NBA Finals ratings highest since Michael Jordan's last title in 1998

By the same token, there's far, far, far more competition for viewers. Probably by two orders of magnitude over the 1980s. Once the NBA started to become popular again, the Finals had a largely captive audience. I don't think those same Finals match-ups would have a prayer of pulling the same market share today.

The upshot is that comparing ratings, or viewership share, across eras is relatively pointless. But it does appear that the NBA is still popular.

 

The 1977 Finals had higher ratings than this years. BOOM!!!!!!!!!!

 

I'm not watching it. It's a no win situation.

If the Cavs win, it's just another title for LeBron. I don't care.

If the Dubs win, it's a cheap title for Durant. I don't care.

I'm just glad he didn't win one with OKC. That's the silver lining in all of this.

 

A few days prior to the playoffs Zach Lowe hosted Jeff van Gundy on his podcast.
They did this thing were they talked about each series: why is it interesting, who will be good? who will win? etc etc.
At the end of the podcast there was 1 series left. It went something like this:

Zach: Portland - Golden State.
Jeff: Well, yea...
Zach: *laughs* Do you give them 1 game?
Jeff: Sorry. It's already over, alright? Golden State is your champion, it won't be close, no one's going to push them.
Zach: You really believe that? maybe SA or the Cavs in the finals? it's over?
Jeff: It's over.

I don't remember anything like this to be honest. A former competitive coach and a broadcaster, who's job is to hype NBA fans just calls it like it is so the world will know how boring and predictable this league really is.

 

So true. Stern's model resulted in individual "star" players being bigger than the league, and bigger than the sport. Now the tail is wagging the dog, and shit is flying everywhere.

 

Yep. I posted elsewhere last week: I am boycotting this shitty product. Not watching a second of the finals. Not clicking on the finals thread. Not checking game results. Nothing. Nada. Not interested. Shooting fish in a barrel isn't sport. I stopped watching Globetrotters v. Generals decades ago. I have other things to do.

 

Although a lot of knowledgable fans I know truly thought LeBron was too good to be stopped. (Even some on this board) So there should of been some suspense. And even though I predicted a healthy GS team would win easily (Based on their pre Durant injury resume) I still expect Cleveland to be tough at home. We could still see some good games.

 

I took this snapshot in the game as i feel this picture tells you everything you need to know about these playoffs...

 

There's always hope for a catastrophic sewage backup in the players' garage...

 

Now THAT I'd watch! Highest rated NBA sewage spill since Larry Bird's toilet overflowed prior to Game 7 of the 1984 finals.

At least I'd watch that shit. Unlike this crap they are trying to force feed us.

BNM

 

The numbers are also higher due to the DVR but probably less people actually watching. Watched a few minutes of each game but have deleted both. Guessing I am not the only one.

 

It ain't over til it's over.

 

Of course the ratings are up. A good rivalry is great for the NBA, it usually draws in more viewers. Sadly though I don't see it being good for basketball as a whole. Watching the same teams/players trade the title every year is not my idea of enjoyment, and with the ease that these two teams made it into the finals the playoffs this season were even less enjoyable. I stopped watching as soon as the Warriors and Cavaliers made it into their respective conference finals because the outcome was way too easy to predict. In fact the outcome was so easy to predict that if you took a poll before the season started, I'm sure it would show that most people felt we would see a threepeat of the last two finals games. I wonder how many people will still find this matchup fun to watch if these two teams meet for a 4th time next season, or even a 5th time the season after. Personally, I am already done. I can't and won't do it. I didn't watch their first two meetings and I refuse to watch these two teams in the finals, ever.

 

That CLE sweep sure went out of the window quickly.

 

Same here. Not watching the NBA finals for the first time in my life.

 

I hate what the NBA has become. I wouldn't even watch if it weren't for my long-time devotion to the Blazers.

 

If you're not watching, you're missing a great Finals. Game 4 was a legendary game I'll never forget. Record breaking offense, technicals, best players in the world talking trash with each other. NateBishop- admit you'd be happy if GS lost this and then watch with that in mind.