Should Heat be taken off National TV? (merged threads)

[L&H_05]

This reminds me when the Kings were on national TV every other game a year or so ago...

Musselman-ball just never took off like the NBA's top brass had hoped..

[NetsForce]

Success!

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/story/388470.html

Although ESPN has dropped the Heat's Feb. 1 game against New Jersey from its national TV broadcast, the team likely will keep the game's 8 p.m. start time intact rather than change it to the normal 7:30 p.m. start for home games.

The network also has informed the team of its plans to drop the April 4 game at Washington. The Heat still has 10 nationally broadcast games on its schedule.

[Flash3]

The heat are embarassing and the NBA putting them on tv is even more embarassing, give the blazers, hornets, warriors and raptors some nationally televised games no more heat or bulls or cavs

the average fan can't name more than 2/3 players from the blazers or warriors, for example.

but they do know who LeBron, Wade & Shaq are...

that's why these teams continue to be on TV.

[NYKnick87]

Although ESPN has dropped the Heat's Feb. 1 game against New Jersey from its national TV broadcast, the team likely will keep the game's 8 p.m. start time intact rather than change it to the normal 7:30 p.m. start for home games.

The network also has informed the team of its plans to drop the April 4 game at Washington. The Heat still has 10 nationally broadcast games on its schedule.

[NCHeels2008]

-= original quote snipped =-

the average fan can't name more than 2/3 players from the blazers or warriors, for example.

but they do know who LeBron, Wade & Shaq are...

that's why these teams continue to be on TV.

and as long as the nba sees it this way, casual fans/non fans will have an ever growing dislike for the nba. the league has an unprecedented opportunity this year to push the team concept, the shoe companies have started to, to a degree. With the Celtics, Pistons and the top 6 in the West Phoenix, New Orleans,LA Lakers, Portland, Dallas, San Antonio are all teams (which feels crazy to say about the Lakers). And all except for San Antonio are up tempo teams.
The league is pissing away its chance to change it perception as a me and individual first league into a team league again. When you tie your fortunes to individuals you have things like this season happen. If the NBA could just get off the hype machine on individuals and put the focus on great TEAMS we would get to see more entertaining basketball and the NBA would at least have a chance of becoming more popular.

[JellosJigglin]

Wasn't Lebron in the lowest rated Finals ever? I don't think it's about marketing, it's about entertainment. The name might draw viewers in for the opening tip, but then you see drastic fall in ratings for the rest of the game. People want to watch good teams more than good players.

[Harry Heinous]

Wasn't Lebron in the lowest rated Finals ever? I don't think it's about marketing, it's about entertainment. The name might draw viewers in for the opening tip, but then you see drastic fall in ratings for the rest of the game. People want to watch good teams more than good players.

Well, I think it's the networks more than anyone, who demand "superstars". I mean, there's gotta be a reason why it's like this year after year.

But I totally agree, and would prefer to watch great teams over great players. When it's a combination of those both, as Shaq and Wade used to be, then it's all good. [/i]

[Ballings7]

Like others and I have already said...

Individual-ism needs to be less emphasized. There's more and better reason for more team-oriented reasons why games are put on cable/nat. TV.

The casual fan is just flawed if they just want to see one or two players, and not good, exciting, enjoyable basketball from more of a team-stand-point. Along with the individual(s) part, but as an underlying factor. Both should appeal.

"Oh, that was nice passing/ball movement (not going to include non-block defense because it's looked as health food by many people)/move to the basket/alley-oops/fast-break execution......... Yeah!! dunks! blocks! threes! crazy move to the hoop! by (big-name star)"

Although ESPN has dropped the Heat's Feb. 1 game against New Jersey from its national TV broadcast, the team likely will keep the game's 8 p.m. start time intact rather than change it to the normal 7:30 p.m. start for home games.

The network also has informed the team of its plans to drop the April 4 game at Washington. The Heat still has 10 nationally broadcast games on its schedule.

It's a start - but obviously some more need to be taken off for it to be a significant effort. Doing just two is half-assing it.

[Cevap]

maybe they should replace the heat games with a HORSE competition involving D League players....just a thought

[JordansBulls]

I can understand having them on occasionally, but the Heat are just plain bad this year and it seems like they're on ESPN or TNT all the freaking time. Can't the league change the national game? Give a team like Portland or even Washington/Atlanta more play?

