Way OT

[elocomotive]

Bostons 3 were in their career twilights, seems totally different to me.

Again, I don't really care HOW it came about. My point was that dynasties and concentrated talent in a few markets are nothing new to basketball. I thought that's what this conversation was about.

How it happened is irrelevant regardless of how close to MVP form Garnett was when he arrived in Boston. Fact is when Boston won the title, Pierce, Allen, and Garnett were all on the All-Star team.

 

[ELYEAH82]

The conversation is/was about whether the model the Heat created is good for the NBA. Since is is 3 players in their prime it seems like a new model to me. It wreaks of a MLB type of industry and they are losing their asses.

 

[elocomotive]

This is what is wrong with the NBA. Wanting superstars in high profile cities while the other teams are fodder.

The conversation is/was about whether the model the Heat created is good for the NBA.

Yes, and my point is that this "model" is nothing new. Jordan/Pippen played together in their prime. Kobe/Shaq played together in their prime. Etc, etc. The issue you have is HOW it came about, not the "model" itself. If the team was drafted this way, you'd seemingly have no issue with it. But that factor (draft, free agency, etc.) isn't going to change whether people watch or not. You're talking about stars vs. parity, large v. small markets, etc. at the end of the day.

Answer seems to be, yes...

MIAMI -- Game 1 of the Miami Heat-Dallas Mavericks matchup in the NBA Finals generated a 10.7 overnight rating on ABC, the most for an opening game in the league's title series since 2004.

The network said that's up 3 percent over the numbers generated by Game 1 of the Los Angeles Lakers-Boston Celtics meeting in the Finals last year, and up 15 percent over the opener of the Heat-Mavericks series in 2006.

 

[ELYEAH82]

Getting a bigger share of the market for game 1 of a series doesnt mean this is good for the game if arena are empty throughout the league.

 

[KillerVee]

Oh man. I had that weird dream about people talking about the NBA on the NHL board again! I have to stop eating pizza before bed.

 

[evolver115]

Oh man. I had that weird dream about people talking about the NBA on the NHL board again! I have to stop eating pizza before bed.

But you'll eat crackers in bed?

I don't know which one is worse

 

[elocomotive]

Getting a bigger share of the market for game 1 of a series doesnt mean this is good for the game if arena are empty throughout the league.

The NBA generated more than $4 billion in revenue last year and it's expected to increase by 3% this year.

Only 4 teams had attendance under 80% for the season, and when some teams have to be winners and some teams have to be losers, some of that is going to naturally happen anyway. That's not exactly empty arenas around the league.

I don't think anyone is going hungry.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Oh man. I had that weird dream about people talking about the NBA on the NHL board again! I have to stop eating pizza before bed.

It's like the movie Ground Hogs Day. :smile:

 

[ELYEAH82]

The NBA generated more than $4 billion in revenue last year and it's expected to increase by 3% this year.

Only 4 teams had attendance under 80% for the season, and when some teams have to be winners and some teams have to be losers, some of that is going to naturally happen anyway. That's not exactly empty arenas around the league.

I don't think anyone is going hungry.

I suppose we will see what happens. I dont think ignoring small markets is ever a way to make a sport relevant regardless of what happens. I am not saying it doesnt work, but the NFL is showing parody to be a solid option as well.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

I suppose we will see what happens. I dont think ignoring small markets is ever a way to make a sport relevant regardless of what happens. I am not saying it doesnt work, but the NFL is showing parody to be a solid option as well.

I agree with this statement.

 

[elocomotive]

I suppose we will see what happens. I dont think ignoring small markets is ever a way to make a sport relevant regardless of what happens. I am not saying it doesnt work, but the NFL is showing parody to be a solid option as well.

Yup, but the NFL is a sport with 45 players on a team and has been America's favorite sport for nearly half a century now. All others pale in comparison in both revenue and popularity, and they do this despite only playing 16 games a year! Kinda apples and oranges.

You don't have to wait and see what happens when history has provided 30 years of evidence for the NBA as to how to market and sell their sport. They took out some of the thuggery that plagued the game in the 70s, promoted some super stars, built some rivalries, and found success in the 80s and 90s after a dreadful time in the 70s.

 

[ELYEAH82]

I get it, I think it is a mistake to promote large media markets and ignore the smaller ones. It should make the sport relevant in only the larger markets. I certainly dont watch a team that has no realistic shot at winning on a nightly basis.

 

[evolver115]

I get it, I think it is a mistake to promote large media markets and ignore the smaller ones. It should make the sport relevant in only the larger markets. I certainly dont watch a team that has no realistic shot at winning on a nightly basis.

I'm a Pirates fan

 

[Darkstone42]

The players association might have something to say about this, because prolonged failure in any of the small markets could result in them losing money, forcing the league to contract, and therefore losing a lot of players their jobs. That's a possibility that wouldn't fly for the players association.

If superstars start congregating in big markets only via free agency, the effect will not be the same as superstars growing up together in a market. They will produce a lot of discouraged fans, a la the MLB.

 

[Darkstone42]

I'm a Pirates fan

Me too!

At least they're kind of mediocre this year. Pity they blew their chance to get back to 1 game under .500 today...

 

[ELYEAH82]

The players association might have something to say about this, because prolonged failure in any of the small markets could result in them losing money, forcing the league to contract, and therefore losing a lot of players their jobs. That's a possibility that wouldn't fly for the players association.

If superstars start congregating in big markets only via free agency, the effect will not be the same as superstars growing up together in a market. They will produce a lot of discouraged fans, a la the MLB.

The NBAPA should have been against the Heat signings from the get go since these players signed for less than their market value. Just goes to show what a joke their union is.

 

[ELYEAH82]

Me too!

At least they're kind of mediocre this year. Pity they blew their chance to get back to 1 game under .500 today...

I was, but when I was younger and they got rid of all the players I recognized I stopped watching them. I dont think I missed much. I picked up the Indians when Major League started and casually stuck with them.

 

[evolver115]

Me too!

At least they're kind of mediocre this year. Pity they blew their chance to get back to 1 game under .500 today...

yeah, that game was pathetic, but very typical of the buccos. Letting a team come back from a 7-0 deficit?!

 

[KillerVee]

I am watching basketball in a bar. It's awful. I don't get this game at all.

 

[elocomotive]

I am watching basketball in a bar. It's awful. I don't get this game at all.

You have to bounce the ball when you move. One team tries to score more baskets (ball through the metal ring with a net) than the other. It's really not that hard.

This might help.