Thunder-Pacers Finals. Worst for business?

[marson]

Give me this over Cavs vs Warriors for 4 straight years.

[TheGOATRises007]

Speak for yourself.

I think it would be entertaining.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

The league is a multibillion dollar global behemoth today and it definitely wasn't built on parity, because the NBA hasn't really had parity to this point.

If it did, we wouldn't even be having this discussion.

That’s absurd.

Basketball was always going to get more popular.

That's just guaranteed? Written in the stars was it?

Then why is anyone concerned about parity? It's all destiny apparently so just sit back relax and enjoy

Why have a league if you only want to watch the Celtics and Lakers play every season?

What’s the point of all the other teams?

[jkvonny]

The NBA has the worst fans in American sports.

Y’all have been programmed to think of the Celtics or Lakers aren’t in the Finals, then it sucks.

No other league does this.

No other league is like “Welp, the Panthers and the Broncos are in the Super Bowl, imma skip this because it’s not a team from a big market.”

The NBA’s marketing has just royally screwed their business over by only putting a spotlight on the same 5 teams.

NBA culture is just so ass backwards.

Agreed! I said this in another thread as well.

"IDk why the NBA has issues with this. It's silly to. Me. It's all about marketing.

The NFL doesn't hv this isuee. Hell! Look at all the small markets in that league that draws well and very successful. Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, Pitt Steelers, Cincy, Bengals , New Orleans Saints, Minn Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indy Colts, Jacksonville Jags, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, etc.

The big market NY Jets have been a joke for decades and haven't been in the playoffs for a decade and a half. Last won a Super Bowl in 1969!
Same for the Chicago Bears, they stink and haven't won a SB since 1985."

LA didn't even have an NFL team from 1995 to 2016. Can you imagine the NBA surviving without an LA team for 20 years? It's so dumb how the NBA has tied its entire identity and brand to the Lakers. If the Lakers aren't winning, people don't watch the NBA. The NBA has no one but themselves to blame for that.

Yup.
LA is a huge market. Lost their football teams often , relocation.

You are right about all of your other comments too.

[reddyplayerone]

We don’t need espn for ****.

I don’t quite know what you are even arguing? That espn has been a good thing for the game? Even though it was thriving perfectly well in the NBC/TNT days?

To me, espns contribution to the NBA is an overwhelming number of fans who adore Lebron and hate Lebron. That’s pretty much all we can “thank” espn for.

Was NBC/TNT telling you that the Hornets branding was cool? Or was it just cool?

That's what I mean.

To be even more clear: I think what's being expressed here is a fundamental misunderstanding of what something like ESPN is or does.

It's a media company owned by a media empire. The company's business is ostensibly "journalism," but it certainly seems universally true that these days that word amounts to what can be more aptly described as infotainment slop

The thing is, I just don't think it was ever THAT different back in whatever the glory days of corporate sports broadcasting were for you, and I certainly don't think it'll be the case when NBC gets the broadcast rights next season.

I think NBC could definitely still do a better job with the NBA than ESPN has done and will do, but my guess atp is that it'll largely be the same sorta thing.

And like Idk I don't like infotainment slop so I just don't watch it. I really and truly do not know a single thing Stephen A Smith has to say on a given day, but I do know I can come here if I want to find out.

Ultimately I'd have to say at minimum whatever ESPN is doing it's effective in that regard.

[reddyplayerone]

That’s absurd.

Basketball was always going to get more popular.

That's just guaranteed? Written in the stars was it?

Then why is anyone concerned about parity? It's all destiny apparently so just sit back relax and enjoy

Why have a league if you only want to watch the Celtics and Lakers play every season?

What’s the point of all the other teams?

I'm sorry but I'm not seeing how this question is at all relevant to your idea that basketball was always going to get more popular.

I mean you're the one essentially saying it doesn't matter if I get the teams I want in the Finals, and that it doesn't matter what anyone wants. In your own words: Basketball was always going to get popular

[Lalouie]

no one living in somewhere, USA cares about a sport involving a city he doesnt care about

he will care even LESS about a city in the middle of nowhere. at least he knows of boston or miami, or los angeles or san fran or even denver

the thing about a well known team or player is you have the large market following PLUS much of the general audience will either love or hate the big market team/player.

everyone has an opinion of a large market city

[Ugly0598]

It’s two boring markets/Pacers are a boring team with uncompelling stories.

