OT: The NBA suffered a huge ratings loss opening week, is it "The Nothing means Anything" era?

[MalagaBulls]

Really good read Mike O'Connor (Just a snippet):

https://www.rightstorickysanchez.com/p/nba-nothing-means-anything

As a whole, the NBA’s regular season is openly regarded as meaningless, both by players and by the public discourse. Players routinely talk about the regular season like a chore. Those who succeed in it are given only superficial amounts of respect –- in fact, if you dominate the regular season and flame out in the playoffs, you will be lambasted as a fraud. Some might point to that as an example of toxicity of the fans, but I view it as a natural response towards the meaninglessness of the regular season; fans feel that they are being deceived throughout those 82 games, and so, they rejoice when those deceptions get exposed.

There are a lot of differences between the regular season and playoffs, but they all basically boil down to this: The teams are trying way, way harder in the playoffs. And, so, it’s hard to read a lot of meaning into an 82-game season in which teams are oftentimes simply not trying very hard.

[dougthonus]

I think the overall societal metrics are moving against live sports in general, but the NBA definitely has some specific problems of its own.

[nomorezorro]

imo, this is not a problem for anyone other than the league and its broadcasting partners.

i personally still find plenty to be entertained by when it comes to early-season basketball games — i'm definitely more likely to watch a random game in october/november when teams are still starting to put together an identity for a new season than i am in the softer middle parts of a season, which is to me the time when you really start to feel the length of a league year.

and for those who don't feel compelled to tune in when "the games don't matter"...they don't have to? there's certainly no shortage of entertainment options for them, and the league will be waiting for them whenever they do find it to be a compelling part of the calendar. the only way i am affected by other people tuning out is when they whine about the league losing its luster rather than just walking away quietly

the nba isn't in danger of folding due to declines in tv viewership or in-person attendance. a long-term media deal is locked in; team valuations are still through the roof. if the league wants to explore ways to give the regular season a greater feeling of stakes to try to increase their short-term profitability/cultural relevance and long-term sustainability, more power to them. but that's not an issue for me to think about how to solve, because it's not my issue at all

[kodo]

A baseball player hitting 60 homeruns in a year is an incredible feat, whether it happened in 1960 or 2024. A basketball player scoring 30 points per game was an incredible feat in 1990 but barely registers in 2024.

I remember when Sadiq Bey hit 50 as a 2nd year player, and after that every time a player hit 50 I kinda just shrugged it off and didn't care. Lavine also hit 51 in one of his first games last season, the general NBA fans didn't care a bit.

[madvillian]

I've been arguing this for years. I play fantasy that keeps me interested. If I didn't have that I wouldn't watch a single non bulls game and even watching the bulls gets tiresome by late winter.

baseball made some controversial changes that turned out to be wonderful and really improved the sport. perhaps the NBA should look into some as well, including moving the corner triple back and making the court slightly wider.

The variance and freneticism that comes along with such rapid pace and off-the-charts three-point shooting has made it difficult for us to conceptualize the flow of the game. It used to be the case that a 15-point lead in the NBA was not only a huge deal, but something that was well-earned; nowadays, a hot shooting streak in the second quarter can open up such a deficit, and another from the other team can close it up before the half ends.

This is the absolute crux of the issue. It's not that playing well isn't rewarded, it's that "playing well" is basically just firing up triples as fast as you can because eventually they will fall and analytics says it's the best shot other than a layup or dunk, and those are harder to get.

[MalagaBulls]

I personally read about the fiasco which the fanbase just went through regarding tv & streaming. How can you sell a product with those optics. That's just 1 example of nothing means anything.

[PaKii94]

A baseball player hitting 60 homeruns in a year is an incredible feat, whether it happened in 1960 or 2024. A basketball player scoring 30 points per game was an incredible feat in 1990 but barely registers in 2024.

