DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum NBA Playoffs

Is anybody watching?

Who do you want?

Also, you can enter a sweepstakes to win a courtside virtual seat here : https://ultra.promo.eprize.com/courtside/

I want that seat.

Watching the Blazers - half because of Portland, half hoping to see the Lakers get their butts handed to them (won't happen, but a guy can hope). Don't really care that much though.

I'm rooting for Portland in this game also.

I have a difficult time rooting for Lebron because he ditched us.

Rooting for PDX.

Lillard is one of the most fun players to watch.

Also, CJ McCollum is a local guy and a huge Browns fan.

Great win tonight. ***Hit my parlay..CLE on the M/L and PDX +6.5***

Portland and Orlando with big upsets ... they could lose in 5 games lol, but that was cool

I think it is significant that the NBA ratings are down. People are starved for sports. They were even resorting to watching Korean baseball. Thus, I thought that the NBA ratings would go through the roof when they returned. That did not happen. The other day, I read where they were down.

There are a couple of possible reasons for this:

1. People don't like the environment w/in the bubble because there are no fans.

2. The force-feeding of political messages about BLM and the kneeling of the players. It's been better thus far in the playoffs, but every single interview that was conducted before, during, and after the games included scripted questions about social justice and black lives matter. I would suspect that this turned many people off and thus, they turned their televisions off.

the political agenda is what turned me off...its 24/7 already, i don't want to turn on sports and have it fed to me as well. I still believe there is no place in sports for these type of things. They have tons of opportunity in their own time to spread their messages and promote their causes, we don't need to see it when we are trying to escape for a few hours for entertainment. Don't think its coincidental all the leagues that are allowing it are suffering from drastically reduced viewership. NFL is going to be interesting. I know they said they would allow and support it, but given what other leagues are suffering, might be some amended rules about it.

I don't follow that type of thing but I'm surprised to learn the ratings are down only because I thought people would be starved for sports.



Honestly, when I'm watching, I don't even notice. The NBA has done such an awesome job with this. I literally don't notice that the games are not being played in front of live fans. The action, competition, everything seems right on par with my watching experience before the bubble.



This is awful and has for sure turned many people away. It makes the watching experience much less enjoyable. From old white broadcasters constantly bringing it up (which is so cringe worthy and awkward) to the incessant commercials to not knowing who some of the players are because you can't see their names, it has definitely dampened the watching experience. The kneeling is nothing. Hell, you can go and grab a beer during that. But I love sports too much for that stuff to turn me off of watching. Start the game, DVR, blow past the anthem and commercials and it's not bad. When Jeff Van Gundy starts talking about racial equality, it's mute time. Otherwise, I can't turn it off. Love sports too much.

But there are people this has driven away. There will be more. But there will always be diehards who won't stop watching. When the viewership drops to the point it starts impacting dollars, this will all get reversed.

I think the low ratings have to do with the games being so spread out and the fact that they were glorified exhibition games for most teams. I’ll be interested to see the ratings for the prime time playoff games.

(Also, the NBA’s ratings were already down all season long prior to the shutdown.)

The playoffs tipping off at 1:30pm during the week do not help with ratings nor does it help that it's summer and people are outdoors.

I do think no fans in attendance has an impact as well, it makes it more difficult to connect. These games have an exhibition feel to them. I think I've watched about 20 mins of NBA. Too nice out and too busy. That and I have no idea what time games are on and who is even playing.

The NFL w/o fans will be bizarre. I'm having a hard time even getting excited for the NFL season. It seems distant.

Also, maybe people aren't as sports starved as was thought?

I am not as much as I thought. All this craziness kind of reset me sports wise.

Not trying to put words into your mouths, so I will ask a question. Are you guys insinuating that all the political/social messages during the telecasts have no correlation to the lower ratings?

Yes, that's what they are insinuating.

Not insinuating. Pretty much stating it.

The ratings were already down. And there are about 100 other things distracting people from basketball.

