NBA: I don't know how the Curry camp can find happines in this...

[midnightpulp]

I understand the sentiment, but nothing will change, tbh..

Not only are the NBA's Finals ratings as good as they've been since DK, but they've also got the handcuffs on the young demographic, along with minorities..it's the most popular pro sport on social media, as you said..

Oh, I know. The NBA found their formula (social media, storyline driven), much like the NFL found theirs (fantasy sports driven). But both formulas came at the expense of the sport. Post play died in the NBA (big men have never really been that marketable), while the running game died in the NFL (a pass happy league is better for fantasy players).

[DMC]

Chef busted LeHype's balloon knot tonight though

The knot doesn't get broken before the last game. Have you been out of it so long you're taking one game victories in a series?

[DMC]

I understand the sentiment, but nothing will change, tbh..

Not only are the NBA's Finals ratings as good as they've been since DK, but they've also got the handcuffs on the younger demographic, along with minorities(a segment of North America that continues to grow)..it's the most popular pro sport on social media, too, as you said..

Which means all teams profit. Other teams will begin to be farm teams for these two teams for a few years.

[midnightpulp]

Stern said if he had his way it would be Lakers Celtics every year, that's how it was in the "good old days". Parity my ass.

Lakers vs. Lakers.

NBA has always been the most casual of the big 4 sports. Even in the good old days. People really didn't start watching until a "compelling" storyline was involved (i.e. Magic vs. Bird, black vs. white, Hollywood vs. Blue collar). NBA was on its death bed before then.

[Fabbs]

jr smith sprinting to cover the 3 point line as KD walks down the middle for a dunk

I've never heard a true reason why this phuckstick keeps getting dragged around by LeBron.

[Clipper Nation]

I understand the sentiment, but nothing will change, tbh..

Not only are the NBA's Finals ratings as good as they've been since DK, but they've also got the handcuffs on the younger demographic, along with minorities(a segment of North America that continues to grow)..it's the most popular pro sport on social media, too, as you said..

The NBA's local TV ratings in the regular season are already declining. The ratings for national games and the playoffs will be next once even the casual fans get bored of non-compe ive blowouts. On top of that, if the playoffs continue to suck this bad every year with so few games played, gate receipts will continue to decline, the salary cap will shrink and it will cost players money.

Just because the playoff ratings are good right now doesn't change the fact that the league is in trouble longterm if something isn't done to even the playing field.

[Capt Bringdown]

Just because the playoff ratings are good right now doesn't change the fact that the league is in trouble longterm if something isn't done to even the playing field.

Disagree. Look at NBA history - it's not about parity and an even playing field. Look at all the les the Lakers and Spurs have won the last 20 years.
The Bulls ruled the 90's.
Lakers and Celts ruled the 80's.
The 70's was arguably the most compe ive, even-playing field decade, and guess what? The league was dead in terms of prestige and mass appeal, only to be rescued in the 80's by the dominance of Magic and Bird.
The 60 was owned by the Celtics.

The league's product to casual fans is not parity and fundamental, compe ively played basketball.

[Clipper Nation]

Disagree. Look at NBA history - it's not about parity and an even playing field. Look at all the les the Lakers and Spurs have won the last 20 years.
The Bulls ruled the 90's.
Lakers and Celts ruled the 80's.
The 70's was arguably the most compe ive, even-playing field decade, and guess what? The league was dead in terms of prestige and mass appeal, only to be rescued in the 80's by the dominance of Magic and Bird.
The 60 was owned by the Celtics.

The league's product to casual fans is not parity and fundamental, compe ively played basketball.

It was never as bad in the past as a 73-win team adding the former MVP who choked and quit against them in the offseason. If the Warriors sweep, the year will end with only 78 playoff games having been played. That would be the shortest playoffs since the first round got extended from five games to seven. This is uncharted territory for the league.

[midnightpulp]

The NBA's local TV ratings in the regular season are already declining. The ratings for national games and the playoffs will be next once even the casual fans get bored of non-compe ive blowouts. On top of that, if the playoffs continue to suck this bad every year with so few games played, gate receipts will continue to decline, the salary cap will shrink and it will cost players money.

Just because the playoff ratings are good right now doesn't change the fact that the league is in trouble longterm if something isn't done to even the playing field.

This season's playoffs are performing worse overall, as well.

http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2017...tering-finals/

A 4 year low.

And no way in do these Finals beat last years now that the Cleveland Curse/Prodigal son storyline is over.

The NBA has always been short-sighted. They bank on big markets (Lakers) or mega-mega stars (Jordan, Lebron, Curry) to drive league interest. The Lakers can't feasibly make the Finals every year, and Lebron and Jordan have once-in-a-generation marketability. I don't even think Curry could carry the league.

Funny enough, we saw this happen in baseball, during its supposed "golden age." In the era of Yankees dominance, baseball really only thrived in that market.



It was still America's most popular sport at that time, but it was really struggling in the smaller markets. Everyone was pretty much a Yankees fan, just like everyone was a Bulls fan and are now Lebron/Curry fans. So what happens when those players retire? The NBA needs the Bucks of the world to grow those small markets.