Totally agree.

Here is the rest of the schedule for the Miami Heat for the season and for a team that is 8-32 they are and have been on National TV (TNT, ESPN) quite a bit this season.

Miami Heat Schedule Season

They have 4 games scheduled for ABC, 5 games for TNT, 5 games for NBA TV. This team should not be getting coverage like that. They need to be replaced with a team like New Orleans who has no games on National TV for the year.

New Orleans Schedule Season

[Klomp]

Wasn't Lebron in the lowest rated Finals ever? I don't think it's about marketing, it's about entertainment. The name might draw viewers in for the opening tip, but then you see drastic fall in ratings for the rest of the game. People want to watch good teams more than good players.

Yes it was. However, you cannot blame it on LeBron. If LeBron was not in it (hypothetical) the ratings would've been far worse.

Why? First, both SA and CLE are small markets. Second, neither team has ever played "exciting" basketball. Third, the Spurs were in it. I think I read somewhere that the 5 lowest Finals' have been in the last 6 years, with the Spurs being in 3 of them.



However, I still think there is a problem in how the NBA markets its product. Ever since Michael Jordan, the NBA has been starving for superstars and will do whatever it takes to get who they think are the best players on TV, regardless of how bad a team they are on. Shaq for the last 3-4 years has always been the name NBA is trying to market, which is why theres more Heat games. Same goes for Kobe, Dirk, Nash, and a lot of the older stars.

If the league does continue this, they should market some of the younger up and coming talents like: Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Al Jefferson, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, LeBron, Carmelo, etc. They've started with some of the bigger names, but should continue the process. A casual viewer probably wouldn't think the Hornets are very good because the league hardly markets them. However, its quite the contrary.


What I ultimately think they should do, however, is show more fundamental basketball teams like Utah, SA, etc. It is honestly for the benefit of the league down the road. Kids watching games will only try to emulate the fancy plays, dunks, alleyoops, etc. because that is being shown. Thats why there are kids drafted who have tons of athletic ability, but little to no basketball talent (ie Gerald Green, Ndudi Ebi, etc)

The reason the NBA has a poor schedule and poor ratings is because of its poor marketing strategy. Period.

[The_Believer]

Why are the Bulls on national TV then? They're not a big market team and they don't have any stars.
Also, whoever said that the "other" teams don't have more than 2-3 players on them, nobody can name a heat/cavs player except for bron, wade, and shaq. Every team only has 1-2 stars, and everyone else is pretty much unknown to casual fans.

[Klomp]

Why are the Bulls on national TV then? They're not a big market team and they don't have any stars.

You're right, theyre only in the 3rd biggest media market in the US behind NYC and LA, but they aren't in a big market.

San Antonio is 37th, with only 3 NBA teams in smaller markets. Cleveland is 17th. Interesting that Miami is only 16th though

[MagicFan32]

It makes me sick when the heat and cavs play all it is, wade/lebron lebron/wade wade lebron etc etc etc, it's total overkill.

I used to respect TNT alot more but their lineup is the same all the time. The NBA needs to schedule more Thursday games, and they shouldn't allow Magic Johnson on their with his Lakers agenda be so prominent when he's there.

Atleast ESPN is changing SOME games but I want to see teams like the Hornets more just to see if Chris Paul really is an MVP caliber guy you know..

[durden_tyler]

Can they do that? Change the sched?

[Dutch Michigan]

Their own 'fans' don't bother to come to their home games anymore. And i see why.

10 more games to go, i won't be watching them. And get rid of that pathetic Miami announcer too, it's just awful.

[Howard+Nelson]

another heat game on tonight..another game i wont be watching.

[HumbleBumbleBee]

come to canada...we dont have espn or tnt

[Yankee]

How many time do we have to see 8-32 miami heat playing on national television? This the equivalent of seeing NBC coverage of the "mighty" Notre Dame fighting Irish every saturday.

I know the scheduale is set, but they should throw more games on nights that they are going to do national tv so they can choose a better game.

If the NBA keeps this up they will be NHL like in television ratings soon.

I rather see the hornets and trailblazers than the pathetic heat and somewhat pathetic cavs every week.

[Yankee]

my bad, I didn't see the other discussion.