The NBA schedule is set to be fully released in the next 90 minutes and one of the most intriguing angles when it comes to schedule is whether the league’s concerns about late start times for LeBron James and the Lakers will be addressed.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this year that LeBron’s move to the Western Conference had a negative impact on ratings after playing in the Eastern Conference for the last 15 years. With the schedule coming out later today, this year may bring some changes to the schedule.
And the NBA schedule revealed just that on Monday with nationally televised West Coast games starting a half hour earlier than they have in years past.
Other than the occasional Sunday matinee, the Lakers usually play their games at 7:30. But considering LeBron’s team and move were singled out by the NBA’s leadership as a reason for a ratings drop, they seem like the most likely team to have their tip-off times move. But with other stakeholders involved, such as regional television providers who carry Lakers games, that may prove to be too much to change.
