Why are NBA TV ratings down so much?

[trojanfan12]

1. Shorten the length of the season to 62 games so the players play every game or lengthen the time the season takes to play so the players can recover between games.

People need to drop this particular bit of nonsense. The NBA isn't going to shorten the season because the owners aren't going to be cool with losing that revenue and players aren't going to accept the resultant salary cuts.

Players' salaries and team revenues in professional sports are largely tied to the number of games played. That's why you don't hear anyone complaining about the NFL going from 14 games to 16 games to 17 games and soon to 18 games despite people talking about "player safety".

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

People need to drop this particular bit of nonsense. The NBA isn't going to shorten the season because the owners aren't going to be cool with losing that revenue and players aren't going to accept the resultant salary cuts.

Players' salaries and team revenues in professional sports are largely tied to the number of games played. That's why you don't hear anyone complaining about the NFL going from 14 games to 16 games to 17 games and soon to 18 games despite people talking about "player safety".

Then let it die.

Btw, people still watch the nfl. Nobody gives a shit about the nba anymore.

 

[trojanfan12]

Then let it die.

Btw, people still watch the nfl. Nobody gives a shit about the nba anymore.

People still watch the NBA too. They also still post about it while claiming nobody cares and claiming they don't watch.

 

[The Q]

People need to drop this particular bit of nonsense. The NBA isn't going to shorten the season because the owners aren't going to be cool with losing that revenue and players aren't going to accept the resultant salary cuts.

Players' salaries and team revenues in professional sports are largely tied to the number of games played. That's why you don't hear anyone complaining about the NFL going from 14 games to 16 games to 17 games and soon to 18 games despite people talking about "player safety".

Going to 40 minute games would help without cutting the schedule down

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

People still watch the NBA too. They also still post about it while claiming nobody cares and claiming they don't watch.

Everytime I put an nba game on it’s the 76ers playing without embiid or the lakers playing without Lebron. It’s stupid. I used to follow the bulls religiously during the Kirk Hinrich and Tyson chandler years. I’d even follow the playoffs when the bulls weren’t involved. Now I might put it on because everything else on television sucks, but I’m usually not even interested and doing something else.

 

[trojanfan12]

Going to 40 minute games would help without cutting the schedule down

That might be the way to go if we're that worried about it.

I think people are conflating issues. The problem isn't the number of games played or the length of games. It's more about "load management" and teams over reliance on the 3.

Load management is the biggest issue, imo. Used to be that "resting players" or "load management" was done after a team had locked up playoff positioning. I remember with the Showtime Lakers...once they secured their playoff spot...Riley would start shortening minutes for Magic, Kareem, Worthy, etc. or even sit them altogether to cut the risk of one of them being hurt in a meaningless game.

You knew that if you bought a ticket prior to the playoff seed being secured, you were going to see Magic, Kareem, etc., but if you bought one after the playoff was set, you were going to see them for, maybe the 1st half...if they played at all.

Nowadays you could show up for game #30 only to find that one or more star players are sitting that game out.

 

[bksballer89]

Then let it die.

Btw, people still watch the nfl. Nobody gives a shit about the nba anymore.

People are going to watch a sport that plays most of their games on one day compared to a sport that plays everyday. Better comparison for nba is other everyday sports. What are their ratings like compared to mlb regular season?

 

[trojanfan12]

Everytime I put an nba game on it’s the 76ers playing without embiid or the lakers playing without Lebron. It’s stupid. I used to follow the bulls religiously during the Kirk Hinrich and Tyson chandler years. I’d even follow the playoffs when the bulls weren’t involved. Now I might put it on because everything else on television sucks, but I’m usually not even interested and doing something else.

That's a "load management" issue, not a "too many games" issue. You won't find many who disagree re: hating load management.

The NBA is actually addressing the issue too. It's why a player has to play a minimum of, I believe, 65 games to be considered for any post season awards.

I give Lebron a bit of a pass because dude is 175 years old...but these younger guys doing it is bs, imo. Even at that, unless he suffers an injury, Lebron will play at least 65 games this year. Embiid has only played 65 or more games twice in his career and 68 is the most he's ever played. He also said publicly that he won't be playing both games in back to backs which is a bad look.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

I haven’t watched NBA in more than a decade but I thought it was more popular than ever. It turns out that the ratings have been horrible this season.

“The NBA has experienced a significant drop in audience to start the season, reports Puck News. ESPN viewership is down more than 27 percent and TNT is down 16 percent.”

ESPN ratings are apparently an all-time low for NBA on that network. Any idea why this is happening?

Well - I was paying something like $140 per month for cable - and the only thing I was watching was the Lakers - I had to buy a new car, so to save money I cut the cable. Now I tried the NBA League pass last year and it's worthless - Not at all worth the money. Now while I am only one person- I I know a lot of people that have cut their cable - It's simply too expensive and not worth it - but that is the only way with the Sports package, that any fan will get to see the all of the games - I believe that could at least be part of it -

 

[True Lakers Fan]

That's a "load management" issue, not a "too many games" issue. You won't find many who disagree re: hating load management.

The NBA is actually addressing the issue too. It's why a player has to play a minimum of, I believe, 65 games to be considered for any post season awards.

I give Lebron a bit of a pass because dude is 175 years old...but these younger guys doing it is bs, imo. Even at that, unless he suffers an injury, Lebron will play at least 65 games this year. Embiid has only played 65 or more games twice in his career and 68 is the most he's ever played. He also said publicly that he won't be playing both games in back to backs which is a bad look.

