The NBA is starting to flounder as far as TV ratings go, and popularity.But one way to bring them back up, is to have a final something like this: LA Lakers vs. New York Knicks.I mean, I guess it's possible this season, do I doubt it? Yes, but if the Knicks can go on a spurt and make the playoffs, anything can happen.This would be great for the marketing side of the NBA. I mean, two pretty solid rivals, across the map, going at each other...and Kobe at the garden...OH MAN!I'm just saying, the NBA needs more rivalries and intense games like major league baseball does and stuff, or NFL with Cowboys - Giants, ya know.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MaRdYC26 @ Feb 16 2007, 10:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The NBA is starting to flounder as far as TV ratings go, and popularity.But one way to bring them back up, is to have a final something like this: LA Lakers vs. New York Knicks.I mean, I guess it's possible this season, do I doubt it? Yes, but if the Knicks can go on a spurt and make the playoffs, anything can happen.This would be great for the marketing side of the NBA. I mean, two pretty solid rivals, across the map, going at each other...and Kobe at the garden...OH MAN!I'm just saying, the NBA needs more rivalries and intense games like major league baseball does and stuff, or NFL with Cowboys - Giants, ya know.</div>Well, I agree that there needs to be some sort of heated rivalry in the NBA, but with the amount of player movement and with how strict the league office is becoming with physical behavior on the court, it is really difficult to create those heated rivalries.I mean, I hate to bring it up, but the brawl at the Palace could have been the sparkplug to make an already somewhat-heated rivalry between Indiana and Detroit into a heated one... but look what happened as a result.Go back to the '80s and '90s and look at those rivalries... what was a part of the game back then that isn't really part of the game right now? Physicality. Players were physical by nature, and the league allowed them to be physical. There are still physical players in the NBA today, but with all the rule changes to give the offense an advantage over the defense, it is impossible to develop those kinds of rivalries anymore.
First off, there needs to be two major players that have a rivalry. Right now the problem is that we could easily have those guys (Lebron and Kobe) but their teams don't compete. The NBA also needs a face of their league. There are like 5 players that are all smattered together as the head of the league's publicity when there needs to be one.The main ratings problem for the NBA is the time. Since the Eastern Conference is so terrible, East Coast fans aren't tuning into games. Western Conference games come on too late for most East Coast fans looking for a good game. I agree with BigMo on this last point. Any physicality in the game right now is shown through Fouls per game. If you put a dominant defender on a star player, the star player gets all of the benefit-of-the-doubt calls.
I think the league needs to take a step or two back. get rid of pussyball and starball, and bring back handchecking. it would add actualy defense to a game which requires defense to play properly, than the league needs to start putting money into rec. leagues so that kids become fundamentally sound. no more young kids getting drafted and having no real skills other than scoring. the age limit needs to goto 3 years as well, the one now is a good start but the NBA should mimmic the NFL in that reguard. the next thing is the NBA needs to weed out the imbiciles.(sp?) The league has taken a huge hit because everyone thinks that its players are nothing but a bunch of thug Niggers. I'm sorry to say that word, but its about the only word which brings the serverity I fell was needed. this hiphop culture in the NBA doesn't appeal to a lot of people, especailly the people who can afford to goto games.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (redneck @ Feb 16 2007, 12:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think the league needs to take a step or two back. get rid of pussyball and starball, and bring back handchecking. it would add actualy defense to a game which requires defense to play properly, than the league needs to start putting money into rec. leagues so that kids become fundamentally sound. no more young kids getting drafted and having no real skills other than scoring. the age limit needs to goto 3 years as well, the one now is a good start but the NBA should mimmic the NFL in that reguard. the next thing is the NBA needs to weed out the imbiciles.(sp?) The league has taken a huge hit because everyone thinks that its players are nothing but a bunch of thug Niggers. I'm sorry to say that word, but its about the only word which brings the serverity I fell was needed. this hiphop culture in the NBA doesn't appeal to a lot of people, especailly the people who can afford to goto games.</div>The age limit and "NIGGERS" isn't what ruins the NBA, sorry. I do agree with some things you said though. I feel that handchecking and more physical play would def. help the game, more then hurt it if they were more liberal with the foul calling.What L C and bigmo said were right on the money though. They need that face of the NBA. Like Jordan. I mean, he was just huge for the game. Ever since he left, the NBA ratings have gone right down the tubes.And it's not because of the "thug niggers" or people coming out of high school, it's the inability of the rivialries created by two teams. New York and New Jersey are supposed to be "rivals"...are they? No, not at all. Not like the Eagles-Giants in football, or Yankee-Red Sox.No one really cares for Celtics-Lakers rivalry anymore. We need to bring back the rivalry's and physical play in the NBA. That is really they key thing here.
