vs. Home: 17/19
East – West: 18 – 18
Longest homestand: 7 games
Longest road trip: 4 games
Rest Advantage/Disadvantage: 3 -5
Back-To-Back Games: 8
Miles Traveled: 20,999

Nets:

In the second half, the Nets are among the teams with fewer dates having played more on the front end. They play the second-fewest back-to-back sets but travel more to make up for the easier front-end travel. Their strength of schedule .501 ranks 12th.

Total Games: 35
Road vs. Home: 18 – 17
East – West: 22 – 13
Longest homestand: four occasions of 3-game homestands
Longest road trip: 5 games near the end of the schedule
Rest Advantage/Disadvantage:  6 -7
Back-To-Back Games: 7
Miles Traveled: 22,032

Knicks:

New York plays the fewest games in the second half of the schedule and the fewest back-to-back sets. After traveling the fifth most in the first half they will balance the scales traveling the fourth least.

The Knicks schedule also features a six-game home stand followed by a six-game road trip on the opposite coast as the only East team on a long trip out west that late in the season. Their .515 strength of schedule is the sixth hardest.

Total Games: 35
Road vs. Home: 17 – 18
East – West: 19 – 16
Longest homestand: 6 games
Longest road trip: 6 games
Rest Advantage/Disadvantage: 7 – 4
Back-To-Back Games: 6
Miles Traveled: 16,984

76ers:

The top ranked Eastern club has a more difficult second half with more travel and back-to-back sets than they did in the front half.

Philly is also among three teams who have the second most rest disadvantages. Their .508 is the 10th hardest strength of schedule.

Total Games: 36
Road vs. Home: 19 – 17
East – West: 18 – 17
Longest homestand: two separate 4 game stints
Longest road trip: 6 games
Rest Advantage/Disadvantage: 5 – 8
Back-To-Back Games: 9
Miles Traveled: 19,351

Raptors:

Raptors coach Nick Nurse was asked about a road trip recently and responded ‘all our games are on the road this season’. While he was joking the reality is some of the players just found full-time accommodation this month likely due to uncertainty if they’d return to Canada to finish the season and now know they won’t.

The Raptors had a rough front-end schedule traveling the most miles and strangely will travel the 13th most in the second half. Presumably, the reason is based on games versus divisional teams who they are located closer to when traveling out of Toronto.

While the Raptors don’t necessarily feel at home in Tampa Bay they will appreciate getting 10 rest advantage games after getting the fewest in the front end.  Their .485 strength of schedule is the seventh easiest, but like the Knicks will take their longest road trip of the second half on the opposite coach within the final 10 games of the season.

Total Games: 35
Road vs. Home:  18 – 17
East  vs. West:  18 – 17
Longest homestand: 5 games
Longest road trip: 4 games
Rest Advantage/Disadvantage: (4 – 7) 10-7
Back-To-Back Games: 8
Miles Traveled: 21,021