NBA wants Spurs-Heat rematch

[coachmac87]

Then why in their top lead stories for the day, do they have the Sixers losing 25 in a row along with Tiger Woods being injured listed and not us winning 14 in a row? In fact, they got to about a half dozen news pieces of information before even getting to our winning streak, in which they spent more time on the Sixers losing again. They are not on our bandwagon for the most part.

Because Philly is about to break a league record. And Tiger is one of the most popular athlete in the country. Spurs aren't news. We're damn good and the country already knows it.

NBA wouldn't complain at all if it's OKC-Heat, but they will make more $ if it's SA-Heat due to number of games and part 2 of one of the best Finals of all-time.

[coachmac87]

If Katie gets MVP the hype and "demand" will only build and build. Who knows how strong and obnoxious it's going to be.

But no way that a rematch from last season doesn't also have strong appeal.

Durante winning MVP doesn't make the series compe ive...

[coachmac87]

it will be no more than a five game series this time around..fluky shooting from the Spurs extended the series to seven games, tbh..won't happen this time around..

Only fluke that happened was the end of game 6. Spurs are hands down best shooting team in the league

[ThomasamohT]

Sorry, I meant to say they are relatively pushing us more than in the past. Besides, the only way the Spurs would have been the top story is if they LOST to the sixers. I'm not even sure the heat would have been the top story if they were playing the sixers.

[Sean Cagney]

A Spurs-Heat rematch will do just fine, but the powers that be really want the Durant-LeBron rematch.

That series was horrible IMO, OKC runs scared everytime they play the Heat.

[Mel_13]

Anybody saying they'd want Spurs-Heat have nothing to back up their word.

[BillMc]

Well, from an entertainment point of view (as opposed to an "ease of opponent" point of view) I'd like to see, from most to least:

Spurs - Heat
Spurs - Nets (Love to see TD take down KG on the biggest stage)
Spurs - Bulls
Spurs - Raptors (just to see a sad DeColo on the sidelines when we win).

All the other Eastern opponents are the same when evaluating it from an entertainment angle. Somehow, Spurs-Pacers just doesn't thrill me.

[InRareForm]

The heat own the thunder

[coachmac87]

Anybody saying they'd want Spurs-Heat have nothing to back up their word.

TV ratings speak otherwise..

[Mel_13]

TV ratings speak otherwise..

I don't know what they're telling you, but this was only thing about ratings in this thread:

Nope. I posted a thread a couple of weeks ago with ratings for Heat/Spurs, Heat/OKC, and Heat/Knicks.

Heat/Spurs just barely beat out Heat/Knicks in terms of ratings, and Heat/OKC was far and away the highest rated on TNT.

At any rate, you've done nothing but state an opinion. There are no facts to support a claim that the "NBA wants a Spurs-Heat rematch".

[SpursRock20]

A Spurs-Heat rematch will do just fine, but the powers that be really want the Durant-LeBron rematch.

Bleh. We already got that two years ago and it was nothing special. I'm sure a weaker Thunder team would make for an even less intriguing series.

[Horry Hipcheck]

I could buy the league wanting a rematch for storyline purposes, but OKC-Miami would undoubtedly bring in better ratings. Which is a shame, because we already got the Heat obliterating an OKC team that HAD James Harden. Durant-LeBron is fun on paper, but not if LeBron cakewalks over the rest of the Thunder.

If the league wants ratings, which they do, they'll want Heat-OKC. If they want a longer, more compe ive series (and, therefore, more TV revenue) they'll want Heat-Spurs. Some basketball purists may want the latter because it's a better story and features a more compe ive matchup, but if recent history is any indication, few casual observers want anything less than Heat-Thunder.

[poeticism707]

A Spurs-Heat rematch will do just fine, but the powers that be really want the Durant-LeBron rematch.

Sad but true.

One reason I'd rather someone else beat the Thunder.

Not because the Spurs can't beat OKC: the Spurs CAN beat the Thunder in 4.

The only question is whether or not Stern and Silver will return to their 2012 WCF Form, and have give the Thunder call, after call, after call, to the tune of 4 straight wins and the Spurs gone from the playoffs...

We will see soon enough...

[RD2191]

I'm pretty sure the NBA wants either the Clips/Rockets/Thunder to face the Heat. They all have marketable "stars".

[Sixth Street]

The NBA markets players not teams. They desperately want a Durant-LeBron matchup in the Finals.

[HI-FI]

I'd hate to see a OKC-Heat rematch. I'm hoping that Silver isn't as corrupt and uncreative as Stern, I've heard he's actually quite a bit different. The whole "hey I've run out of ideas, let's recreate the Magic/Bird rivalry" was still part of Stern's schtick, I'm hoping they've got better ideas than remaking something from the 80s.

[heyheymymy]

nba is all about storyline because it sells, so luckily spurs wandered into one and were part of the show now.

[ThomasamohT]

Heat-OKC ratings:
Game Ratings American audience

1(tue) 9.9 16.195
2(thr) 10.4 16.670
3(sun) 8.8 15.549
4(tue) 10.5 17.455
5(thur)10.9 18.461

Avg: 10.1 16.866

Heat-Spurs ratings:
Game Ratings American audience
1(thr) 8.8 14.241
2(sun) 8.5 14.571
3(tue) 8.5 14.045
4(thr) 10.0 16.228
5(sun) 9.5 16.267
6(tue) 12.3 20.636
7(thr) 15.3 26.319

Avg: 10.41 17.472

Spurs-Heat had higher averages and higher peaks but started lower.

Spurs-Heat averaged only 9.06 in first 5 games vs 10.1 in previous year.

OKC-Heat was a decrease of 1% over the previous years matchup versus the mavs.

The last NBA finals rematch, in 1998, drew 11% higher ratings than the previous year.

I imagine a Spurs-Heat rematch would start higher than it did last year and if they went 6 or 7 games would probably achieve higher numbers than any finals since 2004.

[KaiRMD1]

NBA wants Durant-LeBron with the way they have been talking about how Durant is challenging Lebron's MVP chase

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

I'm not sure about that, but I know I want a Spurs/Miami finals. I don't want it any other way.

[dg7md]

It'd be a great series, and we need our chance at payback. I don't know who else could be in the Finals at this stage of the NBA, but the playoffs haven't even started yet — anything can happen.

[weeks]

it will be no more than a five game series this time around..fluky shooting from the Spurs extended the series to seven games, tbh..won't happen this time around..

the kang sweatin bullets when he thinks about dealing with kawhi again

[Mel_13]

Anyone that watched Game 1 of OKC-Grizz can't possibly believe that the "NBA wants Spurs-Heat rematch"

They want Durant-LeBron.

[TampaDude]

Gotta be a Spurs-Heat rematch. Why?

1. Because we want payback for last year.

2. Because, tbqh, any team coming out of the West not named the Spurs will get their pushed in by Miami in the Finals. OKC without Harden would probably get swept.

[will_spurs]

All in all it seems the NBA will be satisfied as long as the WCF is OKC @ SA, as Miami is coming out of the East no matter what.