Are you sure? - I thought he turned 179 last year

Either way - though -I don't think load management is all of it - part of it maybe and easily fixed - Stop making these teams play back to back. When the Lakers had to play on Wednesday night - then fly to Denver the same night and play Denver in less the 24 hours -There was no point fo me to watch the game because I knew that was an automatic loss Lakers - Wanting to be punished I did any way though

 

[trojanfan12]

Are you sure? - I thought he turned 179 last year

Either way - though -I don't think load management is all of it - part of it maybe and easily fixed - Stop making these teams play back to back. When the Lakers had to play on Wednesday night - then fly to Denver the same night and play Denver in less the 24 hours -There was no point fo me to watch the game because I knew that was an automatic loss Lakers - Wanting to be punished I did any way though

Nah, I disagree on back to backs. Eliminating back to backs would drag the season out too far. Not in terms of number of games, but when the season ends.

They used to get through an 82 game season and playoffs by about mid-May...now, with the league cutting down on back to backs it stretches out to mid-June. Eliminate back to backs and you're looking at the season not ending until July.

I remember when teams played back to back to backs. If memory serves, the '72 Lakers had 2 or 3 back to back to backs during their 33 game win streak.

Their 2 biggest stars were Wilt and Jerry West...Wilt was 35, played all 82 games and averaged 43.2 minutes per game. West was 33, played 77 games and averaged 38.6 minutes per game.

Players today are said to be bigger, stronger, faster, more athletic, in better physical condition and receive better treatment than players back then...but they can't play back to backs or an 82 game season?...sorry...not buying that.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Nah, I disagree on back to backs. Eliminating back to backs would drag the season out too far. Not in terms of number of games, but when the season ends.

They used to get through an 82 game season and playoffs by about mid-May...now, with the league cutting down on back to backs it stretches out to mid-June. Eliminate back to backs and you're looking at the season not ending until July.

I remember when teams played back to back to backs. If memory serves, the '72 Lakers had 2 or 3 back to back to backs during their 33 game win streak.

Their 2 biggest stars were Wilt and Jerry West...Wilt was 35, played all 82 games and averaged 43.2 minutes per game. West was 33, played 77 games and averaged 38.6 minutes per game.

Players today are said to be bigger, stronger, faster, more athletic, in better physical condition and receive better treatment than players back then...but they can't play back to backs or an 82 game season?...sorry...not buying that.

I don't think it would be that difficult - just stretch it out and skip one day. There are times when they go six days without a game - they could easily be consistent without stretching the season- Personally - I think they do it to give the lesser teams some easy wins

 

[Wamu]

BLM hurt the nfl too. I’d be all for Nick not doing that if they weren’t putting those stupid empty lefty slogans on their helmets.

Stop your bullshit. You didn't call Bosa out but called LeBron out. So when a white athlete has a political stance you agree with it's okay but when a black athlete does the same thing you have a problem because he's not on your side. Hypocrite much?

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

Stop your bullshit. You didn't call Bosa out but called LeBron out. So when a white athlete has a political stance you agree with it's okay but when a black athlete does the same thing you have a problem because he's not on your side. Hypocrite much?

I called Lebron out because were talking about the nba. I also called out a Maga nba player. I guess you could read into it like I was choosing athletes based on race, but then again, I guess you would be retarded.

 

[trojanfan12]

I don't think it would be that difficult - just stretch it out and skip one day. There are times when they go six days without a game - they could easily be consistent without stretching the season- Personally - I think they do it to give the lesser teams some easy wins

Again, you're still stretching the season out to July. The 6 games off is an anomaly created by the NBA Cup. Back to backs aren't the problem, neither is the number of games.

The problem is that the players are too empowered and too many of them think they can just skip games whenever they feel like it.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Again, you're still stretching the season out to July. The 6 games off is an anomaly created by the NBA Cup. Back to backs aren't the problem, neither is the number of games.

The problem is that the players are too empowered and too many of them think they can just skip games whenever they feel like it.

Well on that score - the players today are weak - and are exactly what the old men on Cheers used to say when he said "You are a bunch of weenies"

 

[The Q]

Nah, I disagree on back to backs. Eliminating back to backs would drag the season out too far. Not in terms of number of games, but when the season ends.

They used to get through an 82 game season and playoffs by about mid-May...now, with the league cutting down on back to backs it stretches out to mid-June. Eliminate back to backs and you're looking at the season not ending until July.

I remember when teams played back to back to backs. If memory serves, the '72 Lakers had 2 or 3 back to back to backs during their 33 game win streak.

Their 2 biggest stars were Wilt and Jerry West...Wilt was 35, played all 82 games and averaged 43.2 minutes per game. West was 33, played 77 games and averaged 38.6 minutes per game.

Players today are said to be bigger, stronger, faster, more athletic, in better physical condition and receive better treatment than players back then...but they can't play back to backs or an 82 game season?...sorry...not buying that.

You can avoid back to backs with less 4 and 4’day rests

 

[Wamu]

I called Lebron out because were talking about the nba. I also called out a Maga nba player. I guess you could read into it like I was choosing athletes based on race, but then again, I guess you would be retarded.

Which maga NBAer did you call out, which comment? <--you probably won't answer

You spew enough bullshit in the PF's. Don't bring your special brand of garbage to the NBA threads.

 

[tlance]

Which maga NBAer did you call out, which comment? <--you probably won't answer

You spew enough bullshit in the PF's. Don't bring your special brand of garbage to the NBA threads.

Royce O’Neal was in the original post you are referencing.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

Which maga NBAer did you call out, which comment? <--you probably won't answer

You spew enough bullshit in the PF's. Don't bring your special brand of garbage to the NBA threads.

I guess you could actually read the posts, but you’d rather blindly hate a random guy on the internet.