I remember when Sadiq Bey hit 50 as a 2nd year player, and after that every time a player hit 50 I kinda just shrugged it off and didn't care. Lavine also hit 51 in one of his first games last season, the general NBA fans didn't care a bit.

For me it was when Terrance Ross hit 50 and then went back to being a scrub

[CROBulls]

I dont watch NBA in general. I dont remember when I watched full game last time. Maybe 3 years ago? Ok, I am special kind of guy. Very stubborn, very resentful and grude bearer. So if I dont like product, I aint watching sh**. My definiton is, whatever I spend time on needs to be worthy of my time.

Bulls are not worthy of my time. Not now. Team is terrible. Yes, terrible. You know, we all know it. I dont like product, current players, GM, coach and specifically owner. There is no franchise talent on roster or anyone worth giving my precious time to watch it. When we do have Ill come back and watch game.

So until changes happen I will continue not watching Bulls. Now on bigger picture, whole NBA. I dont like it. Too many players really talk like regular season dont matter, players skipping games, no continuous effort every night. Just going through motions.Fans feel that. I cannot imagine people who buy tickets how they feel.

As all talent is in league, everyone is playing literally same. There is no much distinctions between teams. At the end, if you want to win it comes to who shoot more 3's. All this leads slowly to boring product.

[LateNight]

Personally, beginning of the season and end of the season (if team is play-in / playoff caliber) is when I watch the most games. It’s the middle part where I tend to tune out

[MrSparkle]

It’s become fairly predictable. People want surprises and underdog stories, but the league consistently rewards teams that trade declining superstars for giant FRP packages and tank rebuilds, or getting lucky tanking. There’s little pay off for competing without the lucky star.

I acknowledge OKC is an elite team, but I’m not interested in their story. Maybe extra salty about how bad the Bulls became.

Sports betting also just seems like another bad factor in the billionaire reality show.

[Cager]

Want an idea that will drastically change the dynamic of the NBA? Eliminate the 3pt shot! Or at minimum, move the line farther back so it can't be relied on so much.

This would turn the game back a few decades where games are won or lost in the paint with the skills necessary to thrive there, and less by an increasing number of players who can get hot from the 3pt line. The 3pt shooters basically represent one skill set, while the game played in the paint requires different and varied skill sets. Outside shooting still has it's place, but I think it's current dominance at the 3pt line is part of the reason that folks are turning the channel during the regular season.

Just my 2 cents worth.

-Cager

[navdeep_singh]

Welcome to the era of LOAD MANAGEMENT! Embid back in the Bahamas rehabbing with a pina coloada?

[prolific passer]

When load management is getting so bad that players want to sit out the first game of the season. Bad look for the league.

[JimmyButler21]

The NBA regular season just means nothing. Stars are sitting, the games don't matter because everyone makes the playoffs, seeding doesn't even matter like it used to.

[Wingy]

I’d say….

-A disproportionately large number of unlikable stars…like…so damn many of them

- Zero American superstar icons, first time in, I think ever

- Lack of marketing the new generations because they’re too damn busy…

- Cramming Lebron and the Lakers down our throats when we and anyone else who knows anything at all about ball knows damn well they’re a farce when it comes to being actual competitors. So tired of it. I would not click on any of let’s say “this summer’s main non-Olympic headline” cause I refuse to feed that garbage. Much as I like Steph, same goes for him and the Warriors

- Lack of competitiveness and general pride. Thanks mostly to LeSGOAT on the former, and the aforementioned unlikable stars. Doesn’t help when inflation went nuts and salaries didn’t keep up to see these guys’ salaries explode

- Game homogeneity- endless 3-point chuck fest

- and the cherry - I’m completely hopeless when it comes to this board’s team such that I continue my strike against posting about them until AK, or this ownership is gone. Same old story. Why waste the energy.

Yeah…despite having access to League Pass (I think), I haven’t watched a single game all season come to think about it.

