NBA eases schedule for weary stars

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The NBA announced its full 1,230-game schedule for the upcoming season, complete with tweaks designed to reduce wear-and-tear on players through the grinding 26-week campaign.

The 2017-18 Season will be the first in NBA history in which no team plays four games in five days. The number of back-to-back games has been reduced to 14.4 per team — down from 16.3 last year.

The issue of keeping teams fresh during a regular-season lasting more than six months gained urgency as coaches opted to rest stars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry occasionally to be sure they'd be ready for deep playoff runs.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors attempts a three-pointer against the Los Angeles Lakers during their NBA game in Los Angeles, California on November 4, 2016. / AFP Photo

The absence of marquee players was felt not only by fans who paid for tickets but also by national broadcasters. ABC and ESPN recently paid $24 billion for the right to air some of the league's marquee games.

To make it possible, the league shortened the pre-season, and added about a week to the regular season.

The season tips off on October 17 with the reigning champion Golden State Warriors taking on the Houston Rockets, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, bested by the Warriors in last season's finals, taking on the Boston Celtics in a rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals.

LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers walks on court during Game 6 of the 2015 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 16, 2015 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. /AFP Photo

The NBA had already revealed its five Christmas Day contests, which include a Warriors-Cavaliers rematch.

The two teams, which clashed in the last three championship series, will meet again on Martin Luther King Jr. Day — January 15.

Three-time All-Star DeMarcus Cousins, traded from the Sacramento Kings to the New Orleans Pelicans last season, makes his first return to Sacramento in week two.

Paul George, traded by the Indiana Pacers to Oklahoma City, returns with the Thunder and NBA Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook to take on the Pacers on December 13.

Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers shoots against the Houston Rockets during their NBA game on February 11, 2015 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. /AFP Photo

Chris Paul will be back in Los Angeles to take on his old team the Clippers as a Houston Rocket on January 15.

In international games already announced, the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets will play in Mexico City on December 9 and the 76ers and Celtics will meet in London on January 11.

Source(s): AFP