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Hornets’ lack of back-to-backs in schedule is encouraging

ByEvan Birchmore|
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 07: (L-R) P.J. Washington #25 and LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets warm up before their game against the Orlando Magic at Spectrum Center on April 07, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 07: (L-R) P.J. Washington #25 and LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets warm up before their game against the Orlando Magic at Spectrum Center on April 07, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

The Charlotte Hornets received some good news when the NBA released the full schedule for the 2022-23 season. The Hornets will play just 12 sets of back-to-back games this year, tied with nine other teams for the fewest in the league.

10/28 – 10/29: at Orlando Magic, vs. Golden State Warriors

11/4 – 11/5: at Memphis Grizzlies, vs. Brooklyn Nets

11/9 – 11/10: vs. Portland Trail Blazers, at Miami Heat

12/2 – 12/3: vs. Washington Wizards, vs. Milwaukee Bucks

12/18 – 12/19: at Denver Nuggets, at Sacramento Kings

12/26 – 12/27: at Portland Trail Blazers, at Golden State Warriors

1/23 – 1/24: at Utah Jazz, at Phoenix Suns

2/2 – 2/3: at Chicago Bulls, at Detroit Pistons

2/10 – 2/11: at Boston Celtics, vs. Denver Nuggets

2/24 – 2/25: at Minnesota Timberwolves, vs. Miami Heat

3/11 – 3/12: vs. Utah Jazz, vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

3/23 – 3/24: at New Orleans Pelicans, at Dallas Mavericks

Ten of Charlotte’s back-to-back sets involve travel at some point, either to play a road game in the second contest or to return to Charlotte for the second contest. Four of the back-to-back sets involve travel across a time zone, although none involve traveling further than a single time zone. Interestingly, one of the four back-to-back sets involving travel across a time zone (Chicago to Detroit) is actually the shortest trip of any of the ten back-to-back sets requiring travel.

The most back-to-back sets for any team this season is 15, as the league continues its concerted effort to reduce such occurrences in its schedule. The league-wide average for back-to-back sets is 13.3, down from 13.5 a season ago and down significantly from an average of 19.3 for the 2014-15 season.

Also of note is the fact that the Hornets will travel the fifth-fewest miles of any team this season. By nature of geography, the Eastern Conference teams tend to travel fewer miles per season than their Western Conference counterparts, a fact that will serve to benefit the Hornets in their travels this season. This is also a part of a larger NBA initiative, as the league average for miles traveled this season is a record-low 41,000, down from 43,000 a season ago.

It is uncertain how successful the Hornets will be once they hit the court this season, but their schedule sets up nicely for the team to make yet another run at a postseason spot come April.

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