Cristian Gonzalez
To know how the NBA preseason works, of course we must first understand the main concept. So let’s start by saying for all our NBA newbie friends that the preseason is a time when teams play to prepare for the upcoming regular season. We could call it a warm-up.
Each team will play between four and six games, which last about two and a half weeks. Don’t panic! We mean that don’t be surprised if you see some unexpected or strange lineups, because during this time the coaches take the opportunity to try out different plays and see how the players work best.
Do Preseasons Help the Fans to Make Predictions?
Actually, no. One important thing to keep in mind is that the performances of these NBA preview games do not always carry over to the regular season. So if you’re looking to predict how a team will do in the regular season, it’s not a good idea to rely on the results of these games.
However, this does not dampen NBA fans’ desire to watch these games. Well, it’s a fun way to watch the games, watch the teams, try new things and get a glimpse of what works and what could come for the regular season.
These preview games are a good way to get a good dose of basketball before the regular season starts, and in a much more fun way, as the results of the regular season do not affect the team scores or standings in any way. Although the NBA tracks stats, they don’t really count. So it’s merely fun.
As mentioned earlier, each NBA team plays between four and six games. The number of games actually depends on the schedule. For example, teams that were in last season’s NBA finals will play less games.
The duration of these games varies from year to year, usually starting in early October and ending at the end of the same month, other times it may start in mid-September. In addition, the teams will usually play home games.
Are There Different Rules in NBA Preseason?
- There is no shot clock, so teams can take their time on offense.
- Players may commit more than one foul before being sent off.
- Teams may make more than one substitution per quarter.
- New rule changes will also be tested during the preseason.
- The referees will then be able to call more fouls during preseason games to allow players to get used to the new rules.
Another thing you can keep in mind is that teams often allow their starters to be rested during these games.
Let’s conclude by saying that NBA preseason games don’t really count towards the regular season, they can perhaps give us an idea of what may come, but it’s far from certain as there is a lot of experimentation with teams and rules during these games. But the undeniable truth is that we will be able to enjoy good and necessary doses of basketball.
