This topic is no disrespect to San Antonio fans or Piston fans, I am simply making this topic to get a general feel for the climate of interest in this years finals. I mean the finals is still extremely early in its developing stages seeing as we have just ended game 2. But so far I have to say it just isnt interesting...The NBA is buildng the match as the last two NBA champions which is extremely nice marketing tool if the casual basketball fan cared about these teams during their championship runs..but honestly they didnt. I mean last years NBA finals was more about the Lakers exploding then the Pistons winnning. And we all remember the horrid tv ratings for the Nets/Spurs series in 03. So I dont think that the fact these two teams are the last two champions is enough to make one gain interest...But that is just my opinion So the next story line that the NBA is trying to use to gain interest is the fact that these two teams are mirrior images of one another. And styles are so similar...But does that honestly make for a great series? I mean that may generate interest for a TNT game of the week. But I dont think it builds interest for a 7 game series. The NBA would like us to focus on matchups...and yes, there are some Bruce Bowen trying to chase down Rip Hamilton...Prince trying to keep Manu out of the lane...Billups a pshyical scoring type of point guard against the ultra quick playmaking skill of Tony Parker...and of course Tim Duncan vs the Wallace boys. Yes, all good matchups that may catch ones attention here and there...But the fan can easy get distracted away from those matchups by poor shooting, low scoring(well not really tonight) and at times snale like pace in the action. So then the NBA wants us to switch our focus away from the action on court and look at the guys on the sidelines...the NBA is over playing the storyline of the freindship between Larry Brown and Greg Popvich...you see them showing the pictures of them together from earlier years, footage of them coaching together during the Dream team tour last summer, footage of them together before the game..they talk about how they call each other for advice during the regualr and even on into the earlier playoff rounds..which is all good. But as basketball fans do we honestly care about the friendship between these two? Its not like this is Isiah Thomas kissing Magic Johnson before the NBA finals of yester year. And then they step out on the court and try to take each others head off in the mists of aiming for the ultimate prize...these are two coaches, well respected in their fields..but they are still us coaches....we wont see their blood, sweat & tears facing off against each other so two speak. So it simply begs the question what is going to keep your interest ,as a basketball fan, in this series over the Next week or so? Or is years NBA finals a snoozer for you? Please intelligent(but honest) opinions and comments only or thread will be closed
Ok, this series features probably the best PF to ever play the game and the most original and exciting player currently in the game. Not to mention at least one team that actually knows how to use strategy and precise ball movement that resembles the mechanical perfection of a fine pocketwatch. I know the fact that I am a hardcore Spurs fan may make the integrity of my post questionable (ya think?), but I mean, COME ON!!! Would you honestly rather watch a series featuring 2 sloppy ball clubs that each rely on a couple of Jordan clones/wanna-be's and sport weak benches? Ginobili alone is doing stuff that hasn't really been seen in the Finals in a long long time. My advice to you guys: ENJOY IT.
This is a great Finals matchup; I'd say it's the most interesting one since the Bulls and Jazz faced off in '98. Last years could have potentially been interesting, but the Lakers folded way too easily. All the others have been hugely lopsided in favor of the Western Conference team. Now, we finally have a genuinely great matchup where it's totally up in there air who'll win it. Great coaching. The best defensive teams in the league. The past two champions facing off. And no one is interested? That baffles me. If NBA games are only interesting to fans if there's some player who can dunk really well or has a bunch of endorsements, then the league is in a really sad state right now. But anyone who is actually a fan of basketball itself should be loving this series.
For me honestly it isnt about the lack of superstar or big names at all, actually Iam not really a fan of any of the type of guys you are thinking of the Kobes etc..My point is that is a finals where a team is averaging in the 70's entertaining....I know everyone wants to say well love the art of great defense which I can honestly respect such a opinion. But when does the method of loving the art of defense become to much. And in some ways just is a method of hiding bad basketball. Pistons(orginal bad boys), Bulls etc..all great defensive teams yet still made the game look good. And yes..I too believe in the notion of win by any means whether its pretty or just pretty ugly. But right now, I just think that I am expressing the voice of the casual basketball fan, probably not the voice of Justbball die hards. I would love to see the TV ratings of game 1 & 2 so far compared to past years.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">For me honestly it isnt about the lack of superstar or big names at all, actually Iam not really a fan of any of the type of guys you are thinking of the Kobes etc..My point is that is a finals where a team is averaging in the 70's entertaining....I know everyone wants to say well love the art of great defense which I can honestly respect such a opinion. But when does the method of loving the art of defense become to much. And in some ways just is a method of hiding bad basketball. Pistons(orginal bad boys), Bulls etc..all great defensive teams yet still made the game look good. And yes..I too believe in the notion of win by any means whether its pretty or just pretty ugly. But right now, I just think that I am expressing the voice of the casual basketball fan, probably not the voice of Justbball die hards. I would love to see the TV ratings of game 1 & 2 so far compared to past years.</div> I believe the ratings are much lower relative to last year, and certainly compared to the Jordan years. I think I read a figure that the game 1 drew 25% less audience than game 1 of last year.
