BREAKING NEWS: NBA Has Lowest Rated Conference Final Opener Since 2007 in Spurs/Grizz

[chapnis]

Like someone else said, the only thing that has changed since last season is the opponent, not us.

[Kidd K]

Not the least bit surprised. ESPN, ABC, and TNT were so busy pumping up and blowing the Warriors and Thunder, there was bound to be a ratings letdown when those two inferior teams didn't advance.

TNT, ABC, ESPN, and the NBA themselves have nobody to blame but themselves for not advertising the real best teams more than they are. The Spurs are an interesting team, but they always have this agenda to call them boring over and over and over even when they aren't. People are just going to believe it even if it's not true because parroting is what people who barely pay attention do.

I was going to come in here and say, "Well the Grizzlies get much lower ratings than the Spurs". . .but I really can't in good faith just blame them. Spurs beating the MUCH more hyped Warriors who had every excuse in the book hammered into people's brains afterward probably made people not want to watch the Spurs for the rest of the year. It's like they're trying to set them up as bad guys.

[midnightpulp]

That's true to some extent. Lakers and Kincks will always draw attention no matter who plays in there I guess we all know this but small market teams can have big ratings if big entertaining stars play in those teams, that's why OKC draws decent rating numbers despite being a small market team.

If San Antonio had a star ala Durant, Lebron, Kobe, heck even Allen Iverson there would be no talk about it being a boring, small market, rating killing team. BTW isn't San Antonio the 7th biggest city in the US? I think I read that somewhere.

7th biggest city but 38th largest television market.

[DAF86]

7th biggest city but 38th largest television market.

lol how is that possible?

[iminol]

riding horses instead watching TV

[BillMc]

I was reading somewhere about it was so disappointing that the Pacers downed the Knicks, because the ECF could have used Carmelo Anthony's "star power". (Nevermind, apparently, the gigantic New York market). And then it went on that the WCF had no star power on either team.

And I wondered to myself, what did Carmelo EVER do to become a star... and why were Tim, Tony and Manu not considered stars?

David Robinson was a "star", John or Jane Q. Public were interested in him, but not our core trio, I guess.

A real shame. We are like the old Isiah Thomas Pistons. Champions beloved only in our home state (and maybe, France, Argentina and Australia)

[DAF86]

I was reading somewhere about it was so disappointing that the Pacers downed the Knicks, because the ECF could have used Carmelo Anthony's "star power". (Nevermind, apparently, the gigantic New York market). And then it went on that the WCF had no star power on either team.

And I wondered to myself, what did Carmelo EVER do to become a star... and why were Tim, Tony and Manu not considered stars?

David Robinson was a "star", John or Jane Q. Public were interested in him, but not our core trio, I guess.

A real shame. We are like the old Isiah Thomas Pistons. Champions beloved only in our home state (and maybe, France, Argentina and Australia)

Style over substance son, everytime.

[bklynspursfan]

Since 2007 huh? I'll take it. Now let's replicate something else from that season.

[Dingle Barry]

lol how is that possible?

Markets aren't based on city limits. Example, San AnRovio is abnormally large city proper with relatively few suburbs making up the metro area. But DFW is much larger of a market despite Dallas proper being technically smaller than SA.

Also, Mexicans.

[Doug Collins]

Also, Mexicans.

That's the main reason, tbh.

[Humberto]

Stern is a ass clown.

Makes no sense that the NBA is spending marketing money on Dirk (long commercial during game 1) and commercials with Paul Pierce sitting in the rafter.. no way Boston was going to win it all. I agree with the market size of the teams playing but NBA needs to be smarter about the commercials and promos they run if they want to bring the casual fans in.

[Homeland Security]

lol how is that possible?

Most large American cities are like Buenos Aires -- central city surrounded by suburbs that contain the majority of the regional population.

San Antonio is like Cordoba or Rosario.

[Homeland Security]

That's the main reason, tbh.

It's a significant driver behind the nationwide disgust with the Spurs' perennial success as well.

[rascal]

Guys. this has nothing to do with NBA marketing strategy and everything to do with television market size. I guarantee you that if you took this exact same Spurs team and swapped them with the Lakers, they'd draw huge ratings, regardless of whether or not they have a high profile superstar. Put Memphis in New York, same thing. It's no coincidence the highest rated NBA Finals the Spurs were ever in is when they played the Knicks, who played a boring brand of basketball and lacked a marketable star after Ewing got hurt. Despite that, the series still had great ratings simply because of New York's market size.

This- market size and fan base.

[Legacy]

[temujin]

Spurs were there last year, Mamphis didn't.

Stern knows what it's going to happen if the Grizzlies make it to the Finals.

[hater]

Apparently the big news out of New York is that Carmelo needs a better supporting cast to contend. Apparently, a cast of Felton, Kidd, Chandler, Amare, Camby, JR, Shumpert is not good enough help for the A+++ start to get to the East Conference Finals

Lebron dominated the East for a decade with a supporting cast of Boobie Gibson and Ilgauskas

Melo most overrated piece of

Knicks

delusional

destined to suck for the rest of the decade

[DAF86]

Apparently the big news out of New York is that Carmelo needs a better supporting cast to contend. Apparently, a cast of Felton, Kidd, Chandler, Amare, Camby, JR, Shumpert is not good enough help for the A+++ start to get to the East Conference Finals

Melo most overrated piece of

Knicks

delusional

destined to suck for the rest of the decade

That's a pretty lame supporting cast, tbh.

[hater]

That's a pretty lame supporting cast, tbh.

Lebron dominated the East for a decade with a supporting cast of Boobie Gibson and Ilgauskas

the bulls had a better playoffs with the italian stallion, Nazr and kriptonate

furthermore, Melo's stint in Denver was pretty much the same. He had very good supporting casts there too

on a final note, Melo averaged 1 assist and 6 rebounds per game in the playoffs

superstar

building around this turd

[GSH]

If the NBA marketed teams instead of superstars, this wouldn't be an issue for them.

Exactly.

They have painted themselves into a corner with the way they have molded and marketed the league.

[Humberto]

Knicks need more pump fakes and overweight players.

[KaiRMD1]

YES!!!! I'm so rooting for the Pacers. Then, they could face either Grizzlies or Spurs, it won't matter. This is all the NBA's fault for never advertising the sport as a whole. HA!!

[KaiRMD1]

I thought people loved the Spurs/Jazz WCF in 2007!

I loved it!!! But I'm a Spurs fan and seeing Fisher get curb stomped is always beautiful

[FkLA]

Markets aren't based on city limits. Example, San AnRovio is abnormally large city proper with relatively few suburbs making up the metro area. But DFW is much larger of a market despite Dallas proper being technically smaller than SA.

Also, Mexicans.

What cities/towns are considered SA market tbh? Are New Braunfels and San Marcos part of it? If not I think its only a matter of time before they are imo, have also read that the city is growing so fast that it wouldnt be surprising if San Antonio-Austin merged the way Dallas-Forth Worth did eventually. That would make our market size alot more attractive tbh.

[Brunodf]

Apparently the big news out of New York is that Carmelo needs a better supporting cast to contend. Apparently, a cast of Felton, Kidd, Chandler, Amare, Camby, JR, Shumpert is not good enough help for the A+++ start to get to the East Conference Finals

Lebron dominated the East for a decade with a supporting cast of Boobie Gibson and Ilgauskas

Melo most overrated piece of

Knicks

delusional

destined to suck for the rest of the decade

This remind me another superstar chucker (2005-2007) tbh