NBA schedule tipping off earlier for rest

Four games in five nights is now an ancient idea and teams will no longer have to play two consecutive nights when they're on ABC.

Those are perhaps the two biggest takeaways Monday from the NBA's release of the 2017-18 schedule.

As NBA.com, called it, the schedule is "kinder, gentler," and along with featuring fewer back-to-back games for every team, begins two weeks sooner.

For most basketball fans, an earlier start is definitely nothing about which to complain.

For the players and the league, this could mean less resting of the game's brightest stars -- such as Cleveland's LeBron James, and anyone who plays for Golden State.

"At the urging of the NBA Players Association, the league has tried to stretch out the regular-season schedule to allow players more rest between games," Hoops Rumors wrote. "There were 20 instances last season where a team had to play four games in five nights. No team will have to go through such a rugged stretch this year, since the regular season will start two weeks earlier than in previous years."

The fun begins Tuesday, Oct. 17, with a rematch of the Eastern Conference finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. Tipoff is 8 p.m. EST in Cleveland, and the game will be televised by TNT.

Here are links to all 30 team schedules.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division

Central Division

Southeast Division

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Northwest Division

Southwest Division

Pacific Division