It’s not really a big deal but historically NBA teams play worse the earlier the games are. The Knicks have not been good in these early games usually playing down to their competition. Why are the Knicks the only team scheduled this early. The only other teams that play at this time are because they’re playing the Knicks. I already have a problem with NBA scheduling, with having 28 teams in action one day and 4 teams the next. It makes no sense. Does anybody know why the Knicks are the only team that play at 12?
Probably a combination of the following:
- Accommodating European markets
- in the case of Christmas games - they want big market games on for Christmas and usually the Knicks aren’t as good as the other big market teams (i.e. Lakers) so they get the noon game. Also, see above, European markets
- For the local NYC market: doesn’t compete with the garbage NFL teams we have. Also, noon games are attractive to families with kids wanting to attend a game.
Mostly tradition at this point. When this model started it would be Jordan’s Bulls in the middle of the afternoon, so the NY markets and LA markets would bookend.
Now it’s basically the same, Knicks early, the premiere matchup in the middle and the Lakers or other big west coast matchup on the late side. It’s all about cramming 3 games into a single day once football and college winter sports end.