NBA

[Jokerswild]

The NBA really needs to change their playoff system. The best teams were all in the West this year so they ended up with a crappy championship series and the worst ratings ever.

[One4yu2c]

Part of the problem is the Spurs, viewers are tired of watching them. They play slow down, grind it out defensive basketball, and their star player (Tim Duncan) has absolutely no personality out there on the court, it's just all business and no entertainment (save for the basketball purists). Compare Duncan's on court presence to that of Jordan pumping his fist after burying the Cavs, and his tongue wagging out on nearly every drive. Or Shaq's goofy faces and on-court antics, along with his post game comments.

What viewers the NBA did have were likely there to watch LeBron. There just wasn't much interest in the west coast participant, which would have been different if the Suns didn't choke, or Kobe was able to sneak his Lakers into the finals.

As for a better championship series, be patient, Danny Ainge is working on it. I think he has my Celtics on a 20 year plan, so come 2027, I'll be talking plenty of smack.

EDIT
I just got done reading a tidbit from Bill Walton where he disagrees, so that's proof positive that I'm spot on:

Walton bristled when it was suggested that the Finals might be suffering in the ratings because San Antonio is a small market.

"I'm a fan, and I have watched the NBA all season long, and I have been enthralled by this year's playoffs," he said. "I don't really get into the small-market team theory; I think that the San Antonio Spurs are one of the most compelling stories in all of sports today. When they get dissed for their lack of exciting play, I don't understand that. I mean, Tim Duncan is one of the greatest players ever to play basketball, and you've got superior complementary players, so I think any lack of attention to the Spurs, any lack of attention to the NBA Finals, are more of a reflection of who we are as a people.*"

*Highlighted for comical emphasis

[Jokerswild]

Walton would watch any basketball put in front of him. fortunately most viewers won't.

[Capper]

I personally hate watching basketball.......I'd probably rather have a root canal than waste a couple hours of my life watching a punch of 50 Cent wannabees jumping around.

To me at least, basketball peaked a few years ago as a sport, they don't enforce rules like they used to (traveling, palming the ball, etc) and after awhile dunks get really boring.

As to San Antonio, great city, and I don't think a "small market" is the reason for the ratings. i think its a combination of the Spurs having no personality and that damned camera whore Eva Longoria.

[One4yu2c]

Seriously, I mean, these Texas hoodlums (especially the thug on the far left) totally have 50 Cent written all over them, literally...

[Capper]

oh, you want to go there? you pick the 5 whitest players not named Nash!!!!!

According to a special report in the latest issue of Sports Illustrated, several NBA stars have already been subjected to paternity-related lawsuits. They include Larry Johnson, who has five children by four women, Stephon Marbury, who has two illegitimate children, Juwan Howard, who has three by three different mothers, and Shawn Kemp, who somehow managed to sire twelve children from thirteen different mothers. The list goes on, and even includes former greats such as Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas. So clearly the problem has existed for some time.

Add Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, Shawn Kemp, and Rasheed Wallace, and anyone who has ever played for the Portland Trailblazers

[One4yu2c]

Originally Posted by Capper

oh, you want to go there? you pick the 5 whitest players not named Nash!!!!!

Manu Ginobli, Wally Szczerbiak, Mark Madsen, Brian Scalabrine, Dirk Nowitzki, Austin Croshere, Kirk Hinrich, Mike Dunleavy, Pau Gasol, Raef LaFrentz, Jason Williams, Jason Kapono, Dan Dickau, Tim Duncan (oh yeah, I went there)...aw crap, I was supposed to stop at 5!

Originally Posted by Capper

According to a special report in the latest issue of Sports Illustrated

Sounds like every other sport, college or professional. And is that a Larry Bird sighting in that quote? I'm not contending that the NBA and NHL or NASCAR share the same ethnic tendencies (not that it matters), but the thug-life players, like every sport, are far outnumbered. If there's a few that want to cut a rap record off the court, so be it - maybe they could get a studio discount sharing time with Mark Madsen cutting a country album, or Steve Nash singing the Blues (again).

[Capper]

Originally Posted by One4yu2c

Manu Ginobli, Wally Szczerbiak, Mark Madsen, Brian Scalabrine, Dirk Nowitzki, Austin Croshere, Kirk Hinrich, Mike Dunleavy, Pau Gasol, Raef LaFrentz, Jason Williams, Jason Kapono, Dan Dickau, Tim Duncan (oh yeah, I went there)...aw crap, I was supposed to stop at 5!

Who? Those guys play basketball?

I'm just giving my opinion on basketball, affectionately known by several other names, isn't all that popular. I don't agree with Walton, whose an idiot, but the fact of the matter is, only a segment of our population watches it......most don't really give a damn......but then I'm arguing with the Basketball Jones of Detroit.

[Hitman]

<------------Pulling up a chair, with my "Butterless" popcorn and "Diet" Soda. This should be a good fight.

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by Hitman

<------------Pulling up a chair, with my "Butterless" popcorn and "Diet" Soda. This should be a good fight.

No kidding. I've never seen Rich and Paul scrap before. Should be a lot more entertaining than watching basketball, probably the dullest sport to watch on TV, sans tennis.