The NBA travel schedule, with travel across four time zones, is as difficult as it comes.
NFL teams routinely travel as far, but only play once a week. MLB teams play more often, but spend four to five days in each city, making for less distance traveled.
NBA teams on average play slightly more than three games a week over a 26-week regular season. And they go far, with most teams traveling well more than 64,000km over the regular season.
All that travel could also be having an effect on results. Solidified by LeBron James’ move west, the Western Conference has much of the NBA’s best talent
While the conference is on the wrong side of another imbalance, distance traveled — the Trailblazers, Clippers, Lakers, Warriors and Timberwolves are to be in the top five this season — there is new research that indicates Western Conference teams might have an edge when traveling.
How much does that have to do with a talent differential, and how much is down to the direction of travel?
“It’s true that east-to-west travel has a greater effect on performance, but it all depends when a team leaves the east coast to play west coast teams along with what time the games are played,” said Bill Burgos, a performance consultant and former head strength and conditioning coach for the Orlando Magic.
A disruption in the body’s circadian rhythm might be at the root of the problem. This scrambling of the body clock is multiplied by the number of time zones traveled.
It is just one more home-court advantage for west coast teams, hosting sleepy teams from the east.
Other research points to the general negative influence of air travel on health and recovery for every team.
When traveling on a plane, breathing air from a pressurized cabin, the amount of oxygen stored in the blood drops to a level that might alarm a family physician during a checkup, the research showed.
That, in combination with prolonged sitting, can lead to stiff muscles and joints, impeding recovery.
If any league is trying to optimize health, playing games during natural peaks in internal alertness — late afternoon or evening — might protect players from fatigue-related injury.
As Golden State Warriors point guard Quinn Cook knows, recovery from travel can take time.
“The most difficult trip is the one back from the east coast; it usually takes me two to three days to get adjusted,” he said.
Of course, not every road game stress is related to the circadian clock.
Some team’s cities — notably Miami, Los Angeles and New York — derive a “home-court advantage” from their weather and nightlife. Travel to those cities can cause a sudden outbreak of “flu-like” symptoms.
Of course, many might have difficulty pitying players that travel first class in chartered planes, jet-setting to exciting cities.
Nevertheless, if you are rooting for your favorite NBA team to win on the road, you better hope that those perks keep their circadian rhythms running as smoothly as a Swiss watch.
SIBLING RIVALRY: Marc Marquez was locked in a duel with his little brother, falling behind at one point before recovering for his first season-opening victory since 2014 Six-time world champion Marc Marquez yesterday won the MotoGP season-opening Thailand Grand Prix to complete a dominant debut weekend at his new Ducati Lenovo Team, having also romped to Saturday’s sprint. The Spanish great took the 26-lap grand prix by 1.732 seconds for his 63rd MotoGP victory from younger brother Alex Marquez, who is still seeking a first checkered flag, with Francesco Bagnaia third to complete an all-Ducati podium. It completed a perfect weekend for Marc Marquez, who took pole position, the sprint victory and the grand prix win for a maximum 37 points to open the 22-leg 2025 campaign. He led from
AC Milan’s slender hopes of reaching next season’s UEFA Champions League took another hit on Thursday with a 2-1 defeat at Bologna which left them eight points from Serie A’s top four. Sergio Conceicao’s team sit eighth, some way behind fourth-placed Juventus after losing an entertaining contest at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, a match which was rescheduled from October last year due to torrential rain and flooding. Swathes of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy, much of which is fertile agricultural land, had been left under water following a massive autumn downpour. Dan Ndoye prodded home the decisive goal in the 82nd minute
VALUABLE POINT: Relegation-threatened Valencia snatched a thrilling 3-3 draw at CA Osasuna thanks to a remarkable backheel volley by Umar Sadiq Barcelona on Sunday secured a comfortable 4-0 win over Real Sociedad to move back top of La Liga. Aritz Elustondo’s early red card gave Hansi Flick’s side a comfortable afternoon, with Gerard Martin, Marc Casado, Ronald Araujo and Robert Lewandowski on the score sheet. Atletico Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao on Saturday to temporarily knock the Catalans from their perch, while Real Madrid, third, lost at Real Betis Balompie. Flick was able to rotate his side a little ahead of the UEFA Champions League round-of-16 visit to face SL Benfica tomorrow and still move one point above Atletico. “There were a lot of things that
Former Australian motorcycle gang member-turned-golfer Ryan Peake, who served a lengthy jail term for assault, yesterday produced a “life-changing” maiden win to qualify for The Open Championship. Peake held his nerve for a one-stroke victory at the New Zealand Open, earning him a berth at the major in Portrush, Northern Ireland, in July, pending clearance to travel as a convicted criminal. The 31-year-old from Perth celebrated animatedly and was showered with champagne by friends on the 18th green of the Millbrook Resort course near Queenstown after a redemption story rarely seen in the refined sport of golf. Peake held back tears as he
RSS