"They're going to cut the preseason down": Malone hints NBA may soon mandate six preseason games per team

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Everyone can agree that the NBA preseason is too long.

Currently, teams play anywhere from six to eight preseason games. The Nuggets got the short end of that stick this year and are getting ready for their eighth preseason in just 18 days at home against Dallas Friday night. A team like Memphis, for example, only wound up with six games on their preseason schedule.

“Most definitely,” Malone said after practice Thursday on if eight preseason games was too much and if Denver will try to play fewer preseason games next year.

“The league is going to mandate, whether it’s next year or soon after, they’re going to cut the preseason down,” Malone said. “They want to give more time for the regular season, less back-to-backs, four-in-fives, and so forth. They’re going to make the preseason shorter. They may mandate six, but I think next year six would be great.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver went on record last year and said the NBA is inching closer to reducing the number of preseason games, but did not go as far as proposing an exact number of games teams should play.

What made matters worse for Denver this year was six of their eight preseason games came on the road.

Denver’s extended preseason, which saw the Nuggets travel to Omaha, Nebraska for training camp because of the limited space inside the Pepsi Center for practice, puts unnecessary miles on players’ bodies and leaves room for injury and fatigue.

“I think we’ve been home for around six of the last 25 days,” Malone said. “Which makes it tough, a lot of traveling.”

It’s not just game minutes, though. Airplane rides, hotel rooms, and long bus rides increase that wear and tear.

“Guys are definitely tired, it’s been a very tough, demanding training camp,” Malone said. “No excuses obviously. I think there’s definitely a lot of fatigue, tired legs going on. So we’ll get through tomorrow’s game, take off Saturday, then have Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, to get ready for Wednesday.

The Nuggets open the regular season next Wednesday, October 26 in New Orleans before returning to Pepsi Center for their home opener Friday, the 29th against Portland.