[Ccwatercraft]

I dont watch NBA in general. I dont remember when I watched full game last time. Maybe 3 years ago? Ok, I am special kind of guy. Very stubborn, very resentful and grude bearer. So if I dont like product, I aint watching sh**. My definiton is, whatever I spend time on needs to be worthy of my time.

Bulls are not worthy of my time. Not now. Team is terrible. Yes, terrible. You know, we all know it. I dont like product, current players, GM, coach and specifically owner. There is no franchise talent on roster or anyone worth giving my precious time to watch it. When we do have Ill come back and watch game.

So until changes happen I will continue not watching Bulls. Now on bigger picture, whole NBA. I dont like it. Too many players really talk like regular season dont matter, players skipping games, no continuous effort every night. Just going through motions.Fans feel that. I cannot imagine people who buy tickets how they feel.

As all talent is in league, everyone is playing literally same. There is no much distinctions between teams. At the end, if you want to win it comes to who shoot more 3's. All this leads slowly to boring product.

Exact opposite, i probably watch 70-75 bulls games, maybe 15 other games throughout the season, then tend to cherry pick playoff teams.

I don't watch any Nascar, like ever.. should i be active in the Nascar forums? Maybe I'm doing it wrong

[erlim]

The sports media and their talking heads don't help at all; so much focus gets thrust upon Lebron James (and his son). Like when you are hanging your promotional hat on a mediocre team with an aging player...this is what you get.

I was thinking about this the other day, without a Jordan, Kobe/Shaq, and eventually Lebron James -- how visible is the NBA? If you went to somebody whose favorite sport was another sport, say soccer, would they know who SGA was? Would they know who Anthony Edwards was?

Also, Hustle was a better movie than Space Jam 2, and sadly, Space Jam.

[CROBulls]

Exact opposite, i probably watch 70-75 bulls games, maybe 15 other games throughout the season, then tend to cherry pick playoff teams.

I don't watch any Nascar, like ever.. should i be active in the Nascar forums? Maybe I'm doing it wrong

Watched more Bears and Blackhawks despite both being "bad". So it's not that. I like Bulls when there is a plan to build a team and organization. There is no plan. And just because I dont watch games doesnt mean I should be silent. You should be heard and your voice be heard to get things you want. To lead to better things. Reason why Bulls are still bad is because of everyone who go to games and buy tickets and jerseys so Jerry thinks nothing is wrong. Vote with your wallet.

We all know what needs to be done. Nobody wants to do hard thing. Everyone keeps silent, everyone keeps "not my problem", everyone is "this is ok".

[Ccwatercraft]

Exact opposite, i probably watch 70-75 bulls games, maybe 15 other games throughout the season, then tend to cherry pick playoff teams.

I don't watch any Nascar, like ever.. should i be active in the Nascar forums? Maybe I'm doing it wrong

Watched more Bears and Blackhawks despite both being "bad". So it's not that. I like Bulls when there is a plan to build a team and organization. There is no plan. And just because I dont watch games doesnt mean I should be silent. You should be heard and your voice be heard to get things you want. To lead to better things. Reason why Bulls are still bad is because of everyone who go to games and buy tickets and jerseys so Jerry thinks nothing is wrong. Vote with your wallet.

We all know what needs to be done. Nobody wants to do hard thing. Everyone keeps silent, everyone keeps "not my problem", everyone is "this is ok".

OK, whatever blows your hair back, I have more important things than holding a pointless grudge against a "plan" I like to have fun.

I'm not being silent, I'll be taking some family to at least two games this season, so my wallet says "see red"

I'll elaborate more on my Nascar thoughts later when time permits, I'm sure you'll find them very informative.

[VolumePoster]

As an old head, there's one important difference: the games were more intense. Playoffs to some extent, regular season to a great extent. The reasons are multifactorial but I would consider: salary, rivalry, officiating, pace. Not coincidentally, this is why figures like Kobe and D Rose were so beloved. Those were and are old souls.