From 20 to ONE in 3 years

[schnakenpopanz]

the suns have one game on national tv this year..... when was the last time suns were so irrelevant and without anything that amazed people for the new season?

[Dragic13]

I could care less since I love our local announcers but feel sorry for suns fans across the country.

1 game is pretty damn sad though

[BurningHeart]

Well, 5. Four games on NBATV, and most people have NBATV now.


But yeah, even 5 has to be the lowest national TV total in a looooong long time.


We have a relatively easy schedule in November. Hopefully we can get off to a good start. Only "for sure" losses are OKC, San Antonio, Brooklyn, and Miami.

[ShawnBronald]

When you're one of the worst teams, what do you expect? Also, Len wasn't exactly a big time name in the draft. Had we drafted Noel or McLemore, it might have been different. That being said, I'm still surprised they didn't pick up a Lakers or Spurs game. Also, if the team gets off to an early start and/or a young stud emerges (Goodwin???), a National game or two could always be added later. The National schedule is always different after the season than what it was before.

[Revived]

I could care less since I love our local announcers but feel sorry for suns fans across the country.

1 game is pretty damn sad though

You love Steve Albert?

WUT.

[phrazbit]

I remember last year when people were stunned and insulted at how little we were scheduled to be on national TV, and I am sure the league regretted even the pittance of games they gave us.

[Revived]

The NBA has released the complete 2013-14 regular-season schedule, and with it, a complete list of games that will air on national television. Between ESPN, ABC, TNT and NBA TV, 239 regular-season games will air nationally between October 29 and April 16.

29 of those games will involve the Los Angeles Lakers.

This despite Kobe Bryant’s return date being up in the air. This despite Dwight Howard bolting for Houston in free agency. This despite Pau Gasol and Steve Nash both being past their primes and coming off injuries that forced them to miss significant time last season. This despite Chris Kaman and Wesley Johnson being penciled into their opening-night starting lineup.

In spite of all of these very real shortcomings and indications that they won’t be very good, they will be on national TV more times this season than all but three teams. The Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks have 33 nationally televised games apiece, and the Oklahoma City Thunder have 30. The two-time defending champions, the Miami Heat, have 27.

That’s right, the Lakers are on TV more times than the Heat.

Last season, when the Lakers were coming off a historic offseason in which they traded for Nash and Howard, they were on national TV 28 times. They had 25 national games apiece in 2010-11 and 2009-10, two seasons in which they were coming off NBA titles.

They haven’t made it past the second round of the playoffs since that 2010 championship, and were swept in the first round last season. And they’re on national TV more times than either of the seasons after their last two titles.

Obviously, the Lakers have a huge global fanbase, one of the most iconic players in the world and several key matchups that absolutely should get national attention. Howard’s return with the Rockets, for instance. Or either of their battles with their Staples Center co-tenants, the Clippers.

But 29 games, and a marquee Christmas Day matchup with the Heat that will almost certainly be a blowout, feels excessive.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/08/lakers- ... -schedule/

How is it that the Lakers who barely made playoffs to get spanked in 1st round and probably won't even make it next year or get past the 1st round have more games than the back to back champs Miami?

Its not even like the Lakers are going to be entertaining to watch with 45 year old Kobe, Gasol and Nash leading the way. Not to mention that those 3 will likely miss many games next year due to injury cause of their age. I don't even think the LAL fans are looking forward to watching their team get spanked on national TV against good teams. It must be embarrassing.

Miami, Houston, Golden State, LAC, Brooklyn all ought to have way more games than LAL.

[DirtyDez]

Fans get worked up over national tv games. Unless that's your only way to watch the Suns I don't see the big deal.

[BurningHeart]

Looks like it will be mostly streams for me, as I will not pump a dime of my own money into this league.

[RunSunRun]

Maybe some Bledsoe highlight dunks on Sportscenter will bring some additional eyes to our team, but the lack of big names is not going to bring us much attention to the national media.

However, if we get Wiggins, that number will automatically flip back...

Does that count as "tanker" talk? Oh well,

[bwgood77]

Maybe some Bledsoe highlight dunks on Sportscenter will bring some additional eyes to our team, but the lack of big names is not going to bring us much attention to the national media.

However, if we get Wiggins, that number will automatically flip back...

Does that count as "tanker" talk? Oh well,

We don't have to try and tank. Sarver set us up perfectly to try hard and still have a great chance at Wiggins by trying to run the team himself, and then hiring Blanks for awhile.

He should write a book "Tanking while trying to win" or something.

[ShawnBronald]

This is the only thread about the schedule that I see, so I'll post this here.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/201314-nba-schedule-does-not-bode-well-for-phoenix,33405/

[bwgood77]

This is the only thread about the schedule that I see, so I'll post this here.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/201314-nba-schedule-does-not-bode-well-for-phoenix,33405/

I was just coming to post that.......funny stuff.....

2013-14 NBA Schedule Does Not Bode Well For Phoenix Suns

NEW YORK—Saying that late October through mid-April looks to be an incredibly tough stretch for them, league experts said Wednesday that the newly released 2013-14 NBA schedule does not bode well for the Phoenix Suns. “The schedule isn’t kind to Phoenix at all—they start off against the Trail Blazers at home, and then there are about 81 games there where they’ll face teams that present some pretty tough matchups for them,” said NBA On ESPN analyst Jalen Rose, also highlighting games against the Heat, Spurs, Thunder, Bulls, Rockets, Clippers, Warriors, Celtics, Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Nets, Knicks, 76ers, Magic, Wizards, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Jazz, Lakers, Kings, Bobcats, Raptors, Hawks, and Mavericks as incredibly difficult games for the Suns. “The schedule gets a little easier during the All-Star break, but after that there isn’t any let-up.” When asked to comment on the schedule, Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said he has circled the team’s 41 away games and 41 home games as contests that could pose significant tests.

[navysully]

For Suns fans out outside of Phoenix:
You can always watch games. You just have to know where to go. Such as...

All you have
To
Do
Here Is
Evaluate
.
Everyone
Understand?

[Calvin Klein]

I'll be getting International League Pass once again. We get absolutely every game, no blackouts, great quality.

The only "complain" I had last year was lack of Suns' broadcasts. We always seemed to get the other team's.

[DRK]

I shall yet again be taking my seat in the first row this season. Not all of us have cash to burn on League Pass like CK

[Calvin Klein]

It's a good investment!

Although I'll admit that I'm lucky enough that we get probably the lowest cost for it over here.

[LukasBMW]

For Suns fans out outside of Phoenix:
You can always watch games. You just have to know where to go. Such as...

All you have
To
Do
Here Is
Evaluate
.
Everyone
Understand?

Makes sense to me. I used to watch Suns games in 2007 this way while suffering through boring ass lectures in my MGT464 class at ASU. LOL. Miss those days. And excessive drinking. And the slutty girls. And the Suns teams worth watching.

[Revived]

Paul Coro ‏@paulcoro 27 Dec

A 17-10 record gets noticed. ESPN picked up 2 #Suns games - Jan. 8 at Minnesota (now 7:30 PHX time) and Jan. 22 vs. Indiana (8:30 PHX time).

[schnakenpopanz]

Thank god they woke up!