Look at the game today compared to its zenith back in the 80s and 90s. yes you had the face of the game, and you still have that today in Kobe, Lebron, D-wade. in todays NBA players let themselves have the reputation of being "gangsta", when they're really not. Carmelo Anthony is a prime example, he goes around acting like he's some hardass but when it comes to a fight he shows his true colors, he punches and runs away.The fact that NBA players are constantly in trouble hurts the leagues perception as well. every week there is a new group of assclowns who are in legal troubles.The age limit wouldn't bother me so much if players were ready for the NBA when they were 19 or 20. but for the most part they aren't. of all the high schoolers drafted in the late 90s early 2000s only 3 made an immidate impace, KG, Bron,Amare. and the only reason those guys made an impact is they were on bad teams, and were fundamentally sound.
The referees are the one's ruining the game. I'm surprised the world has not made some sort of technology that calls fouls etc...it is getting that bad. To me the NBA seems corrupt in alot of ways including the way David Stern runs it.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LakersFan247 @ Feb 16 2007, 01:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The referees are the one's ruining the game. I'm surprised the world has not made some sort of technology that calls fouls etc...it is getting that bad. To me the NBA seems corrupt in alot of ways including the way David Stern runs it.</div>It isn't a referee problem, as the NBA ratings were slipping before they started to call the game the way they are right now.To me, it's a few reasons: 1) People percieve the NBA as a bunch of quitters who don't try. This could be attributed to the millions of dollars they make, along with people like VC who come out and admit they don't try. That is why so many love college, they hustle and give it their all.2) Playoffs are too long. 2 months of playoffs take all the excitement out of it and make the Finals anti-climatic. What makes March Madness so good is that it's fairly short, only a few rounds, and only 1 game per round (which leads me to #3).3) No chance of upsets in playoffs. With 7 games per series, especially in 1st round, it all but guarantees the best team wins. What makes March Madness so special is upsets and Cindarella stories (George Mason). It makes the games more compelling and interesting to watch. In the NBA this never happens.4) Lack of competitiveness between East and West. In the Finals it always seems that the West is going to crush their opponenets. 5) No rivlaries. I don't think this is because of no physical play, but rather because of players constantly switching teams. In 2-3 years, teams will look a lot different than they do now, and that is a problem.6) As mentioned somewhere, lack of star power on contending teams. As great as TD is, as great as Dirk is, as great as Chauncey Billups is...the average fan doesn't want to see those players in the Finals. They want to see LeBron, Kobe, Wade, T-Mac, Nash, and those exciting stars in it. They want to see a Kobe vs LeBron head to head matchup. They want to see Yao vs Shaq, or Kobe vs Melo. Star power in the Finals is what made the '80's and '90's matchups so interesting, even when there wasn't a big rivalry.
I'm going to have to agree with Balla here. The biggest two reasons, IMO, are that it's the pussy league nowadays and the greed of the average NBA player.David Stern has done a lot of great things for the league, but he's done some horrible things for it as well. There are no rivalries anymore, and I'm pissed about it. Stern is trying to transform these guys into robots that say "yes sir" every 15 seconds (I'm obviously exagurating here, but come on) and never show emotion. If you touch a player, it's a foul. If you talk trash, it's a technical. If you show emotion, refs give a warning or even a T if you have a Sheed-like reputation. It's ridiculous. No rivalries are allowed and the game is not physical AT ALL. It pisses me right the F*ck off.And the greed is nuts as well. Arvydas Macijauskas said it best when he left the NBA: "You have guys talking about their paychecks all the time. It's never about the love of the game." In most cases, he is right. I mean we saw a prime example of that last week when A ROOKIE said he's only doing the dunk contest for the paycheck. That's wrong. Then you have guys that are completely unproven asking for All-Star contracts (ala Nene, Darko, Foyle, etc.). It's ridiculous.Stern needs to take off those panties and start wearing boxers, or this league is going to continue to go down hill.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BALLAHOLLIC? @ Feb 16 2007, 01:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>In all honesty, I understand completely why people hate the NBA, and they haven't watched a full game in years. The league is ruining itself, which is a shame considering the amount of high class athletes it has been blessed with.- The lack of both player/team rivalries are hurting the excitement of the league. This is the first time in NBA history we don't have a true rivalry to keep up with. We need another Lakers/Celtics or Magic/Bird rivalry to spark up, that's what the true fans want to see in my opinion. This falls on the shoulders of the referees. If you look at all the rivalries in the past, it got started by physical play between the too teams. Both teams would shove each other around enough to the point where they wanted to destroy the other team every time they played each other, that's what the NBA is missing. The refs won't allow that to happen, if players start becoming too physical they get called for the foul. We won't see another true rivalry again without physical play being involved. Chicago/New York, LA/Detroit, LA/Sacramento, ect. That all started because of conflict between the teams. If the refs would let the guys play, instead of being whistle happy. We might see a few more classic rivalries in our life time.