The NBA’s “bye week,” courtesy of the NBA Cup schedule, has arrived, as detailed by John Hollinger of The Athletic.
Starting Monday, teams received a rare luxury: two games in 10 days. A breather for rest, recovery, and — get this — actual on-court practice time.
Don’t get used to it, though. With the league’s new TV deal looming, this perfectly timed mini-break could be a one-and-done experiment.
It’s a shame because this pause comes right as most teams have hit the 20-25 game mark — the sweet spot for recalibration. By now, the early-season jitters are gone, but there’s still enough runway to course-correct.
It’s also a golden opportunity for front offices to huddle up and reassess. Normally, these “check-ins” are squeezed between games or skipped altogether as the NBA grind doesn’t stop. Not this week.
Instead, execs can gather in their shiny new practice facility war rooms, pour over analytics, and strategize ahead of trade season. Dec. 15 — when most summer free agents just around the corner — is just around the corner, and there’s plenty of chatter about who might be on the move.
It’s also a chance to evaluate the broader market. Which teams are buyers? Sellers? Stuck in purgatory? With so many squads in … interesting positions, this week could set the stage for the moves that define the season.
For players, it’s about rest and recovery. For teams, it’s about pivot points. And for fans? Well, it’s a good time to catch your breath, too. January and February are going to get wild.
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