ESPN clearly trolling Rap fans. CLEARLY.

[gpoon]

Im sure they did it on purpose lol

but honestly... what has Houston proved? Harden gave up in the second round last year.. Chris Paul has consistently been bounced early in the playoffs even with solid teams... and the freaking Celtics... they made it to the conference finals last year but so did the raps the year before only to lose to Lebron... Kyrie has put up stellar playoff performances but that's playing alongside the best player in the world (dont want to take anything away from him but lets be real... if he is the only serious offensive weapon an a team... that is not a title contending team), Al Horford? had great regular seasons with Atlanta only to be swept by lebron... yeah so please tell me how these teams have proved anything more than the Raps have?

Man that was salty, ima go get a glass of water...

[vaff87]

[HiMyNameIsTrey]

Honestly, it doesn't help that we don't have any marketable superstars on our team. Derozan is the most marketable player we got. Even when DD has a bad game, ESPN highlights are just his shots. Imagine a prime VC on this team right now.. we'd have tons of coverage worldwide. Having a KD type player would increase buzz 10000%

[OAKLEY_2]

US viewership would be better only but it wouldn’t be a bigger viewership. Toronto and Canada is a far bigger market. And the way this fanbase is... we need to keep on and improve how much we are hated. We need to be more hated than the bad boy pistons. But it’s how they track advertising that’s the stupidest ever.

when are some of you gonna get it?

NBA cares about US viewership since they are the target market: media/advertisers/fans that gives billions to NBA. Canadian market is nice but does not represent much for the NBA income and market.

Philly metropolitan area is over 6 millions 9th most populous area with a long tradition in NBA. They've long due for noise in NBA (since AI days).

The total Canadian & Toronto population is not the same as NBA market since most Canadians would not watch NBA unless they change rules and play it on ice.

Then why the **** expand to Canada then? Either keep it 100% American or give all the teams fair coverage / respect. So sick of this.

Media rules are different in Canada. Television is used to forge a national identity - purrently - so CRTC mandates the use of Canadian advertising to support Canadian industry. Geico and Farmers Only.com are shut out so... They hate us as we play the game against each other but we do not do give their sponsors access to our markets. Proper thing. Keep ignoring us we actually love it. Canada is a vastly different culture than America we just share the same love of pop culture and pretzels. They want in on our biz turf and frankly Coors has failed to enrich my life. Considering how much foreign ownership we already allow there is going to be some line drawn just like any other sovereign country.

[SharoneWright]

www.espn.com/video/clip?id=22467007

[whoknows]

when are some of you gonna get it?

NBA cares about US viewership since they are the target market: media/advertisers/fans that gives billions to NBA. Canadian market is nice but does not represent much for the NBA income and market.

Philly metropolitan area is over 6 millions 9th most populous area with a long tradition in NBA. They've long due for noise in NBA (since AI days).

The total Canadian & Toronto population is not the same as NBA market since most Canadians would not watch NBA unless they change rules and play it on ice.

Then why the **** expand to Canada then? Either keep it 100% American or give all the teams fair coverage / respect. So sick of this.

Media rules are different in Canada. Television is used to forge a national identity - purrently - so CRTC mandates the use of Canadian advertising to support Canadian industry. Geico and Farmers Only.com are shut out so... They hate us as we play the game against each other but we do not do give their sponsors access to our markets. Proper thing. Keep ignoring us we actually love it. Canada is a vastly different culture than America we just share the same love of pop culture and pretzels. They want in on our biz turf and frankly Coors has failed to enrich my life. Considering how much foreign ownership we already allow there is going to be some line drawn just like any other sovereign country.

CRTC - like or hate it, this is a major reason why no top star NBA player will ever sign for Raptors!

I for one hate CRTC with passion, they are the official government mafia enforcer who are paid by our taxes so their dons (Roger/Bell/Tellus/etc) are protected against free market competition - as a result Canadians prices are much higher than Americans.
Government interference always turns into taking from poor tax payers and lining the pockets of their friends = corporate welfare

[OAKLEY_2]

Then why the **** expand to Canada then? Either keep it 100% American or give all the teams fair coverage / respect. So sick of this.

