Waiting Game

No offense to Tom Petty, but waiting isn't that hard, it's just annoying.

It seems like it's been quite some time since the last NBA game. Granted, it was only a couple days ago (Friday) that the Celtics finished off the Pistons to win the Eastern Conference. However, with three more days without games to start the work week, am I the only one wondering why the Celtics and Lakers aren't getting things started until Thursday?

Maybe there is a perfectly sensible reason that I don't know about. If so, could someone please clue me in? Aside from the lay-off, which just gives ESPN Classic more opportunities to show old Magic v. Bird footage, the league's insistence on playing only on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday makes no sense if they are starting on Thursday given the 2-3-2 format of the finals.

The first two games are in Boston, slated for Thursday and Sunday. Then, the middle three games will be Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday (if necessary). If the series has to go back to Boston, the games will be on Tuesday and Thursday. So, travel across the country will occur between Sunday and Tuesday games. There are two off days between games 1 and 2 and between games 4 and 5 when no travel is necessary, while travel from Boston to LA (and back) occurs when games are scheduled approximately 48 hours apart.

Wouldn't it be better to start the series in Boston this Tuesday. The league knew Friday that it got it's throwback series wish. Isn't three free days enough time to schedule the games, have LA travel, hype the match-up and sell tickets (I think they'll go fairly quickly)? Then, the first two games in Boston would be Tuesday and Thursday. Then, cross-country travel could occur when there is an extra day between games (there isn't a need for two off days, but if you are going to have them, you might as well use them efficiently). The games in LA would be Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Then, you'd have the other long break (Thursday-Sunday) to fly back to Boston for the final two games. I must be missing something, because it seems like the obvious solution.