Overview
- Atkinson publicly endorsed reducing the 82-game schedule before Cleveland’s win in Detroit, echoing a stance long voiced by Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
- A wave of serious injuries last season, including Achilles tears to Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard, is central to the renewed push for fewer games.
- The Cavaliers offer an early-season example of the strain, with Darius Garland and Max Strus out after surgeries and Lonzo Ball resting as part of workload management.
- Reporters note fans and TV partners increasingly lose marquee players to late scratch decisions as load management becomes routine across the league.
- Analysts caution that cutting games faces steep financial hurdles tied to ticket revenue, media deals and salaries, even as some suggest deeper reductions to roughly 64 games.