last night proved....NHL>NBA

[forty_three]

ESPN's ratings for non NFL programming is not so impressive. Without the NFL ESPN is marginally bigger than Nbcsportsnet so I don't feel ESPN is the kingmaker so many others feel the network is.

In fact Disney has been worried about falling profits cf or ESPN.

ESPN has had layoffs and salary freezes for the first time in it's history.

I think the specialty networks (Golf, NHL, NFL, MLB) taking away the true talent and leaving them with dingleberries like Melrose, Stephen A Smith and Stuart Scott has really hurt them.

 

[DevilishWon]

hockey is better than basketball?QUOTE]

In further ground breaking news food in 5 star resteraunts food tastes better than a plate of dog shit

 

[TiLoBrown]

I think I'm the only person that hates marketing to the casual fans. I get why its needed, but when you go after casual fans and start selling stars you lose the team aspect of the sport IMO.

 

[OregonDucks]

once again, another amazing thrilling game produced by the NHL last night. However, the NHL screwed up big time last night. Game should have been on NBC, so that EVERYONE could get it and watch that. Instead it was on NBCSports.

 

[Jims_Doors]

once again, another amazing thrilling game produced by the NHL last night. However, the NHL screwed up big time last night. Game should have been on NBC, so that EVERYONE could get it and watch that. Instead it was on NBCSports.

Meh......after Boston tied it up at 1, both teams were pretty much playing not to lose.

 

[forty_three]

I think I'm the only person that hates marketing to the casual fans. I get why its needed, but when you go after casual fans and start selling stars you lose the team aspect of the sport IMO.

You're not the only one. I am not sure whether I hate Bettman or the NHL marketing dept worse.

 

[beantownmaniac]

You're not the only one. I am not sure whether I hate Bettman or the NHL marketing dept worse.

I think we know the answer to that question

 

[TiLoBrown]

Only good thing they've done to attract casual fans has been the rule changes, and even then I hate that trapezoid

 

[raptorlife4]

NHL has been on an upward trend the last few seasons. Those who know sports know it rules the NBA. The only sport to me that equals the NHL is the NFL

 

[Vadered]

you cant run out of bounds in hockey

That's not what EA Sports says:

 

[Vadered]

As for on topic stuff, yeah, the NHL is better than basketball to me for a few reasons:

1. Faster. Basketball is fast because it's a small court. Hockey is fast because holy shit they are going faster than cars.

2. Less scoring. Of all the big four sports in America, basketball is by far the highest-scoring, and not just because they count by twos and threes. In a normal NBA game that ends with a score of 100-100, each team might have 40-60 "scoring events," and that's assuming that you consider a three point play or multiple free throws as a single event. None of the other big sports have near that - baseball very, very rarely breaks 20 for a team, football is almost always less than ten per team (assuming extra points/two point conversions are lumped in with TDs), and hockey is usually less than five per team. The problem with basketball is that in any other sport, a shutout is great. In the NBA, a shutout is unthinkable.

3. Team. In the NBA, it is for the most part all about the player. In the NHL, NFL, and to a lesser extent MLB, teamwork is essential. And here's the thing - teamwork is essential in basketball, too. But you sure as hell wouldn't know it from the coverage. I think if more teams focused less on their stars and more on their teamwork, the NBA would be a lot more like college basketball, and a lot better.

 

[awaz]

Jesus. I don't know why I did this, but I watched the end of the game tonight. LeBron tried to give the spurs the game, but Bosh and Ray Allen bailed him out, and of course, Espnba went straight with LeBron for the post game interview. Not one word about his teammates. Not one. When was the last time anyone saw a post game interview that didn't mention teammates?

'I made a lot of mistakes down the stretch, but I gave it my all so I'm ok with that'. No thanks for bosh who had I think 3 blocks in the 4th and OT or thanks for ray Allen making a 3 with 5 seconds left (after Bron missed a WIDE open look, rebound by bosh). Stay classy LeBron.

