No wonder the NBA is dominating sports

[Manwiththeplan]

The Golden Age of the NBA has come and gone. It may come again but as long as the game is a jump shooting no defense league, it's going to continue to decline IMO. The NFL should really be taking notes here. Yeah, the NFL enjoys a huge popularity advantage over the NBA but what has killed the NBA is the very same path the NFL is traveling down IMO.

I don't know, that's been a trend for a really long time and ratings kinda yo-yo around. What is really hurting the NBA is a lack of balance. Super teams, aren't a bad thing. A lot of fans hate them, but as long as there are a few teams that can create the illusion of balance, fans will tune in. But I do think Kevin Durant going to Golden State hurt viewership. Ratings were slightly up in 2017, which I attribute it more to it being his first title run, but ratings tanked in 2018. 2019 was an even bigger drop, because even though GS loss, between all of their injuries *and* Toronto not exactly having very large personalities, people didn't care as much to watch as opposed to the actual outcome.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I don't know, that's been a trend for a really long time and ratings kinda yo-yo around. What is really hurting the NBA is a lack of balance. Super teams, aren't a bad thing. A lot of fans hate them, but as long as there are a few teams that can create the illusion of balance, fans will tune in. But I do think Kevin Durant going to Golden State hurt viewership. Ratings were slightly up in 2017, which I attribute it more to it being his first title run, but ratings tanked in 2018. 2019 was an even bigger drop, because even though GS loss, between all of their injuries *and* Toronto not exactly having very large personalities, people didn't care as much to watch as opposed to the actual outcome.

The 80 and early 90s were really the golden era of the NBA. In 1995/96 the NBA rating sat at 5 even. Since then, it has steadily declined. In the last 10 years, it's hovered between 2.5 and 2. with 2011/12 being the highest rated season at 3.3 and that was a strike shortened season. I mean, you can say that part of it might be the teams and I think that plays a role for sure, if you had L.A. vs Boston, it would blow away any other series but it still wouldn't reach the numbers you saw in the golden era. The problem is that the game is just boring now and it's contrived, bordering on fixed. IMO, that's the real problem.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

The 80 and early 90s were really the golden era of the NBA. In 1995/96 the NBA rating sat at 5 even. Since then, it has steadily declined. In the last 10 years, it's hovered between 2.5 and 2. with 2011/12 being the highest rated season at 3.3 and that was a strike shortened season. I mean, you can say that part of it might be the teams and I think that plays a role for sure, if you had L.A. vs Boston, it would blow away any other series but it still wouldn't reach the numbers you saw in the golden era. The problem is that the game is just boring now and it's contrived, bordering on fixed. IMO, that's the real problem.

fwiw, both 93' and 98' were higher rated finals than anything in the 80s. Actually Jordaqn's entire second three-peat had higher ratings. But if you compare the post Jordan era ratings, there isn't that much of a difference.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Finals_television_ratings

Some years were good, some weren't. But it seems pretty obvious by looking at the ratings that Jordan> Bird+Magic > everyone else (Shaq, Kobe, Lebron, ect.). The NBA markets individual stars so much, but when they don't win championships, ie, Vince Carter, Allen Iverson, Tracey McGrady, ect, their appeal wanes. I agree, the NBA will never get Bird+Magic or Jordan era ratings again, but they would certainly benefit from marquee players playing together and reaching the finals. Just can't be all the same team or two.

 

[kskboys]

Turning the game into a huge 3 point shooting contest is really starting to hurt, IMO. Boring.

And the manipulation of games is also a factor.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

fwiw, both 93' and 98' were higher rated finals than anything in the 80s. Actually Jordaqn's entire second three-peat had higher ratings. But if you compare the post Jordan era ratings, there isn't that much of a difference.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Finals_television_ratings

Some years were good, some weren't. But it seems pretty obvious by looking at the ratings that Jordan> Bird+Magic > everyone else (Shaq, Kobe, Lebron, ect.). The NBA markets individual stars so much, but when they don't win championships, ie, Vince Carter, Allen Iverson, Tracey McGrady, ect, their appeal wanes. I agree, the NBA will never get Bird+Magic or Jordan era ratings again, but they would certainly benefit from marquee players playing together and reaching the finals. Just can't be all the same team or two.