Media rules are different in Canada. Television is used to forge a national identity - purrently - so CRTC mandates the use of Canadian advertising to support Canadian industry. Geico and Farmers Only.com are shut out so... They hate us as we play the game against each other but we do not do give their sponsors access to our markets. Proper thing. Keep ignoring us we actually love it. Canada is a vastly different culture than America we just share the same love of pop culture and pretzels. They want in on our biz turf and frankly Coors has failed to enrich my life. Considering how much foreign ownership we already allow there is going to be some line drawn just like any other sovereign country.

CRTC - like or hate it, this is a major reason why no top star NBA player will ever sign for Raptors!

I for one hate CRTC with passion, they are the official government mafia enforcer who are paid by our taxes so their dons (Roger/Bell/Tellus/etc) are protected against free market competition - as a result Canadians prices are much higher than Americans.
Government interference always turns into taking from poor tax payers and lining the pockets of their friends = corporate welfare

This is all true in pure theory. In practice we allow more foreign investment than almost any other developed nation. Those "profits" leave the country. We too easily sell our raw resources at bottom dollar. We farm out the value-added component to places like America and China. Is the role for the CRTC different in the Internet age? Probably a lot different. So even though Rogers and Bell get racket protection, as you say, their profits stay in Canada and if we had Comcast they would be f-ing us over a barrel torching net neutrality and sucking up our money by high tailing it off to wherever they hide their bounty. You either want a country that protects Canadian jobs and equity or you just see things in consumption terms and you have a Brampton depot for all things foreign namely American. I don't want to live in freckin Walmart Nation branch plant economy.

[whoknows]

Media rules are different in Canada. Television is used to forge a national identity - purrently - so CRTC mandates the use of Canadian advertising to support Canadian industry. Geico and Farmers Only.com are shut out so... They hate us as we play the game against each other but we do not do give their sponsors access to our markets. Proper thing. Keep ignoring us we actually love it. Canada is a vastly different culture than America we just share the same love of pop culture and pretzels. They want in on our biz turf and frankly Coors has failed to enrich my life. Considering how much foreign ownership we already allow there is going to be some line drawn just like any other sovereign country.

CRTC - like or hate it, this is a major reason why no top star NBA player will ever sign for Raptors!

I for one hate CRTC with passion, they are the official government mafia enforcer who are paid by our taxes so their dons (Roger/Bell/Tellus/etc) are protected against free market competition - as a result Canadians prices are much higher than Americans.
Government interference always turns into taking from poor tax payers and lining the pockets of their friends = corporate welfare

This is all true in pure theory. In practice we allow more foreign investment than almost any other developed nation. Those "profits" leave the country. We too easily sell our raw resources at bottom dollar. We farm out the value-added component to places like America and China. Is the role for the CRTC different in the Internet age? Probably a lot different. So even though Rogers and Bell get racket protection, as you say, their profits stay in Canada and if we had Comcast they would be f-ing us over a barrel torching net neutrality and sucking up our money by high tailing it off to wherever they hide their bounty. You either want a country that protects Canadian jobs and equity or you just see things in consumption terms and you have a Brampton depot for all things foreign namely American. I don't want to live in freckin Walmart Nation branch plant economy.

Government regulations are playing favourites (at our expense) against the natural free market of supply and demand (which wins all the time).
Raw resources prices are setup by the global market of supply and demand.
How do you protect Canadian jobs by creating monopoly in say telecommunication industry? Does the local repair technician care what name is on his truck?
Because the regular Canadian sure would love to pay 1/2 the CRTC inflated prices for data, in line to what Americans pay (for no limit plans).

[lebron stopper]

Damian Lillard had to point out his previous All-Star snubs just to make his third All-Star team this year. Damian Lillard, a guy who averaged 27 PPG last season.