- The weak defense is ruining it for the older fans. Even though most of us are young, the majority of 'true' NBA fans are older. They grew up watching real basketball when they didn't baby the leagues best perimeter players. When the NBA added the hand checking rule is when all the pussy fouls started to happen. It's ridiculous guys can't play tough defense without being called for a foul. I want to see tough perimeter defense again, that makes the game exciting for me, watching one teams defensive stopper completely shut down the opposing teams star player. Guys are getting to the foul line way to often, and it's ruining the flow of the game. It seems like every 1-2 possessions guys are getting to the foul line, all that does is slow down the game. I'm sure most of you guys who play organized ball can agree with me, when the referees are calling alot of fouls. I can't get into the game, the constant stopping ruins my flow. Just let the players play, they won't get injured as often as you think.- NBA commentators are boring. I'm sick of hearing those guys state the obvious. "You can't win the game if your not making shots, Kobe Bryant is such a great player, ect." Give me something NEW! I want to hear non obvious analysis and enthusiasm in your commentating. I want to see more guys like Steve Jones, Johnny Most, Chick Hearn and Hubie Brown. I love listening to those guys do commentary. I miss when guys added catchy terms to describe a certain situation. "This game's in the refrigerator: the door is closed, the lights are out, the eggs are cooling, the butter's getting hard, and the Jell-O's jigglin'!" Chick Hearn was the master of inventing catch phrases, I want to see more of that. It made the game fun and exciting. Stop stating the obvious, add more catchy terms, put more enthusiasm into your work, and we will enjoy the game a little more.- Guaranteed contracts are horrible for the league. I'm sick of guys only playing for their paychecks, and then once they get paid, they stop playing to their full capabilities. I would make NBA players earn their paycheck every season, similar to the NFL. I don't think anybody should be guaranteed a specific amount of money. Once they know they are getting paid no matter how bad they perform, they stop playing with as much heart. If you got paid every season based on how you played the previous year, than many more guys would be giving it 100% each game. It's a shame the majority of NBA players only care about money, and nothing else. Their's only a select handful of guys who play for the love of the game.- NBA players need to start moving without the ball. Is it just me or are guys in the league just standing around lately? I want to see guys setting screens, running more plays, and cutting to the basket. It seems to me like players are just standing around waiting for the ball to be passed to them. Move around and get an open look, just don't stand there. Players are walking up the court most of the time, even during the 4th quarter of games.</div>Probably the most intellegent post I've ever seen on this forum. Really sums my thoughts.
they needa bring back the Celtics/Lakers rivalry and I think it's possible if the Celtics can be good againPierce vs. Kobe would make for an interesting matchup...they played some great games around 2002..I loved it..plus Pierce is a Cali native so that makes it even more interesting
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The main ratings problem for the NBA is the time. Since the Eastern Conference is so terrible, East Coast fans aren't tuning into games. Western Conference games come on too late for most East Coast fans looking for a good game.</div>I agree, and NBA League Pass is overpriced to most people. I usually buy NBA League Pass, but the $200 price tag is insane. Most people don't have the time to watch games on the West Coast because they have to get up early for work/school in the morning. They should push the games back 1-2 hours, at least.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Pierce vs. Kobe would make for an interesting matchup...they played some great games around 2002..I loved it..plus Pierce is a Cali native so that makes it even more interesting</div>The problem is, they would only have two match ups per year. Watching guys play each other 2 games out of an 82 game season isn't enough to keep people interested. Wilt and Russell played against each other 142 times in their career, now that's a rivalry.
I used to have NBA League pass, but it got way to expensive. Now I usually just get the MLB version of it. When you come to think of it, the NBA is in a pretty sad state given their conditions. They are basically the most easily mainstreamed league in America. Their players dominate advertising from soda to shoes.The game is also connected to rap music, which is a blessing no other league has. Yet, they aren't the dominate league in their country.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I agree, and NBA League Pass is overpriced to most people. I usually buy NBA League Pass, but the $200 price tag is insane.</div>That's reasonably priced considering you get basically all 82 games of every single team. And it's also put out through a monthly billing plan. That's a great offer.
