NBA 2019-20 thread.

The hot takes on NBA Finals ratings are just too rich right now. Game 3 of the NBA Finals was played in October in an empty gym in Orlando against Sunday Night Football. End of story. Stop trying to make it seem like the NBA's political stance is what's tanking the rankings.

 

Kevin McHale School of Arms ...

 

I doubt the political stuff has much to do with ratings in the moment. I do think, over the course of many months, there have been casual fans who checked in and decided the presentation and focus was not for them.

Adam Silver has said the BLM decals on the court are probably going away. The league has opened itself up to players wanting to be political on their pet issues, which inevitably leads to:

1. More players wanting to amplify criticism of China.
2. Supper of fringe political movements, mostly on the left, that features some moron who's said or done something deeply inappropriate and/or criminal
3. Somebody wanting to amplify their thoughts on abortion either way.

The day the No. 3 is on the table is the day the NBA tidily wraps up the whole political messaging project.

 

Does Skip post here? I’m sure losing would have been better.

 

Don't disagree with this point at all. But I also believe a lot of those people had checked out beforehand. Mostly because people like Clay Travis are racist pieces of shit. The NBA was never winning anyone like that.

 

I noted that this very thread was not on the front page of the site during most of Game 1 of the finals. I think that’s telling in itself — among a group of people who at some point in their lives watched sports for a living, the NBA simply ranks below the NFL, college football, the Stanley Cup and postseason baseball. It never had to compete with all of those things at the same time before. Throw in the whole “elite summer league” vibe of the game itself — I think basketball is the game that suffers most when not played in front of a live audience — and that better explains why ratings are suffering than anything having to do with the political stuff.

 

We all know that timing and rhythm are essential parts of any sport. The NBA (and the NHL and to a lesser extent baseball) has been off its timing since the bubble started. I think File Not Found's point about the lack of a live audience was spot on, but I think the main thing is that I and millions of others just weren't prepared for postseason basketball in August and September. I know why they did it, and to the extent that it "worked" it was a success, but the ratings dropoff was inevitable and would've happened if they'd brought back the ABA basketball colors and decked the arenas in American flags. It was just all so artificial. BTW, hockey ratings and baseball ratings suck too.

 

Jewish ballers, yo. lol.

Sandler might have to make a movie about this too.

 

Big credit to the Lakers D; the Heat are not getting the good looks from 3 that they got earlier against Celts and Bucks. Oh and LeBron is still maybe the best player in NBA. (Just wish he didn’t whine for every foul when he misses a shot)

 

The complaining was off the charts in Game 4.

 

Butler will need to take those open 3s. He was too hesitant in Game 4.