Predict How many National games will we get this year.

[Calinks]

We have seen some serious movement in the last several years. Going from roughly 1-5-10 National games as the years progressed. Generally, we have been a team that has been left out of the National picture, not a ratings darling by any means with little media coverage or interest.

Last year that really started to turn around. National media personalities like Kendrick Perkins were beating the drum for the Timberwolves. Stephen A. Smith became an Anthony Edwards Stan. Even Charles Barkley has grown in his admiration for young Ant's game.

We already know the Wolves have accomplished something huge when it comes to coverage for this upcoming season.

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Last year we got 10 National games if you include NBA TV. If you take NBA TV out (which I generally do) we got 5. The breakdown was 2 on TNT, 3 on ESPN, and 5 on NBA TV. I believe we did get flexed into some more games as the season went on though. How many do you think we will get this season?

I predict. 4 games on TNT. 5 on ESPN. 2 on ABC and 8 on NBA TV. With a total of 19 National games and 11 games if you don't include NBA TV.

[Klomp]

A lot!

[Colbinii]

I think we will be in the 15-20 range.

[Klomp]

Last year we got 10 National games if you include NBA TV. If you take NBA TV out (which I generally do) we got 5. The breakdown was 2 on TNT, 3 on ESPN, and 5 on NBA TV. I believe we did get flexed into some more games as the season went on though. How many do you think we will get this season?

I predict. 4 games on TNT. 5 on ESPN. 2 on ABC and 8 on NBA TV. With a total of 19 National games and 11 games if you don't include NBA TV.

That might be a little low actually!

When Memphis had their run to the 2 seed (that included their series win against us), they followed it with 18 national TV games (7 TNT, 9 ESPN, 2 ABC), not counting 10 NBATV games) when the next year's schedule was announced.

[Klomp]

I think something else in our favor is "rivalries". I know it's not the 90s, but there will still be very marketable games. The networks will love Ant vs. Luka, Ant vs Ja, Ant vs. Victor, Wolves vs Thunder, Wolves vs. Nuggets, just to name a few.

[Calinks]

Last year we got 10 National games if you include NBA TV. If you take NBA TV out (which I generally do) we got 5. The breakdown was 2 on TNT, 3 on ESPN, and 5 on NBA TV. I believe we did get flexed into some more games as the season went on though. How many do you think we will get this season?

I predict. 4 games on TNT. 5 on ESPN. 2 on ABC and 8 on NBA TV. With a total of 19 National games and 11 games if you don't include NBA TV.

That might be a little low actually!

When Memphis had their run to the 2 seed (that included their series win against us), they followed it with 18 national TV games (7 TNT, 9 ESPN, 2 ABC), not counting 10 NBATV games) when the next year's schedule was announced.

It might be. I think we had 16 4 or 5 years ago.

That said there are so many good teams right now, including Memphis who should be back in form, I could see the networks spreading things out a bit more. When got Minnesota, Dallas, Lakers, Memphis, Wemby in San Antonio, Denver, Phoenix, Sacramento, Oklahoma, New Orleans, and Golden State in the west alone, that is a lot of ground to cover. No way they just leave Steph Curry off the national spotlight but they also have to touch on all these other stars, this might be the most diverse National schedule we have seen in years, maybe we wont see the same 5 teams every week.

[Klomp]

It might be. I think we had 16 4 or 5 years ago. That said there are so many good teams right now, including Memphis who should be back in form, I could see the networks spreading things out a bit more. When got Minnesota, Dallas, Lakers, Memphis, Wemby in San Antonio, Denver, Phoenix, Sacramento, Oklahoma, New Orleans, and Golden State in the west alone, that is a lot of ground to cover. No way they just leave Steph Curry off the national spotlight but they also have to touch on all these other stars, this might be the most diverse National schedule we have seen in years, maybe we wont see the same 5 teams every week.

Good thoughts.