Do yourself a favour and watch this game, Lillard had 44 and Durant had 50.

I will gladly watch any game that ends with the Golden Snake going home with a L

Finally got around to watching this game, absolutely worth it! Bill Walton is bizarre. Also, LOL at Doris calling KD slithery.

[lebron stopper]

[macNcheese3]

keep the trolls ah coming

[Kreamy]

ESPN is the Fox News of sports.

[Young_Buc]

I think both ESPN and the CTRC need a Canadian basketball gold medal more than a Raptors final. That would be the ultimate retort to both parties.

[OAKLEY_2]

CRTC - like or hate it, this is a major reason why no top star NBA player will ever sign for Raptors!

I for one hate CRTC with passion, they are the official government mafia enforcer who are paid by our taxes so their dons (Roger/Bell/Tellus/etc) are protected against free market competition - as a result Canadians prices are much higher than Americans.
Government interference always turns into taking from poor tax payers and lining the pockets of their friends = corporate welfare

This is all true in pure theory. In practice we allow more foreign investment than almost any other developed nation. Those "profits" leave the country. We too easily sell our raw resources at bottom dollar. We farm out the value-added component to places like America and China. Is the role for the CRTC different in the Internet age? Probably a lot different. So even though Rogers and Bell get racket protection, as you say, their profits stay in Canada and if we had Comcast they would be f-ing us over a barrel torching net neutrality and sucking up our money by high tailing it off to wherever they hide their bounty. You either want a country that protects Canadian jobs and equity or you just see things in consumption terms and you have a Brampton depot for all things foreign namely American. I don't want to live in freckin Walmart Nation branch plant economy.

Government regulations are playing favourites (at our expense) against the natural free market of supply and demand (which wins all the time).
Raw resources prices are setup by the global market of supply and demand.
How do you protect Canadian jobs by creating monopoly in say telecommunication industry? Does the local repair technician care what name is on his truck?
Because the regular Canadian sure would love to pay 1/2 the CRTC inflated prices for data, in line to what Americans pay (for no limit plans).

Calling horseshoe on your post. Markets are neither "free" nor are they "natural". Market manipulation, monopoly, duolopoly, price fixing, currency rigging happen all the time. The reason lobbyists get paid is in the attempt to feather the nests of their clients to continue to have positions of advantage by bribe or whatever means to dominate and manipulate markets. If you believe markets are actually free you are substituting feel-good economic theory for facts. Don''t believe all these mantra talking points as fact. Do your economic homework. Being upset about the cost of cable or cell plans is a legitimate consumer grievance but be very careful not to adopt the master solution to all problems from the Fox that runs the hen house.

[Vlade Divac]

Then why the **** expand to Canada then? Either keep it 100% American or give all the teams fair coverage / respect. So sick of this.

Media rules are different in Canada. Television is used to forge a national identity - purrently - so CRTC mandates the use of Canadian advertising to support Canadian industry. Geico and Farmers Only.com are shut out so... They hate us as we play the game against each other but we do not do give their sponsors access to our markets. Proper thing. Keep ignoring us we actually love it. Canada is a vastly different culture than America we just share the same love of pop culture and pretzels. They want in on our biz turf and frankly Coors has failed to enrich my life. Considering how much foreign ownership we already allow there is going to be some line drawn just like any other sovereign country.

CRTC - like or hate it, this is a major reason why no top star NBA player will ever sign for Raptors!

I for one hate CRTC with passion, they are the official government mafia enforcer who are paid by our taxes so their dons (Roger/Bell/Tellus/etc) are protected against free market competition - as a result Canadians prices are much higher than Americans.
Government interference always turns into taking from poor tax payers and lining the pockets of their friends = corporate welfare

I am certainly not a fan of CRTC, but it is a necessity we have to learn to live with. Don't forget that as a thank you for protecting their monopolistic role Telus, Rogers and Bell pay some small portions of their revenue to a fund which goes to help creation of "programs of national interest", essentially providing Canadian content in sea of American programing. That, along with other protections (look at the prices of cheese, alcohol, tobacco etc.) is simply only tool small country has to protect itself from "free market" which is an economic theory which means just that - theory while in essence means big powerful nations through their big powerful companies under the auspices of "globalization" reap all profits of "free market" bring it home so the powerful can become even more powerful.

