Ndugu Kamala wrote:ProfessorJM wrote:Ndugu Kamala wrote:
So having the highest tv ratings and top jersey sales is not evidence that fans don't have a problem with the moves the Warriors made. Then provide real evidence. Not your opinion. Evidence.
I'm not advocating that a majority of fans DO have an issue with Durant -- someone else is making that argument. I just don't want a lazy argument being accepted as a good discussion of a very interesting and real debate discussing the long-term impact of Durant's career on the Warriors going forward and how fans might feel about it in the future.
Pick your mic back up because we're not done.
My point was based on the ratings, the majority of fans don't have a problem with the Warriors. Ratings indicate popularity or the opposite. It's what determines what tv shows get renewed or cancelled. It may not be the best evidence, according to you, but it gives an indication.
That's not to say there are people that don't hate the Warriors/KD. It's clear on these boards there are. And like you, I want to see proof of their argument.
For someone to say a generalized statement that it's the weakest move in the history of the NBA, I would like something to back up that statement.
Out of politeness I will respond one last time. I never said the last sentence ever and yes, you should ask for evidence to back up that kind of claim. My interest in that is whether this statement is actually believed by many fans and if true, whether that fades over time in defining Durant's legacy.
I honestly don't know if/how fans view Durant in a macro sense (the majority of fans) because there isn't strong evidence to me to prove this right now. A lot of it is anecdotal at best. Also will that change over time versus the first year.
I don't buy the ratings telling us anything about fans' subjective opinions about one specific player and especially in this context for this specific situation this year. Also, the ratings were about Durant not the Warriors number one, and number two, even if it was about the Warriors, it's just as easy to believe ratings can be caused by dislike just as much as love. Howard Stern for example (there is evidence for this in prior studies with audience canvassing) got a lot of ratings from people that hated him just as much as diehard fans in his early days. If someone can connect high ratings equaling high love for a team with very little dislike from the fans, I'd love to see that data.
I like watching the Warriors play but not actively rooting for them (no ties to Bay Area that way) and my undergrad is where Durant went to college (UT-Austin) and I am from Texas so I have some interest in how Durant does overall. I believe personally he had a chance to chase becoming a Top 5 player all-time but that because of his move last year he has maybe little chance to do just that (I think Top 10 now max) absent some other compelling narrative. (changes teams, injuries to current roster, etc) Obviously, this is a hypothesis but I feel pretty comfortable this is a more likely than not scenario playing out in the future.
I am curious how the fans perceptions (whether true or not) of Durant might impact his lasting narrative and legacy when its all said and done.