Maybe SGA can sweep in 4? That team seems to be on the ball.

[slick_watts]

fans who care about this at all are weird.

[pipfan]

I don't understand all these responses-the OP asks a legit question that some people on here (not me) care about

Yes, we have to assume the NBA league office prefers NY in the Finals-isn't that obvious.

The debate shouldn't be "NBA fans are so terrible", but how will that affect the league's business.
Again, I don't care about this issue at all, but some people do so why attack?

[wade44]

It’d be their own fault by not using resources to market these teams instead of putting all their chips into the Lebron Lakers, Curry Warriors, and Tatum Celtics year in year out. NBA is finally evolving and some fans are still stuck in a previous era

[boomershadow]

I give no amount of **** what the ratings are for the Finals if my team gets there.

[NO-KG-AI]

This has been parroted so many times that it’s actually worked. People with no rooting interest think they shouldn’t watch the finals depending of it’s gonna get high ratings or not lmfao.

[NO-KG-AI]

I don't understand all these responses-the OP asks a legit question that some people on here (not me) care about

Yes, we have to assume the NBA league office prefers NY in the Finals-isn't that obvious.

The debate shouldn't be "NBA fans are so terrible", but how will that affect the league's business.
Again, I don't care about this issue at all, but some people do so why attack?

Because it always feels like a veiled attempt by fans and media to convince you that you shouldn’t care or people shouldn’t care about your team, or it’s less important if the finals isn’t centered around LA or NY

[rand]

I don't understand all these responses-the OP asks a legit question that some people on here (not me) care about

Yes, we have to assume the NBA league office prefers NY in the Finals-isn't that obvious.

The debate shouldn't be "NBA fans are so terrible", but how will that affect the league's business.
Again, I don't care about this issue at all, but some people do so why attack?

It really is very strange.

Because it always feels like a veiled attempt by fans and media to convince you that you shouldn’t care or people shouldn’t care about your team, or it’s less important if the finals isn’t centered around LA or NY

I really don't see much of that in general but just look at OP's post and tell me how everyone is reacting as though it's one of those veiled attempts. It obviously isn't. It's a matter-of-fact query without any indication at all that OP personally dislikes this matchup.

[og15]

Let's say both teams keep its (much deserved) lead and go to the Finals. Is this the worst possible outcome for the NBA from business perspective?

If I'm not mistaken, both teams are ranked in the bottom 5 in terms of market size.

The NBA is making money regardless, the NBA has been trying to have more parity for years now. The owners who in the end control the NBA keep voting for and doing things to cause more parity and to try prevent certain teams and markets from constantly dominating.

The NBA's goal then can't simply be what individual series is best for overall ratings. The NBA's goal is probably more to do with, what it can so that some of these smaller teams make strides, and despite their market size become more popular due to consistent high performance.

The big markets are going to be popular regardless, more smaller market teams getting more shine does not take at from the big markets, so, it could actually be a great outcome from a business perspective, if one isn't just thinking with a one series mindset.

[IMF]

The NBA has the worst fans in American sports.

Y’all have been programmed to think of the Celtics or Lakers aren’t in the Finals, then it sucks.

No other league does this.

No other league is like “Welp, the Panthers and the Broncos are in the Super Bowl, imma skip this because it’s not a team from a big market.”

The NBA’s marketing has just royally screwed their business over by only putting a spotlight on the same 5 teams.

NBA culture is just so ass backwards.

This is so spot on. Anyone who spouts this garbage should be outed as the pathetic casual ass Stephan A. Smith slobbing loser that they truly are.

The most important and relevant franchise in NFL history is the **** Green Bay Packers. If you’re whining about markets watching the NBA finals you’re a star **** loser, full stop. Stop embarrassing yourself. Turn off ESPN.

[Statlanta]

No, I mean I don't know how a small city like Kansas City is the mecca for football but here we are.

I think the Pacers will get blown off the floor though so that's bad for business.

[IMF]

It’s two boring markets/Pacers are a boring team with uncompelling stories.

Maybe SGA can sweep in 4? That team seems to be on the ball.

Wow I guess as an Utah fan I find this surprising, imagine the fun you might have if you actually started watching and appreciating basketball, the product on the court?

Pathetic.

[Hair Jordan]

It’ll be a great series between two young - up and coming teams but in terms of ratings it’ll be a disaster on par with series like the Spurs/Cavs in 2007 and the Lakers/Heat in 2020.