[chargerxthirty]

Obviously a single game sample, but when we played Houston in Houston, we absolutely stomped them as I recall. Like, the game was out of hand in the second quarter already.

[D3158]

None of these so called espns, tv personalities, first take people phase me. Just gotta shut these people up by going to the FINALS but first stop, WIN GAME 1 AT HOME.

Make it happen, Raps. Prove 'em!

[almatic]

the real sad part is that ESPN idiotic employee really believe that.

No surprise since ESPN is the toilet of sports media, they're the masters of fake news while barely staying in business.

I hope this motivates our guys!

ESPN ..barely staying in business?

See this is why Raptor fans get made outside this board.

[OAKLEY_2]

Media rules are different in Canada. Television is used to forge a national identity - purrently - so CRTC mandates the use of Canadian advertising to support Canadian industry. Geico and Farmers Only.com are shut out so... They hate us as we play the game against each other but we do not do give their sponsors access to our markets. Proper thing. Keep ignoring us we actually love it. Canada is a vastly different culture than America we just share the same love of pop culture and pretzels. They want in on our biz turf and frankly Coors has failed to enrich my life. Considering how much foreign ownership we already allow there is going to be some line drawn just like any other sovereign country.

CRTC - like or hate it, this is a major reason why no top star NBA player will ever sign for Raptors!

I for one hate CRTC with passion, they are the official government mafia enforcer who are paid by our taxes so their dons (Roger/Bell/Tellus/etc) are protected against free market competition - as a result Canadians prices are much higher than Americans.
Government interference always turns into taking from poor tax payers and lining the pockets of their friends = corporate welfare

I am certainly not a fan of CRTC, but it is a necessity we have to learn to live with. Don't forget that as a thank you for protecting their monopolistic role Telus, Rogers and Bell pay some small portions of their revenue to a fund which goes to help creation of "programs of national interest", essentially providing Canadian content in sea of American programing. That, along with other protections (look at the prices of cheese, alcohol, tobacco etc.) is simply only tool small country has to protect itself from "free market" which is an economic theory which means just that - theory while in essence means big powerful nations through their big powerful companies under the auspices of "globalization" reap all profits of "free market" bring it home so the powerful can become even more powerful.

I mean why did we create "Crown Corporations"? We created them in order of have domestic enterprise of local content that was not at the mercy of our frugal banking system. Now eventually some like Air Canada and even Bell were better being privatized to actually face competition and others like Canada Post were better as Crown Corporations serving the national interest. Sometimes consumerist driven market evolution is simply not in the national interest. As a consumer did I cut cable? Yes. The product was horrific. Would make no difference who peddles those wares. I do understand the need for larger domestic entities vs. being ruled by foreign capitalized ventures and I boycott Walmart accordingly. Take farm boards a favourite whipping post for so-called free market advocates. Farm boards guaranteed a price for farmers so they wouldn't fall victim to the vagaries of a volatile market based on fluctuating yields. That was a well thought out plan to assist the small business of farming and give them a fighting chance. Enter corporate farming stateside with money for marketing, lobbying and yes subsidies and the smaller enterprises with the backing of farm boards are an "inconvenience". To put it mildly. Corporate farming wants the whole market and maybe they should have it but they should never "own" the land which is a vital renewable resource. Land and similar resources are things most in need of federal protection (the Crown) as provinces are more likely to go rogue on "national" interests which can include the longer term viability of economic development.

So when we word-buzz things like "free market" we better not be parroting special interests talking points.

[Painting_Shade]

Media slights the rockets a ton too, maybe not as much. Can't wait to see ya'll in finals