The East will I'm sure be DOMINATED by the Celtics, Knicks and Sixers, with the Bucks, Heat, Pacers and Magic getting some table scraps. No real need to give more than 1 or two games to anyone else in the East. But for the most part, teams like the Knicks and Celtics were already getting crazy numbers of games, so it shouldn't take away from the West too much.

Here's last year's numbers: https://www.sportico.com/leagues/basketball/2023/nba-schedule-2023-24-release-national-tv-1234734631/

Golden State will still get plenty of games, but not the league-leading 29 they got last year. Similar for the Lakers, which shouldn't get 28 again. I would think both would be closer to 20. Even Phoenix's 25 should drop. I think those are the ones that could take a hit, even though it might be wishful thinking. Even Denver at 22 might be a little high. I wonder if the fall closer to 15.

Our 5 and OKC's 8 will make a huge leap. Spurs at 11 might even bump up slightly. Memphis at 13 sounds about right. I know they have the talent, but the networks might be slow to jump right back on the bandwagon. Clippers should fall slightly from 12.

[Calinks]

Speaking of the networks and how they operate, I thought this tidbit was interesting from some ESPN guys on a youtube video I saw the other day. They talked about how badly Lebron going to the Lakers messed up their programing and just how much they have to alter what they talk about because of how big some players (not teams) are. From here they go on for about 3 minutes to talk about it.

https://www.youtube.com/live/Uo7rmLN6ANk?si=iyD2Y93P4Jn6KPf5&t=900

[Klomp]

Speaking of the networks and how they operate, I thought this tidbit was interesting from some ESPN guys on a youtube video I saw the other day. They talked about how badly Lebron going to the Lakers messed up their programing and just how much they have to alter what they talk about because of how big some players (not teams) are. From here they go on for about 3 minutes to talk about it.

https://www.youtube.com/live/Uo7rmLN6ANk?si=iyD2Y93P4Jn6KPf5&t=900

Without a doubt.

But this is also why the Knicks and Nets and Celtics always dominate the national TV games. If you can't cater to a star player in the East, you cater to market size. Losing the Cavs as a centerpiece was a killer for doubleheader coverage for the smaller markets. Even when the Lakers were bad, they always dominated the primetime window, even over a star Damian Lillard and a good Portland team or a really good Utah team.

I wish the networks would move some of the central West teams to the early window, but unfortunately they just don't.

[Calinks]

Speaking of the networks and how they operate, I thought this tidbit was interesting from some ESPN guys on a youtube video I saw the other day. They talked about how badly Lebron going to the Lakers messed up their programing and just how much they have to alter what they talk about because of how big some players (not teams) are. From here they go on for about 3 minutes to talk about it.

https://www.youtube.com/live/Uo7rmLN6ANk?si=iyD2Y93P4Jn6KPf5&t=900

Without a doubt.

But this is also why the Knicks and Nets and Celtics always dominate the national TV games. If you can't cater to a star player in the East, you cater to market size. Losing the Cavs as a centerpiece was a killer for doubleheader coverage for the smaller markets. Even when the Lakers were bad, they always dominated the primetime window, even over a star Damian Lillard and a good Portland team or a really good Utah team.

I wish the networks would move some of the Central West teams to the early window, but unfortunately they just don't.

Also makes me think if we get moved to the east and we maintain this level of quality, we could see a big jump because all the sudden we would become one of those early time slot teams they could use. Anthony Edwards for matinee games against whomever could become a thing.

[KGdaBom]

I predict more than last year. Do I win?

[Klomp]

Speaking of the networks and how they operate, I thought this tidbit was interesting from some ESPN guys on a youtube video I saw the other day. They talked about how badly Lebron going to the Lakers messed up their programing and just how much they have to alter what they talk about because of how big some players (not teams) are. From here they go on for about 3 minutes to talk about it.

https://www.youtube.com/live/Uo7rmLN6ANk?si=iyD2Y93P4Jn6KPf5&t=900

Without a doubt.