I am saying I don’t know if that’s the cause.

I would agree w/ this. Are there people that are not watching because politics mixing w/ sports? I'm sure there are.

To what degree. No idea.

The 3-4 months w/o live sports certainly had an impact.

Recreational activities are way up among the many other distractions.

I think the only time I have had ESPN on was for the Jordan Documentary, otherwise, I have nearly forgotten the station even exists.

I'm over the Zoom meetings and conference calls as well.

I don't think it is "the cause." I do think it is a contributing factor. And probably a bigger factor than you are willing to admit.

It hasn't stopped me from watching, mostly because I wager on the games. However, I am almost positive that people got sick of the contrived interviews and political/social messages.

I am amazed at how well so many guys shoot the ball in today's game.

Was just thinking the same thing.

Nearly every player comes into the league able to shoot 3s now.

J/c

I’m one of the bigger basketball fans on our forum probably ... and during a typical year I’ll watch just about any game (especially college), but I can’t get into the NBA much right now. The games seem very “exhibition” like ... nearly every game has hit the over, which means there’s no defense at all.

Plus, the brand of basketball is really bland to me right now. Spread the court 5 wide .. no help defense ... penetrate/kick for 3s

I don't like the NBA.

Shocker.

Man, I can't disagree with you guys more. Playoffs have been great so far.

Luka is the future. I've never seen anyone like him. Completely unathletic and does whatever he wants to whoever he wants, including the two best wing defenders in the league today, Leonard and George. You can tell this kid is super confident and don't care who you are. He's on his way to being the best player in the league. Other than defense, he has it all, including clutch play. He is just not afraid.

He has one huge turnoff, however. His constant complaining, facial expressions, and body language when dealing with the refs. It's so bad it's enough to make people not like him, IMO. But in terms of ability, wow, the sky is the limit.

Luka is amazing. He is only 21 and is basically James Harden.

Great comparison.

I love Luka. I do think he is athletic, though.

His coach said he was a combination of Larry Bird and Jason Kidd. Carlisle was Bird's teammate and might have been Kidd's, too. Not sure about Kidd, though.

Anyway, Luka might end up being the best player in the NBA in a few years.

Luka does a really good job of using his frame to zone people out so he can create.

Reminds me a little of Lebron / Harden.

He reminds me of Bird as well.

Is he athletic? Compared to the average Joe, yes. Is he athletic compared to the modern day pro athlete? I don't see that when I watch him. Similar to Bird.

But boy, could they play.

The draft lottery is tonight at 8:30pm. The Cavs are tied with GS and another team with a 15% chance each to get the #1 pick. Kinda hope we get the 2nd or 3rd pick. Just don’t want the temptation of the Lamelo Ball kid. We already are crowded at the guard position. If we do get #1 trade it to someone that really wants Ball, and move down a couple of spots. I want Obi Toppin.

I will be so upset if we pick LaMelo Ball. I knew Lonzo would be a bust.

This kid has a slightly better chance to be successful in the NBA but I don't think he should be a lottery pick.

Five.

Bullbleep.

It's really weird watching the reactions of the guys who represent each team. Bad TV, for sure.

J/C

Just a reminder...


Just a kid from Akron following the lead of Colin Kaepernick, Tommie Smith and John Carlos.
-----------------------

Also from Doc Rivers

Link

...

Thats like saying that Ken Griffey Jr & Doc Gooden were following the lead Of Jackie Robinson ...

J/c

Lakers asserted their dominance last night (as did Milwaukee)

so we had a 1 and 3 chance of getting top pick and we end up with 5? yeah not rigged at all

I am actually OK at 5. The very top of this draft does not line up with what we need at all.

Have not watched much of these playoffs, but had the early games on yesterday, since there was no hockey on, and it was pretty enjoyable

that I agree with, guard heavy. We def. need wings/sf, maybe a big since we will lose TT

Odds must be a new concept to you. Also, was it rigged when the Cavs three #1 picks.