I got the package this week pretty much for free..it came with my new cable package that is less expensive than it used to beI love NBA TV and NBA League Pass
Its a great price when your rich like tony, not a college student that is paying his way through the University of Michigan, has a house and car payment
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (L_C @ Feb 16 2007, 09:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>First off, there needs to be two major players that have a rivalry. Right now the problem is that we could easily have those guys (Lebron and Kobe) but their teams don't compete. The NBA also needs a face of their league. There are like 5 players that are all smattered together as the head of the league's publicity when there needs to be one.The main ratings problem for the NBA is the time. Since the Eastern Conference is so terrible, East Coast fans aren't tuning into games. Western Conference games come on too late for most East Coast fans looking for a good game. I agree with BigMo on this last point. Any physicality in the game right now is shown through Fouls per game. If you put a dominant defender on a star player, the star player gets all of the benefit-of-the-doubt calls.</div>The problem is that the NBA has tried post MJ era to push a player as the face of the league only to be burned by their off the court troubles. Shaq has never really been interested in being the face of the league and Duncan isn't popular enough with the general fan to make it work which makes it that much more difficult for someone to come across as that #1 guy when these 2 alone were taking turns winning championships. They tried it with Jason Kidd back at the 2000 olympics as the all around good guy only to see Kidd in trouble shortly after on a domestic dispute charge. Then they went with Kobe and he ran into his little incident up in Colorado. Now they just seem to use the big 3 of the 2003 draft but Lebron and Melo have yet to achieve much success as the face of their own teams and they are force feeding us these MJ-Wade comparisons which nobody will ever buy into.
Who deleted my post?!?In all honesty, I understand completely why people hate the NBA, and they haven't watched a full game in years. The league is ruining itself, which is a shame considering the amount of high class athletes it has been blessed with.- The lack of both player/team rivalries are hurting the excitement of the league. This is the first time in NBA history we don't have a true rivalry to keep up with. We need another Lakers/Celtics or Magic/Bird rivalry to spark up, that's what the true fans want to see in my opinion. This falls on the shoulders of the referees. If you look at all the rivalries in the past, it got started by physical play between the too teams. Both teams would shove each other around enough to the point where they wanted to destroy the other team every time they played each other, that's what the NBA is missing. The refs won't allow that to happen, if players start becoming too physical they get called for the foul. We won't see another true rivalry again without physical play being involved. Chicago/New York, LA/Detroit, LA/Sacramento, ect. That all started because of conflict between the teams. If the refs would let the guys play, instead of being whistle happy. We might see a few more classic rivalries in our life time.- The weak defense is ruining it for the older fans. Even though most of us are young, the majority of 'true' NBA fans are older. They grew up watching real basketball when they didn't baby the leagues best perimeter players. When the NBA added the hand checking rule is when all the pussy fouls started to happen. It's ridiculous guys can't play tough defense without being called for a foul. I want to see tough perimeter defense again, that makes the game exciting for me, watching one teams defensive stopper completely shut down the opposing teams star player. Guys are getting to the foul line way to often, and it's ruining the flow of the game. It seems like every 1-2 possessions guys are getting to the foul line, all that does is slow down the game. I'm sure most of you guys who play organized ball can agree with me, when the referees are calling alot of fouls. I can't get into the game, the constant stopping ruins my flow. Just let the players play, they won't get injured as often as you think.- NBA commentators are boring. I'm sick of hearing those guys state the obvious. "You can't win the game if your not making shots, Kobe Bryant is such a great player, ect." Give me something NEW! I want to hear non obvious analysis and enthusiasm in your commentating. I want to see more guys like Steve Jones, Johnny Most, Chick Hearn and Hubie Brown. I love listening to those guys do commentary. I miss when guys added catchy terms to describe a certain situation. "This game's in the refrigerator: the door is closed, the lights are out, the eggs are cooling, the butter's getting hard, and the Jell-O's jigglin'!" Chick Hearn was the master of inventing catch phrases, I want to see more of that. It made the game fun and exciting. Stop stating the obvious, add more catchy terms, put more enthusiasm into your work, and we will enjoy the game a little more.- Guaranteed contracts are horrible for the league. I'm sick of guys only playing for their paychecks, and then once they get paid, they stop playing to their full capabilities. I would make NBA players earn their paycheck every season, similar to the NFL. I don't think anybody should be guaranteed a specific amount of money. Once they know they are getting paid no matter how bad they perform, they stop playing with as much heart. If you got paid every season based on how you played the previous year, than many more guys would be giving it 100% each game. It's a shame the majority of NBA players only care about money, and nothing else. Their's only a select handful of guys who play for the love of the game.- NBA players need to start moving without the ball. Is it just me or are guys in the league just standing around lately? I want to see guys setting screens, running more plays, and cutting to the basket. It seems to me like players are just standing around waiting for the ball to be passed to them. Move around and get an open look, just don't stand there. Players are walking up the court most of the time, even during the 4th quarter of games.
The NBA needs to stop treating offensive players so well. I mean, all they've got to do is drive by the defender, and lean into contact, and they are going to the line. The NBA should now cater to the defenders, and allow them to handcheck, and do somethings to try to stop the opposing players from driving right past them. And big men should be cut some slack on foul calls too. If it is not a blatant foul, then they should sometimes let the players play on instead of calling everything when the big men so much as touch the superstar guards. So what? The League is turning into an offensive pussy league. I think that's the problem.
