The NBA is going in the tank...

[Matthew]

Its not just the ASG colin, but what perecentage of games are on ABC? it has to be dismal at best. the nba, if it wants to regain popularity should go back to nbc or cbs.. its just too hard to expect casual fans to follow the league by boxscores and local games and expect massive ratings.

edit: excellent point about the 95 rockets. also remember the 99 knicks? last years suns and the nets in 2002? all these teams out of nowehere to make the finals.

[Colin]

Of course it's not just the ASG, but it's been brought up many times and it a very clear-cut example of what the league is doing. I really dislike what ABC does with the coverage and how it didn't start coverage until Christmas-time the last few years. What the hell is up with that?

[Matthew]

Yeah, and even espn does a pathetic job of promoting the league. How many times do you see a positive segment on sportscenter about the nba? But you see plenty for college football, college basketball, nfl, mlb and nascar, but ice hockey and nba highlights dont even get shown. I mean for fucks sake, the baseball season has just started, and they show highlights of that ahead of the final games of the nba season with serious playoff implications for the teams. It almost seems like abc/espn want to run the league into the ground.

[Nel]

The NBA does get a lot of financial needs through its merchandise. I think the sales of jerseys, caps etc shows that the popularity of the leagues doesn't suffer. It may suffer in tv ratings but gets it back through attendance and sales of merchandise. I do agree that they need someone like kobe, wade, carter to enter the finals to boost the tv ratings.

[Laxation]

Yeah, and even espn does a pathetic job of promoting the league. How many times do you see a positive segment on sportscenter about the nba? But you see plenty for college football, college basketball, nfl, mlb and nascar, but ice hockey and nba highlights dont even get shown. I mean for fucks sake, the baseball season has just started, and they show highlights of that ahead of the final games of the nba season with serious playoff implications for the teams. It almost seems like abc/espn want to run the league into the ground.

I cant stand sportscenter... mainly because the only American sport I enjoy is basketball, and then they go and show 4minutes of it, with 56 of baseball and it just shits me

[Andrew]

For that very reason, I hardly ever watch SportsCenter unless I'm doing something else and have it on the background, so I can pay attention when the NBA highlights come on.

[Matt]

the joys of a VCR....i just tape it and then FF through the crap.

[Axel]

Luckily enough, I don't believe we will have to sit through another Spurs/Pistons finals next year. Ben and Rasheed Wallace will both be 32... and the effects of age have really become noticeable in Ben's game... his blocks and rebounds per game have significantly dropped every year in the past five years. Obviously injuries are going to be more frequent with age.... so I'm hoping that keeps this bore out of the finals next year.

Likewise, the Spurs are already this year's oldest team, and have shown to be very vulnerable in back to back games... next years team will be the Suns, depending on how well Amare's come back goes.

[Matt]

Luckily enough, I don't believe we will have to sit through another Spurs/Pistons finals next year. Ben and Rasheed Wallace will both be 32... and the effects of age have really become noticeable in Ben's game... his blocks and rebounds per game have significantly dropped every year in the past five years. Obviously injuries are going to be more frequent with age.... so I'm hoping that keeps this bore out of the finals next year.

Statistically Ben isn't the same he was a few years back, but back then he didn't have Rasheed to take the load off. He's still playing at the same level he was before. Age shouldn't be that much of a factor yet, especially since neither have suffered serious injuries in the past. Any regression will be offset by improvement in Prince & Hamilton.

Don't be so sure just yet. There doesn't appear to be a team in the East that will improve significantly enough to make you say for sure that they will be in the Finals.

As for Spurs, look, they are playing banged up right now, and still they are the Wests best. That's why they struggle with back to backs (there are none in the playoffs) so all they need to do is qualify for the playoffs. If they are healthy next season, they are still the west's fav (unless Dallas can knock them off).

Basically....Dallas, SAS & Detroit are still gonna be the top 3 come next season.

[artestfighttrainer]

Nah the league ain't screwed, its just fine but hoping like many others we get Kobe, Carter, Wade, James or someone else similar in the finals.

[JohnA20]

You are just pissed off that the raptors had a shit season.

[powerhoward85]

I agree too.

Anyway as for the drop in tv rating, it could be due to injuries of players. Yao and T mac suffer major injuries during the season. Who would still want to catch the Houston's game without them? Like wise for shaq's and duncan's.

In addition, some teams with superstar nv wins. Look at KG, AI, Ray Allen or even New York(LOL). Who in this world likes to watch superstar losing?

Next, is the defense. After last year the suns' success, many teams tried to follow with 3pt shootings and No Defense. Games sometimes is just a shootout, the team with better shooter wins. I wont say this is not fun, but not all the times. It was always fun to see how MJ goes through the tough defense and score. May be the NBA should take back the hand checking rules which benefits the 3pt shooters.

Lastly, the players. Kobe, LeBron, T mac or vince type of superstar guard nowadays have around 30% to 60% of their points from beyond the arc. It become a shooting game and not a basketball game. Take a look at the kobe's 81 game, he dribbled the ball into raptor's court, jumped, shoot the 3pt and it went in. The whole process took less than 10 sec. Com'on, it is boring. We want to see more peneration, dunks.

Nevertheless, I'll still watch nba rather than soccers.

[Mayerhendrix]

wtf???

more defense is played now than before. but yeah, there are too many people who can just shoot and can't do other aspects of the game.