[Capt Bringdown]

That would be the shortest playoffs since the first round got extended from five games to seven. This is uncharted territory for the league.

It will be interesting to see how this hurt's the NBA's number$. However, if/when they do intervene, it will likely NOT be to enable/develop parity.

I recall how they responded the 2007's lowest rated finals ever - to instantly resurrect (via absurd one-sided trades) the Lakers and Celtics. So much for parity.

[InRareForm]

Curry will probably never get finals MVP

[daslicer]

It will be interesting to see how this hurt's the NBA's number$. However, if/when they do intervene, it will likely NOT be to enable/develop parity.

I recall how they responded the 2007's lowest rated finals ever - to instantly resurrect (via absurd one-sided trades) the Lakers and Celtics. So much for parity.

I see defensive rule changes happening eventually much like the league started to implement zone defense once a lot of casual fans got sick of Shaq's dominance during the 3 peat Lakers run.

[DMC]

The NBA's local TV ratings in the regular season are already declining. The ratings for national games and the playoffs will be next once even the casual fans get bored of non-compe ive blowouts. On top of that, if the playoffs continue to suck this bad every year with so few games played, gate receipts will continue to decline, the salary cap will shrink and it will cost players money.

Just because the playoff ratings are good right now doesn't change the fact that the league is in trouble longterm if something isn't done to even the playing field.

Oh yeah, that's why they raised the salary cap and guys are going to make 40 million a year. They are losing money hand over fist now that the Spurs are eliminated.

[TDMVPDPOY]

would be funni if curry loses another fmvp....

[dav4463]

This NBA today looks like a YMCA pickup game....only with really athletic players. No strategy, just rely on your one on one talent, jack a few 3's, throw down some dunks...and the casual fan will follow.

[AlexJones]

Curry and Durant don't care about who wins FMVP this year. They're going to share like 4 les together. They might both surpass Kobe for top 10 when it's all said and done.

[da_suns_fan]

Tune out. Don't watch this garbage. Don't give it your ratings point.

Now I don't want rules against building superteams, but the NBA needs to figure out how to generate more natural parity. They really, really need to employ a farm system (an actual one, not the AAU joke that is the D-League). Hockey and baseball have the best parity in pro sports, and the reason is because both leagues have comprehensive farm systems and actually take time to develop players, so every year, a franchise has a probable star coming in. Tanking would also be rendered obsolete.

NBA is all about drafting on potential and throwing players at the proverbial wall to see what sticks.

The most exciting, unpredictable, explosive basketball in the history of the NBA and Spurs fan calls it "garbage".

[da_suns_fan]

This NBA today looks like a YMCA pickup game....only with really athletic players. No strategy, just rely on your one on one talent, jack a few 3's, throw down some dunks...and the casual fan will follow.

Butt-hurt Spurs fans!

[The Gemini Method]

At one point, Curry was being labeled an oft-injured slight PG. So, I'm sure he's appreciative that he is on the Warriors. I mean, it seems that he doesn't have that ego where it puts him in that stratosphere of needing to be the man. I think the one who might be disgruntled at the moment is Thompson. Though, Klay is in a major swoon, he still killed it on the other side of the ball. I think he'll be the first of the 4 to leave Oakland. I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case.

[thunder]

The most exciting, unpredictable, explosive basketball in the history of the NBA and Spurs fan calls it "garbage".

Nah it's pretty boring, got. And this is coming from a non-Spurs fan.

[Mark Celibate]

The most exciting, unpredictable, explosive basketball in the history of the NBA and Spurs fan calls it "garbage".

roflwut?

[Clipper Nation]

The most exciting, unpredictable, explosive basketball in the history of the NBA and Spurs fan calls it "garbage".

The style of play is better than previous eras (though it could be even better; there needs to be more balance on offense instead of spamming threes), but it's ruined by how non-compe ive the league is now. The style of play isn't enough on its own when there aren't any stakes in 99.9% of the games. And unlike you, most NBA fans aren't thrilled with losing.

[140]

The style of play is better than previous eras (though it could be even better; there needs to be more balance on offense instead of spamming threes), but it's ruined by how non-compe ive the league is now. The style of play isn't enough on its own when there aren't any stakes in 99.9% of the games. And unlike you, most NBA fans aren't thrilled with losing.

[Koolaid_Man]

there's nothing more gratifying than seeing these Pussy Spur and Mav fan boys and girls lose their marbles over the Dubs in command..May the meltdowns continue.

#veryhappy

[Koolaid_Man]

The style of play is better than previous eras (though it could be even better; there needs to be more balance on offense instead of spamming threes), but it's ruined by how non-compe ive the league is now. The style of play isn't enough on its own when there aren't any stakes in 99.9% of the games. And unlike you, most NBA fans aren't thrilled with losing.

I'm especially pleased to see you in pain like a pussy just raw ed by Kool....you're the biggest sucker in the US. You go from Chris Paul's , the Kiwi's , and now on to Lebron's steroid tiny . You're the ultimate man.