OT: NBA television viewership is up 32%
"Between ESPN, TNT and NBA TV, the league’s viewership is up 32% this season and averaging 1.4 million viewers according to Nielsen, the highest start to the season since the 2010-2011 campaign...
Last week’s Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder game was ESPN's most watched regular season game (3.2 million) since Christmas of 2016. TNT’s opening night broadcast between the Cleveland Cavs and Boston Celtics, while ultimately marred by Gordon Hayward’s injury, was still the second-most watched season-opening telecast in the network’s history with an average of 5.6 million viewers."
Interesting to see, especially given the NFL's concurrent decline in viewership. I know the MGoBoard generally likes to shit on the NBA, but I encourage anyone who hasn't watched recently to give it another shot this year. I can't remember a season with more compelling teams, especially in the East. The Pistons are looking good again. The Bucks have a budding superstar. The 76ers' "Process" is finally starting to show results. The Celtics look like they will give Cavs a legit run for their money. LeBron is back to playing superhero ball without Kyrie.
And even a lot of the recently bad teams have interesting pieces. Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell (of the Louisville squad that we beat to reach the Sweet 16) had a 40 point game and has looked terrific. The Lakers are watchable again (as long as you mute the inevitable pregame and halftime Lonzo Ball discussions) with some promising young talent. The Knicks have another star in Porzingis, and THJ has played some great games for them. The Timberwolves have some really fun players to watch.
Long story long, if you're bored now that the college football regular season has ended, and you haven't enjoyed the NBA in the past, this is the time to give it another shot.
December 5th, 2017 at 10:49 AM ^
Take Acrylic and the points.
December 5th, 2017 at 9:32 AM ^
As a Sixers fan, watching the Process finally come together has been fascinating. Embiid and Simmons look like the real deal - should be an interesting postseason in the East.
December 5th, 2017 at 9:36 AM ^
Better than the NBA is TNT's Inside The NBA. That has to be the best sports highlight/talk show on TV right now. Barkley and Shaq are hilarious.
December 5th, 2017 at 10:15 AM ^
Nothing like a post about the NBA to bring out all the "I hate the NBA" guys to describe a league that doesn't exist. Of course, the NBA has always been the one sport people can't stop viewing through nostalgia glasses. It's not shocking that ratings are up, given that the quality of play has never been higher, and there are a lot of fun teams and young stars.
December 5th, 2017 at 10:31 AM ^
I like the people in the NBA. The stars for the most part seem like good human beings.
I don't like the NBA product. Here's why.
1. Superteams are only good if you are in that city. I am not.
2. The players are too buddy-buddy for me. Some people like that. I don't. I like my rivalries fierce and real. I don't want a grown-up AAU and that's what it is now.
3. Too many regular-season games. We all know it. Anyone arguing against that isn't serious.
4. The postseason takes months and might be the most annoying thing about the entire league. Just play the damn games. We don't need two or three days between every game and every switch of city. Heaven forbid professional athletes having to play a back-to-back.
5. Too many timeouts. Just like almost every sport. I hate that fatigue hardly ever plays a factor in an effort to make sure the stars are fresh. Every time anyone gets remotely tired there is a TV timeout to save them.
6. Too many damn free throws. There should be a one and one at the very least and I'm tired of seeing people getting fouled so far from the basket (other side of the court) and getting to shoot 2 free throws that are just stat padding opportunities.
7. The one sport in my opinion where you don't have to watch anything but the final quarter because it is so managed by officials that it is inevitable that one of the two teams will make a run if it is an important game.
8. The experience at the actual sporting event is so bad compared to other sports unless it is a playoff game.
9. Three (maybe four) teams have a shot at winning the championship.
10. All-Star game is an embarrassment at best. Dont even get me started on the Slam Dunk contest.
Could go on and on. College football is king for the product. Other than that, MLB playoffs, NFL playoffs, NBA playoffs are all decent. Regular season NBA though? No thanks. It's only a soap opera for sports fans.