But this is also why the Knicks and Nets and Celtics always dominate the national TV games. If you can't cater to a star player in the East, you cater to market size. Losing the Cavs as a centerpiece was a killer for doubleheader coverage for the smaller markets. Even when the Lakers were bad, they always dominated the primetime window, even over a star Damian Lillard and a good Portland team or a really good Utah team.

I wish the networks would move some of the Central West teams to the early window, but unfortunately they just don't.

Also makes me think if we get moved to the east and we maintain this level of quality, we could see a big jump because all the sudden we would become one of those early time slot teams they could use. Anthony Edwards for matinee games against whomever could become a thing.

That's a good call. I think Indiana this year will be a decent barometer of what it might look like. I think Ant's star is definitely higher than Tyrese and the Minnesota market is larger than Indianapolis, but it's similar of a young star leading a team to the conference finals.

[Klomp]

I figured we should also add into the discussion that adidas is KILLING the marketing and promotion of Ant, even in the offseason!

[shrink]

Most-watched NBA games of 2023-24 season

DATE MATCHUP NET(S) VIEWERS (000)
Monday, December 25, 2023 Celtics-Lakers ABC/ESPN 5,013
Saturday, December 9, 2023 Lakers-Pacers ABC/ESPN2 4,580
Monday, December 25, 2023 Warriors-Nuggets ABC/ESPN 4,128
Saturday, January 27, 2024 Lakers-Warriors ABC 3,968
Saturday, March 2, 2024 Nuggets-Lakers ABC 3,046
Sunday, March 3, 2024 Warriors-Celtics ABC 3,005
Wednesday, October 25, 2023 Mavericks-Spurs ESPN 2,989
Sunday, February 25, 2024 Lakers-Suns ABC 2,976
Saturday, March 16, 2024 Warriors-Lakers ABC 2,968
Tuesday, October 24, 2023 Lakers-Nuggets TNT 2,844

I thought it was interesting that the Lakers are the top 4 of 5, and they might have all the top ten spots if they were played twice on Christmas or the networks scheduled their back-to-backs.

Fans get frustrated when they think their team is great but don’t get key games, but scheduling is 100% based on popularity (or trying to create it). The Lakers get ratings and that sells advertising.

I’m happy to see us on the schedule, and many basketball fans that watch multiple teams say that our game with DAL is the one they are most looking forward to. But the vast majority of viewers aren’t like that - they want to watch one team, and it’s LeBron and the Lakers.

[shrink]

Nice to see we get a season opener (vs Lakers, of course) and a Christmas Day game.

[Neeva]

I figured we should also add into the discussion that adidas is KILLING the marketing and promotion of Ant, even in the offseason!

Well he is their top athlete, that’s one positive about being on adidas over Nike is Ant is their top guy!

[Calinks]

So this is supposed to be a prediction thread and I am not seeing a lot of predictions. That said, I didn't specifically have the words predict in the title so I remedied that mistake. Come on folks, take a crack at it. how many national games do you think we will get!?

[_AIJ_]

25

[frankenwolf]

17

[Klomp]

Last year we got 10 National games if you include NBA TV. If you take NBA TV out (which I generally do) we got 5. The breakdown was 2 on TNT, 3 on ESPN, and 5 on NBA TV. I believe we did get flexed into some more games as the season went on though. How many do you think we will get this season?

I predict. 4 games on TNT. 5 on ESPN. 2 on ABC and 8 on NBA TV. With a total of 19 National games and 11 games if you don't include NBA TV.

That might be a little low actually!

When Memphis had their run to the 2 seed (that included their series win against us), they followed it with 18 national TV games (7 TNT, 9 ESPN, 2 ABC), not counting 10 NBATV games) when the next year's schedule was announced.

Looks like the actual number is 18, which includes 3 of the first 5 games. Denver, OKC, Dallas and Memphis account for 11 of the 18 games.