But as marvelous as the Spurs' defense is, the fact remains that, unless you live in San Antonio, this is very, very hard to watch. It's like a car crash, except that people very often find car crashes compelling viewing -- you know, like when they say, "I just couldn't look away." It seems sports fans from coast to coast are having an easy time looking away from this series. The ratings are awful. Game 1 set an all-time low for primetime Finals viewership. Game 2 had a 30 percent drop in viewers in comparison to last year's Game 2. And what do you suppose the ratings will be for the foregone conclusion that is Game 4?
All this is happening at a time when the league is seeking to extend its contract with its current network partners. My guess is that 75-72 is the kind of score that shaves millions off that deal. The NBA is in it up to its armpits, and all the rules changes and whistle-blowing tinkering designed to increase scoring is still for naught. I mean, 147 combined points in your marquee event? I enjoy team play as much as anyone, and I have tried to defend great defense as interesting for the sport.
But I can't anymore. That game was awful. It was boring. No one is watching, and I can't blame them. This series isn't so much about athleticism or scoring or star players or old-fashioned up-and-down basketball. It is, as Duncan said, about some people standing in front of other people. I can just hear Uncle Frank asking Aunt Tilda, "Where's the remote, hun?"
How many people watched Bill Russell and the Celtics dominate 11 out of 13 years? We all look back and think wow what a team because at the end of the day all that matters is who got the ring.
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