For many players and coaches, last year’s condensed NBA schedule took its toll. Too many games played in a lesser amount of time was too harsh they said. Others, like Denver’s George Karl, believe that playing 66-games is just right. Karl spoke out, telling media that the league would have a better product if players weren’t so fatigued by a long slog season.
“I’m sure Commissioner (David) Stern won’t like this, but I think the product would be better if we shortened the season. When we start playing in late October, the people are thinking football. If you could just get us less fatigue [in a shorter season], I think you’d have a better product. When they started on Christmas Day, I thought, ‘This is not a bad idea. This should be the start of NBA basketball … Maybe start Dec. 1 and play 62 games, whatever number they’d come to.”
