We got 10 nationally televised games

[DCZards]

Good basketball is good for the league's brand. Seems like the smarter long term move for the league would be to introduce the country to their best teams, build up their brand strength, rather than showcase a couple of dogs like these Knicks and Lakers.

In an ideal world that would make sense--especially to us hard-core NBA fans. But the reality is that the casual fans who drive up the ratings of national games are far more likely to tune into a Laker-Knick game than a Memphis-Toronto game. And sponsors are far more likely to buy airtime during a Laker-Knick game.

The NBA and the networks are not about to lose money trying to build up the brand of a Memphis-Toronto matchup.

[AWIZZINGBULLET]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... 15-By-Team

^There's the list. Bulls get 25, Indiana only 5 (who wants to watch that team this year?)

Crazy how much that playoff run did for our national profile. I just hope the team shows up in these big games and doesn't disappoint.

I'm surprised Memphis only got one.

It's because they don't have any "names." That's what it's all about. They don't care if your team is good or not. They only care if you've got marketable names that casual fans can recognize. The reason we got 10 games isn't just because we made the playoffs. It's because Wall and Beal are becoming names.

Shoot, even the Spurs get shafted when you think about it. Best team in the NBA for almost two decades and the defending champs and they get 19 when Cleveland and OKC get 25+

It's a damn shame too because Memphis is good. You'd think being a sound team that plays excellent team basketball would be attractive enough for basketball fans to enjoy watching, but it's not. Only real basketball fans who know what they're looking at enjoy watching players like Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, Tony Allen, and Zach Randolph.

I'm sure they'll get more exposure as the season goes on but it's ridiculous that the NBA would consider giving them just one national slot at the outset.

Folks know about the Grindhouse by now. Who wouldn't want to see one of the high-powered offenses like OKC, POR, HOU or SA try to eke out a win on the Grizzlies homecourt?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Thats not TOO bad

Someone tell me, how many do the Bulls get? How many do Indiana get? Those two would be better for comparison than the Cavs this year.

We were one of the most exciting teams to watch last year, I heard that from most of my friends, none of which are Wiz fans.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... 15-By-Team

^There's the list. Bulls get 25, Indiana only 5 (who wants to watch that team this year?)

Crazy how much that playoff run did for our national profile. I just hope the team shows up in these big games and doesn't disappoint.

Agreed.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

These are our national games:

NOVEMBER 5: vs. Indiana Pacers (8 p.m. ESPN)

NOVEMBER 21: vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (8 p.m. ESPN)

DECEMBER 25: at New York Knicks (noon, ESPN)

JANUARY 9: vs. Chicago Bulls (8 p.m., ESPN)

JANUARY 21: vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (8 p.m. ESPN)

JANUARY 28: at Phoenix Suns (10:30 p.m. ESPN)

FEBRUARY 20: vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (8 p.m., ESPN)

MARCH 6: vs. Miami Heat (8 p.m., ESPN)

MARCH 18: at Utah Jazz (10:30 p.m., ESPN)

APRIL 14: at Indiana Pacers (8 p.m., TNT)

This looks highly favorable. Indiana is going downward this season, and the Wizards have them twice. A Lebron-less Miami will be a home game. The road game against NY is a sexy Christmas matchup. So is the road game against up and coming Phoenix.

This looks like a really good opportunity for Washington to up its national following. They're going to be over .500 in these games IMO.

I have no clue how Utah is nationally televised except perhaps they're going to feature Hayward as a future star.

[Kanyewest]

Good basketball is good for the league's brand. Seems like the smarter long term move for the league would be to introduce the country to their best teams, build up their brand strength, rather than showcase a couple of dogs like these Knicks and Lakers.

In an ideal world that would make sense--especially to us hard-core NBA fans. But the reality is that the casual fans who drive up the ratings of national games are far more likely to tune into a Laker-Knick game than a Memphis-Toronto game. And sponsors are far more likely to buy airtime during a Laker-Knick game.

The NBA and the networks are not about to lose money trying to build up the brand of a Memphis-Toronto matchup.

I think the problem with the strategy though is that more moderate fans won't get in the habit of watching nationally televised basketball on a regular basis. For instance, if I assume the Lakers and Knicks are going to on national television regularly, I'm less likely to just watch basketball for the sake of watching basketball.

The other problem is that regular season games just don't mean as much in basketball as they do in sports like football. Basketball should really go towards a shorter season so that regular season games are more meaningful.

[Hypnotizer]

Lol, what the hell was going on here?

Spoiler:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JanVesely24/status/437317768031895552[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/EMaynor3/status/436560987869937664[/tweet]