To be honest, I'd much rather see high offense, 100+ scoring games every time like Phoenix vs Miami match-up. But you have to respect what these teams do, and how they play. I don't mind it, and look forward to every game!
I too am pretty bored with this series. Its not that I dont enjoy watching the more slow it down types of teams or anything. Its more because the Pistons are getting blown out. Watching a team blowout another team isnt very exciting. I would be much more entertained if these games were closer.
It's a combination of 2 things. A) THE BLOWOUTS and the biggest reason.. it's the timeslot that they are shown on TV. The NBA keeps ignoring the fans out East. I understand that the first round with all the games, you're gonna miss games. But by the 2nd round.... you should defintely be playin some games earlier soooo the people on the Atlantic can check out the Western COnference games. The Finals are startin out 6-6:30 PT and that is way tooo late for people who have to get up at 6-7 in the morning.
But if you start them later, then people on the Pacific Coast will get screwed. Most people don't get from work until after 5:30pm. Maybe they should start it earlier, and tape delay for people on the West Coast.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">But if you start them later, then people on the Pacific Coast will get screwed. Most people don't get from work until after 5:30pm. Maybe they should start it earlier, and tape delay for people on the West Coast.</div> Even the games in Detroit are at 9:00 PM though, and that means the game will end at about 12:00 AM. While I don't have a problem with it, they should've had the Detroit home games starting at 8:00 PM.
To get back on topic, these are possibly the best Finals I've seen since the Jordan era. I mean, San Antonio is my favorite team and I loved watching them pick apart New York and New Jersey before, but I've been really hyped through these games in this series, as I've been looking forward to this matchup for a long time. I actually expected it last year - before 0.4 happened... Anyway, great defense wins championships, and it's being proven. I think that a lot of offensive minded people don't like this series, but the fact is it's been a great Finals. As for the lower ratings, they're going to get lower. People are now watching in ways that aren't reflected by the TV ratings, like cell phones (VCast), computers, and any other way there is out there. Hell, some people watch the ESPN encores. So, don't let the ratings fool you.
^ I actually liked watching this series. Great defense all the way by both teams. I didn't pick a winner because I knew this would go to a 7 game series and it was anybody's championship...until the last few minutes of the 4th quarter. I really enjoyed watching the great individual defense of Bruce Bowen on Rip (he was following him like crazy and contesting every shot. I bet Bowen ran a billion suicides just to be able to follow Rip like that) and Ben Wallace's post presence blocking shots and changing others. The team defense was also exceptionally well. Ginobili was a joy to watch. He actually found some loopholes in Motown's D, driving to his left and then kicking out...or driving and dunking...or driving and laying it up...or driving and throwing up a wild shot that goes in. Billups was excellent all throughout the series (except for game 7 where he was picked apart by Bowen). I, for one, enjoyed this series. It's how I always envision basketball to be played!!!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Crossover:</div><div class="quote_post"> As for the lower ratings, they're going to get lower. People are now watching in ways that aren't reflected by the TV ratings, like cell phones (VCast), computers, and any other way there is out there. Hell, some people watch the ESPN encores. So, don't let the ratings fool you.</div> It isnt just the ratings, its the entire vibe, nobody talked about the finals until we got to game 6 & 7, where I live in Soundview, we got a barber shop called Chucky's, I was in their like a week ago to get my cut. And when you getting shaped up normally you talk ball in there, piont blank period. But everyone said the same thing, this series is a wash cause they dont really care about who wins. And the vibe is the same way almost everywhere/everyone around me. People just werent interested. I know David Stern made a similar comment as you made during the half-time of one of the game, but honestly that is just to save face for the declined interest, cause beyond ratings you can feel the vibe that know one cared honestly, it isnt a disrespect to either team, I think that the finals once you got to game 5 turned out pretty decent.
i even admit watchin the finals wasnt that interestin. i watched only about 5 mins of each game. to be truefull this years finals havent really been interestin for me. ur all gona say, oh its becuz the nets lost. yes that has a reason but last years playoffs i really enojoyed even though nets lost
that comment was STRAIGHT from David Stern's mouth LoL. And its no secret that basketball as a whole is suffering from lower ratings. For me, finals came at the worst time ever, at the end of the school year where all the culminatings/summatives and exams roll around. Game 6 was the night before one of my exams(some of you guys would say thats late, but its pretty mcuh average where I am). Also, the whole time shift can get to be a problem, I think eastern games should @ 6 Eastern, and Western Games start @ 6 Pacific. Doubleheaders throughout the playoffs, or something similar to that(doubleheaders is not a "necessary" part of my idea). Also, cut the commercials, commercials begint o piss me off. STagnant play also makes me tired, and I know alot of basketball fans who cant watch a game. Tey might watch a quarter or two and fall asleep at the tube.
