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New York Knicks 2015-16 Schedule Released

By Kenneth Teape

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The NBA released their schedule for the 2015-16 season and for the New York Knicks and all teams there will be more rest than in past seasons. With more games being scheduled on Thursdays and Sundays, the NBA has cleaned up the schedule some, limiting the number of back-to-back sets and four games in five night stretches during the season.

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The Knicks will have 17 back-to-back sets on the season, including their first two games of the season; they open the season on the road against Greg Monroe and the Milwaukee Bucks and then host the Atlanta Hawks in the home opener, welcoming back Tim Hardaway Jr. That is a drop from the 20 they had to play last season, and they will play no four games in five nights sets.

In what should be a surprise to no one, the Knicks are also going to be on national television less this season than in years past. That is what a franchise worst 17-win campaign will do for you. The Knicks will be playing seven nationally televised games this season, which is 18 less than the max you are allowed to play. The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers are the only two teams playing the maximum amount of games on national television.

Last season the Knicks had 16 games scheduled for national television, but many of them after January 1st were moved because the Knicks were not a competitive team. The seven nationally televised games are less than the rebuilding Portland Trail Blazers, who are playing nine and are tied with the Phoenix Suns and Indiana Pacers. It could be worse for the Knicks though; at least they will get to play games on a big stage. The Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons will play zero games on national television, while the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets only national exposure will come on the final day of the regular season against each other.

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On the contrary though, the Knicks of the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers, will be on national television a whopping 19 times. Kobe Bryant’s potential last go round the league will do that, as the total of 19 places the Lakers fifth behind the Warriors, Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder. Knicks fans can take solace in knowing they will be in the spotlight more than their crosstown rival Brooklyn Nets though, who appear on national television just once.

One date that the Knicks will not be in the spotlight for will be Christmas Day. The Knicks have been a regular on Christmas, but will be taken off the schedule this year for the first time since 2008. There will be shortage of great games on Christmas though, with five strong matchups; New Orleans Pelicans vs. Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, Cavaliers vs. Warriors, San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets and Clippers vs. Lakers.

The longest road trip the Knicks will be taking this season occurs in March, when they start out in Denver and finish in Washington. All in all, the Knicks will visit six teams, starring on March 8th with the last game of the trip on March 19th. Really the trip doesn’t end until the 20th though, as the Knicks will have no time to rest off the trip as they play against the Sacramento Kings that night.

The longest homestand will be four games at the end of November into the beginning of December. The Knicks will host the Heat, Rockets 76ers and Nets from November 27th-December 4th. They also have three game homestands six separate times.

If you would like to see the full Knicks schedule for the season, following the line here. Check back tomorrow morning as we delve a little deeper in the Knicks schedule, and highlight five of their most important/intriguing games of the season.

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