5 NBA schedule quirks, including Clippers' wild bobblehead nights and 1 team on TV way too much

When the NBA releases its season schedule, the usual chatter is about rivalries, back‑to‑back road trips, and the dreaded “crossover” game that pushes a team out of a playoff spot. But beyond the predictable headaches, the 2015‑16 season was also littered with some genuinely odd scheduling quirks that only a few fans were aware of. A recent SBNation piece titled “5 NBA Schedule Quirks (Including Clippers Wild Bobblehead Nights and 1 Team on TV Way Too Much)” pulls back the curtain on five such anomalies. Here’s a rundown of those quirks and why they mattered.

1. The “Clippers Wild Bobblehead Night” – A Home‑Court Curiosity

On January 12th, the Los Angeles Clippers opened their 2015‑16 home season with a “wild bobblehead” event that left many fans wondering why the team had turned an entire game into a novelty. Instead of a standard “home‑court advantage” evening, the Clippers announced a special promotion where every ticket holder received a bobblehead of their own player (or a random opponent) as part of the pre‑game hype. According to the team’s social‑media feed (which is linked in the SBNation article), the initiative was meant to celebrate the franchise’s “fan‑first” philosophy while simultaneously boosting ticket sales for an otherwise under‑promoted fixture. However, the quirky event left a few heads spinning because it wasn’t the usual “player of the night” or “game‑changing highlight” that NBA fans typically expect.

The article points out that the Clippers’ quirky promotion is just one of many ways teams use themed nights to create buzz. For example, the Golden State Warriors hosted a “Cannon Night” where the ball had a custom design. These themed nights often receive little coverage in the media because they don’t change the outcome of a game—yet they’re an essential part of fan experience and marketing.

2. The “One Team on TV” Phenomenon – Broadcast Rights Drama

The SBNation piece also notes a curious scheduling glitch: on February 28th, a game involving the San Antonio Spurs versus the Minnesota Timberwolves would have only one team on TV due to a rare broadcast rights conflict. The Spurs were slated to play a local rival in a prime‑time slot on ESPN, but because the Timberwolves were under an exclusive contract with CBS, only the Spurs’ game was televised. The article links to an ESPN schedule confirmation page (https://www.espn.com/nba/schedule) to prove that the Spurs’ home game was indeed the only one broadcast that night.

This “one‑team on TV” situation is a direct result of how the NBA partners with multiple networks—ESPN, ABC, TNT, NBA TV, and regional sports networks. Because of those agreements, a few games often end up being “black‑out” for fans outside the home city. The article explains that this particular blackout is a scheduling oddity that has occurred on rare occasions throughout the league’s history, and it highlights the complexity of aligning broadcast rights with a full 82‑game schedule.

3. The “Back‑to‑Back Road Trip” That Feared the Bucks

A recurring theme in every NBA season is the dreaded “back‑to‑back” game, but the 2015‑16 Milwaukee Bucks faced an unprecedented stretch. From March 3rd to March 9th, the Bucks played six games in a row, all on the road. According to the article’s link to the Bucks’ 2015‑16 schedule on NBA.com, the team was scheduled to play the Celtics, Lakers, Nets, and Jazz in that order—each matchup occurring in a different city and each game spaced less than 48 hours apart.

The article quotes a Bucks player’s interview on the official team site, where he lamented the schedule’s physical toll: “We were on the road so much that we didn’t get to rest at all. The travel alone made us tired.” It also points out that the team’s final game in the stretch against the Jazz resulted in a narrow 107‑105 loss, an outcome the article speculates was at least partially due to the fatigue from the earlier games.

4. The “Same Opponent Twice in Two Days” – An Odd Scheduling Blip

The SBNation article also draws attention to the Chicago Bulls’ schedule on April 15‑16, where they faced the Detroit Pistons twice in a span of 24 hours—once in Detroit and again in Chicago. While back‑to‑back games with the same opponent are not unheard of, the article highlights how rare it is for a team to play the same opponent twice within a day, given that the NBA’s schedule typically spreads out rivalries to maximize TV ratings. The article links to a recap of the Pistons‑Bulls rivalry on Basketball‑Reference.com, which gives context to the unusual matchup timing.

According to the Bulls’ media page (linked in the SBNation piece), the schedule was originally a typo on the NBA’s system and had to be corrected before the league office approved it. While the Bulls won both games, the odd scheduling has sparked debate on how much the league’s scheduling algorithm can be tweaked.

5. The “Way Too Much” Game‑Drought – A Staggering 9‑Game Stretch

Finally, the article concludes with a story about the Miami Heat’s brutal “way too much” schedule. From March 22nd to April 4th, the Heat played 9 games in 14 days, a stretch that “feels more like a season after a season” according to a Heat staffer quoted in the piece. The article points to the Heat’s 2015‑16 calendar on the official NBA site (https://www.nba.com/heat/schedule) and cross‑references the team’s own social‑media posts, which included multiple “rest day” hashtags.

Despite the physical demands, the Heat’s performance remained relatively steady, thanks in part to the coaching staff’s disciplined rotation and the star power of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The article notes that while this stretch could have been avoided, it illustrates the sometimes unrealistic demands placed on NBA teams, especially in the middle of the playoffs race.

Bottom Line: Why These Quirks Matter

While the league’s official website (NBA.com) lists all game dates, times, and locations, the SBNation article reminds fans that there is a human element behind every schedule—an element that can create oddities, inconveniences, and, sometimes, unforgettable experiences. From “wild bobblehead” nights to the rare “one‑team on TV” broadcast, these quirks add a layer of complexity that only the dedicated fan base is likely to notice. The article, through its numerous links to primary sources—including ESPN, NBA.com, and individual team pages—provides a solid factual foundation for its observations, while also delivering a tongue‑in‑cheek look at the NBA’s scheduling challenges. Whether you’re a hardcore statistician or a casual fan who just loves the excitement of a home‑court win, these quirks are a reminder that the NBA’s 82‑game calendar is a living, breathing organism with its own personality.

Read the Full SB Nation Article at:
[ https://www.sbnation.com/nba/1075930/5-nba-schedule-quirks-including-clippers-wild-bobblehead-nights-and-1-team-on-tv-way-too-much ]

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