spurschick
07-30-2008, 03:51 PM
Matt Winick does a juggling act making out the schedule
By Mike Baldwin
Staff Writer
Matt Winick spends six months compiling the NBA schedule.
Winick juggles games around concerts, the NHL, a rodeo or a circus. This season, he must work around Oklahoma City hosting the Big 12 men's and women's basketball tournaments at the Ford Center in March. The Blazers and Yard Dawgz will factor into the process, too.
"We have 1,230 games, said Winick, the NBA's vice president of operations who has drawn up NBA schedules for 24 years. "It's like a puzzle with 1,230 pieces. They all have to fit. It's extremely complicated. At times during the process it can be frustrating.
Winick starts in February. Teams supply at least 50 to 60 available dates. Six months later, the final schedule is completed.
Because of the Sonics' uncertain home base, Winick worked with two different schedules the first five months, one for Seattle and one for Oklahoma City. The uncertainty ended July 2 when team chairman Clay Bennett announced the Sonics were relocating to Oklahoma City.
The NBA schedule traditionally is announced the first week of August. Winick said he's about "three or four days behind his usual pace.
"Oklahoma City is part of it, Winick said. "Some other arenas have been part of it. But there are a number of factors. Free agency is part of it, because it affects some television matchups we have to move around.
The Sonics relocating to Oklahoma City, combined with Vancouver's move to Memphis five years ago, has given Winick less flexibility when East Coast teams are sent to the West Coast. But now there is more flexibility when teams head south.
In previous years, some teams would play the Mavericks, Rockets and Spurs in one road swing. Winick can now rotate in Oklahoma City, Memphis and New Orleans with the Texas trio.
"It's more of a challenge with the Pacific and Mountain time zones, Winick said. "But it's opened up possibilities with six teams in that geographic region. We can even tie in a trip with Atlanta.
"Oklahoma City, in and of itself, has not been the cause for the delay. I think we'll get this done soon. But I've been through this enough sometimes you have a hard time scheduling those last two or three games. We're getting close.
http://newsok.com/article/3275713
By Mike Baldwin
Staff Writer
Matt Winick spends six months compiling the NBA schedule.
Winick juggles games around concerts, the NHL, a rodeo or a circus. This season, he must work around Oklahoma City hosting the Big 12 men's and women's basketball tournaments at the Ford Center in March. The Blazers and Yard Dawgz will factor into the process, too.
"We have 1,230 games, said Winick, the NBA's vice president of operations who has drawn up NBA schedules for 24 years. "It's like a puzzle with 1,230 pieces. They all have to fit. It's extremely complicated. At times during the process it can be frustrating.
Winick starts in February. Teams supply at least 50 to 60 available dates. Six months later, the final schedule is completed.
Because of the Sonics' uncertain home base, Winick worked with two different schedules the first five months, one for Seattle and one for Oklahoma City. The uncertainty ended July 2 when team chairman Clay Bennett announced the Sonics were relocating to Oklahoma City.
The NBA schedule traditionally is announced the first week of August. Winick said he's about "three or four days behind his usual pace.
"Oklahoma City is part of it, Winick said. "Some other arenas have been part of it. But there are a number of factors. Free agency is part of it, because it affects some television matchups we have to move around.
The Sonics relocating to Oklahoma City, combined with Vancouver's move to Memphis five years ago, has given Winick less flexibility when East Coast teams are sent to the West Coast. But now there is more flexibility when teams head south.
In previous years, some teams would play the Mavericks, Rockets and Spurs in one road swing. Winick can now rotate in Oklahoma City, Memphis and New Orleans with the Texas trio.
"It's more of a challenge with the Pacific and Mountain time zones, Winick said. "But it's opened up possibilities with six teams in that geographic region. We can even tie in a trip with Atlanta.
"Oklahoma City, in and of itself, has not been the cause for the delay. I think we'll get this done soon. But I've been through this enough sometimes you have a hard time scheduling those last two or three games. We're getting close.
http://newsok.com/article/3275713