December 5th, 2017 at 12:42 PM ^
You're forgetting the NHL playoffs. They definitely take a while to get through, but once you get to the Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup, those are incredibly exciting games to watch.
In my opinion, there is not a harder trophy to win in professional sports than the Stanley Cup. Not a more personally coveted and iconic trophy than the Stanley Cup, either. Those guys play like they are literally laying their lives on the line for it.
Playoff hockey is arguably the BEST postseason action to watch.
December 5th, 2017 at 11:04 AM ^
There's a good (old) essay called the Heresy of Zone Defense by art critic Dave Hickey. He basically uses the NBA to illustrate how some rules liberate and other rules bind and constrict. He's talking about the old Dr. J era, but it mostly still holds true. The basektball related part gets translated to the art world.
It's worthwhile if you're fan of basketball or art or just reading. It''ll take about 5 minutes. Take it or leave it.
https://thomascummins.com/the-heresy-of-zone-defense/
December 5th, 2017 at 11:37 AM ^
It hurt my eyes to read that article. The white on black is awful. Also that is a very pretentious way to say zone defenses suck, which they do.
December 5th, 2017 at 11:32 AM ^
may have been the best sporting event at any level in a long time. Forgive me if I enjoy watching Westbrook going after Durant more than Andrew Dakich battling Duncan Robinson.
December 5th, 2017 at 12:05 PM ^
Loving the NBA season so far. It's only going to get better once Christmas arrives.
As far as the NFL... haven't watched a game all season, and don't plan on watching any in thhe future. CFB > NFL
December 5th, 2017 at 12:08 PM ^
Long-distance shooting skill has increased EXPONENTIALLY in the NBA over the past 10-15 years. In the 80's-90's very few guys were great 3-point shooters. Now, you see teams putting out rotations where almost every guy on the floor can shoot the 3. That is a HUGE difference in the game.
December 5th, 2017 at 12:28 PM ^
I haven't watched in about 10 years. About 1 time a year i'll come across a game and watch for about 3-5 mins and I am imediatly reminded why I don't waste my time on it. It really is a shame since I love basketball. Lack of effort on 90% of the plays, rules that make watching unbearable, the complete lack of any real stratagy, crying, whining, officiating that makes zero sense... It is complete trash.
December 5th, 2017 at 1:55 PM ^
"The NBA is trash, I haven't watched in about 10 years."
-So really what you should have said is, "The NBA WAS trash when I last watched it, 10 years ago. I have no clue how it is now, because as I said, I haven't watched in about 10 years."
"About 1 time a year I'll come across a game and watch for 3-5 min."
-Contradicting yourself again considering that you haven't watched in 10 years. Hilarious that you can make an accurate assessment of the caliber of league play by watching 3-5 min of some random game, once a year.
"Lack of effort on 90% of the plays."
-Again, solid gold. You were able to see 90% of the plays while watching 3-5 min of one game per year, the last 10 years.
Congratulations, you've missed watching the athletic prime of arguably one of the 5 best talents and physical marvels this league has ever seen (all Decision baggage aside).
December 5th, 2017 at 2:20 PM ^
As football becomes more just a vehicle for trying to sell me Ford trucks and shitty pizza, it's easier to change viewing patterns to teams and leagues that actually have something resembling action. And with GS showing a little weakness and the East finally being competitive, you have a much more interesting product than, say, 10 years ago.
Also, the NBA has always been good about promoting players as much as teams, so you have personalities that can draw in more casual fans. The NFL has become obsessed with the shield and the teams as draws, not the player promotion, and so I think it's easier for fans to not grow attached to the teams and tune out if they get bored. And without getting into politics, seeing how both leagues handle certain public events probably plays some (small) factor in these changes.
December 5th, 2017 at 3:20 PM ^
The NBA is a fantastic product. Great personalities and rivalries. Kyrie and the Celtics vs Lebron and the Cavs is a great storyline and could set up one of the alltime great conference finals.
But yeah, why watch Lebron James or Steph Curry when you can watch Duncan Robinson go 1-6 and miss layups
December 5th, 2017 at 8:35 PM ^