NBA changes Finals schedule to give players more rest time

The NBA is changing the format for the Finals in 2016 to help with travel and give players more time to rest.

A new formula introduced Wednesday by the league abandons the traditional Tuesday-Thursday-Sunday schedule and includes two days off whenever travel to another city is required.

The 2016 NBA Finals, scheduled to start June 2, shapes up as follows: Game 1 on Thursday, June 2; Game 2 on Sunday, June 5; Game 3 on Wednesday, June 8; Game 4 on Friday,? June 10; Game 5 (if necessary) on Monday, June 13; Game 6 (if necessary) on Thursday, June 16; and Game 7 (if necessary) on Sunday,? June 19.

In 2014, the NBA altered the 2-3-2 format it used for almost 30 years to a 2-2-1-1-1 schedule that included an extra day built in for travel between Games 6 and 7.

The altered Finals schedule is part of the NBA's ongoing effort to cut down on back-to-back games during the regular season and postseason in order to give players more rest and recuperation time.