A new scientific study shows that a road team travelling from east to west may actually be at a four-point disadvantage.

"There is some evidence that suggests that visiting teams traveling from the east to the west have a relative disadvantage compared to teams traveling from the west to the east," said Dr. Paul Ingmundson, a sleep researcher at Audie Murphy VA hospital, and the Alamo Sleep Disorders Center.

"Two hundred fifty years ago, Benjamin Franklin said, "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. Well, early to bed, early to rise in NBA basketball may make you miss free throws and commit turnovers," Ingmundson said.