Beat me to it. Our schedule is loaded early.
After we play the Nets Monday we'll have 53 games left with 20 against the bad teams you listed. The Wizards are in first place and we don't know that the Nets and Bucks won't need a win to improve their playoff positioning so I subtracted four games from your list. However, it they are locked into their playoff positions they could easily play mostly subs those games, or at least reduce the starters' minutes.
It's exciting to think what the Cavs might do once Mobley gets back (and eventually Sexton) and the schedule lightens up.
Also few more things I am also realizing after diving into the schedule.
We have 11 back to backs left. Here is who we are playing in the second nights: @Milwaukee, Sacramento, @Atlanta, Atlanta, @Sacramento, @OKC, New Orleans, @Philly, @Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia. Obviously anything could happen, but a handful of those teams were mentioned in my post regarding quality of teams we have left. Having some of these guys on the 2nd night of a B2B will lessen the blow
IF we remain healthy and continue to play hard.
Edit: I am not even going to look at who plays us on the 2nd night or during long trips.
Some additional note on the back to backs:
- We have greater than 24 hours between game 1 & Milwaukee. Previous day is a 3:30 game
- None of the travel is considering excessive IMO (greater than 2.5 hours)
- Pelicans we get on more than 24 hours, and are only coming from Detroit
We do however have a west coast road trip that is 6 games in 8 days (who the fuck planned this). There are 2 nights going into Portland so that is a plus. Id even consider punting on the GSW game. The schedule isnt overly difficult; we should be able to win atleast 3 games (OKC, SAC & one of SA or Port), but could win more.
- Portland Fri 1/7
- GSW Sun 1/9
- Sac Mon 1/10
- Utah Wed 1/12
- SA Fri 1/14
- OKC Sat 1/15
To me it looks like even the "rough patches" arent terrible. Not like previous years where we play 4 games in 5 nights with 3 of them against legitimate contenders. I think we got that stretch out of the way on the 1st west coast trip & are undergoing the other right now. Luckily the next 4 are at home. If we could steal 2 of the big games....it will be absolutely huge for our team.