5. Miscellaneous Key Facts
Before we get to the good stuff, some of the quirky factoids about the upcoming season are worth examining. After having 18 back-to-backs last season, the Suns will only have 14 in 2015-16, a franchise low for a season. The league was focusing on decreasing the number of back-to-backs and Phoenix seems to be one of the prime beneficiaries.
The Suns will also only have one four-games-in-five nights stretch, another main focus for the NBA this season.
NBA announces instances where a team plays four games in five nights reduced from 70 in 2014-15 season to 27 in 2015-16 season.
— Rick Bonnell (@rick_bonnell) August 12, 2015
In terms of holidays, the Suns won’t be playing on Christmas once again. But they will be playing on Halloween (at Portland), Thanksgiving (vs. Golden State) and New Year’s Eve (at Oklahoma City). Phoenix also plays the day after Christmas (vs. Philadelphia).
The Suns will also get the added benefit of playing more opponents who are coming off a game the night before than they did last season:
.@Suns will play 18 "Fresh" games this season - where Suns didn't play the day prior, but opponent did - four more than last year.
— Casey Taggatz (@caseytaggatz) August 12, 2015
Finally, it’s worth pointing out the games the Suns fans will REALLY want to circle on their calendars, starting with a home game against the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 6. This game, of course, will feature the return of Marcus Morris to the Valley, which will no doubt be met with quite a bit of hostility by the home fans.
On Dec. 2, the Suns will face off with Mook and the Pistons again, this time in Detroit. Channing Frye and the Orlando Magic come to town on Dec. 9. On Jan. 8, Goran Dragic will return to Phoenix for the first time with the Miami Heat, as will former fan favorites Gerald Green and Amar’e Stoudemire.
Next: No. 4