 

[Dacks]

Jesus. I don't know why I did this, but I watched the end of the game tonight. LeBron tried to give the spurs the game, but Bosh and Ray Allen bailed him out, and of course, Espnba went straight with LeBron for the post game interview. Not one word about his teammates. Not one. When was the last time anyone saw a post game interview that didn't mention teammates?

'I made a lot of mistakes down the stretch, but I gave it my all so I'm ok with that'. No thanks for bosh who had I think 3 blocks in the 4th and OT or thanks for ray Allen making a 3 with 5 seconds left (after Bron missed a WIDE open look, rebound by bosh). Stay classy LeBron.

I agree with you, Allen and Bosh made big plays, but Lebron had 16 points in the fourth, a huge block on Duncan and one of those last minute three-pointers. I thought he blew it in the last few possessions, but the Heat aren't even in the game without him. Still hate him, though.

But the worst thing in the NBA is the inconsistency on calling fouls. It makes such a huge difference in close games, and it's seemingly random. We complain about penalties in the NHL, but I think it's worse in the NBA.

 

[elocomotive]

Love Lebron! Way to go Heat!

(hey, we've all gotta have our guilty pleasure )

 

[awaz]

I agree with you, Allen and Bosh made big plays, but Lebron had 16 points in the fourth, a huge block on Duncan and one of those last minute three-pointers. I thought he blew it in the last few possessions, but the Heat aren't even in the game without him. Still hate him, though.

But the worst thing in the NBA is the inconsistency on calling fouls. It makes such a huge difference in close games, and it's seemingly random. We complain about penalties in the NHL, but I think it's worse in the NBA.

One if my Facebook friends posted that LeBron is 24(now 25)-3 in playoff games officiated by joey Crawford and 50-40 in games reffed by other officials. Not sure if that's true or not, but if it is, wow.

And you still gotta give some credit to your teammates in a post game interview. I think he ended the game on a 2-7 run with 2 turnovers to boot.

 

[juliansteed]

I probably watched more of 1 NBA game tonight than I have in the past decade. Being at a friend's place while they just happen to have the game on doesn't count. I have no emotional attachment to either team but was rooting for the Spurs just because I don't care for the Heat. It was a pretty exciting/frustrating game to watch. I can only imagine how much those who are more interested in the sport might have liked it. Not saying that this is indicative of every NBA game but I think both leagues have some pretty exciting finals going.

Even though I was going for the Spurs, I couldn't help but laugh at the announcers saying that the Spurs player (forget his name but the balding guy with the Italian name) was fouled near the end of the game. Yes he might have been fouled but only after he did his best NFL running back impersonation there and took half a dozen steps.

 

[dash]

Even though I was going for the Spurs, I couldn't help but laugh at the announcers saying that the Spurs player (forget his name but the balding guy with the Italian name) was fouled near the end of the game. Yes he might have been fouled but only after he did his best NFL running back impersonation there and took half a dozen steps.

That was Manu Ginobili from Argentina and as for traveling, it's rarely called.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Jesus. I don't know why I did this, but I watched the end of the game tonight. LeBron tried to give the spurs the game, but Bosh and Ray Allen bailed him out, and of course, Espnba went straight with LeBron for the post game interview. Not one word about his teammates. Not one. When was the last time anyone saw a post game interview that didn't mention teammates?

'I made a lot of mistakes down the stretch, but I gave it my all so I'm ok with that'. No thanks for bosh who had I think 3 blocks in the 4th and OT or thanks for ray Allen making a 3 with 5 seconds left (after Bron missed a WIDE open look, rebound by bosh). Stay classy LeBron.

The no call when Ginobli went down the lane didn't hurt either.

The bottom line is Popovich cost his team the game. The Spurs blew a 5 point lead with 28 seconds left because he took Duncan out on two occasions. Both times the Heat missed shots & were able to get the rebound. If Duncan is in the game that doesn't happen. If the Spurs lose the series their coach is the reason why.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

NHL >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>NBA

NHL, It's about the team.

NBA, It's about me.

 

[TiLoBrown]

According to one Devils fan, Marty does the same thing LeBron did. Takes all the credit for wins and blames the losses on teammates