I don't think so but it doesn't matter. For me, the game is just no fun to watch anymore. You can have the greatest players in the world going at each other but it's just not as fun to me. That's really the problem as I see it. Throw in the fix you seem to always see and it just compounds the problem.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I don't think so but it doesn't matter. For me, the game is just no fun to watch anymore. You can have the greatest players in the world going at each other but it's just not as fun to me. That's really the problem as I see it. Throw in the fix you seem to always see and it just compounds the problem.

I do think that's an appeal to a lot of people, however, the numbers just don't support that, unless one is suggesting this drastic change in rules and philosophy occurred between the 98' and 99' season. What played a bigger factor imo. Jordan retired, no player was able to continue that legacy. Kobe had Shaq, so he was never going to get the credit and Lebron was stuck on some really bad Cleveland teams prior to coming back. The Spurs and Pistons were also ratings nightmares and they were both great teams in this era. They play half court ball and defense and you can literally look at the ratings and tell which seasons the Spurs were in it. The Pistons upset of LA did provide good ratings, but it was clearly driven by the dysfunction of LA that season.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I do think that's an appeal to a lot of people, however, the numbers just don't support that, unless one is suggesting this drastic change in rules and philosophy occurred between the 98' and 99' season. What played a bigger factor imo. Jordan retired, no player was able to continue that legacy. Kobe had Shaq, so he was never going to get the credit and Lebron was stuck on some really bad Cleveland teams prior to coming back. The Spurs and Pistons were also ratings nightmares and they were both great teams in this era. They play half court ball and defense and you can literally look at the ratings and tell which seasons the Spurs were in it. The Pistons upset of LA did provide good ratings, but it was clearly driven by the dysfunction of LA that season.

You do understand that you are talking about 20 years ago correct? I'm talking about the last 15 years or so. If you look at this graph, you will see that from 98/99, ratings have fallen off dramatically and they've never ever come back to anywhere near the golden age, which is what I said in the earlier post. I think it's the game. JMO

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Basketball_Association_on_television

Average rating per regular season game on broadcast networks
(1995–present)
Season Network Rating
2017–18 ABC 2.2
2016–17 ABC 1.9
2015–16 ABC 2.3
2014–15 ABC 2.2
2013–14 ABC 2.3
2012–13 ABC 2.9
2011–12 (lockout shortened) ABC 3.3
2010–11 ABC 3.0
2009–10 ABC 2.3
2008–09 ABC 2.3
2007–08 ABC 2.2
2006–07 ABC 2.0
2005–06 ABC 2.2
2004–05 ABC 2.3
2003–04 ABC 2.4
2002–03 ABC 2.6
2001–02 NBC 2.9
2000–01 NBC 3.0
1999–2000 NBC 3.3
1998–99 (lockout shortened) NBC 4.3
1997–98 NBC 4.8
1996–97 NBC 4.7
1995–96 NBC 5.0

 

[kskboys]

You do understand that you are talking about 20 years ago correct? I'm talking about the last 15 years or so. If you look at this graph, you will see that from 98/99, ratings have fallen off dramatically and they've never ever come back to anywhere near the golden age, which is what I said in the earlier post. I think it's the game. JMO

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Basketball_Association_on_television

Average rating per regular season game on broadcast networks
(1995–present)
Season Network Rating
2017–18 ABC 2.2
2016–17 ABC 1.9
2015–16 ABC 2.3
2014–15 ABC 2.2
2013–14 ABC 2.3
2012–13 ABC 2.9
2011–12 (lockout shortened) ABC 3.3
2010–11 ABC 3.0
2009–10 ABC 2.3
2008–09 ABC 2.3
2007–08 ABC 2.2
2006–07 ABC 2.0
2005–06 ABC 2.2
2004–05 ABC 2.3
2003–04 ABC 2.4
2002–03 ABC 2.6
2001–02 NBC 2.9
2000–01 NBC 3.0
1999–2000 NBC 3.3
1998–99 (lockout shortened) NBC 4.3
1997–98 NBC 4.8
1996–97 NBC 4.7
1995–96 NBC 5.0

Ouch.

And I'm not surprised. To me, the game has become almost unwatchable.

 

[atlantacowboy]

The Golden Age of the NBA has come and gone. It may come again but as long as the game is a jump shooting no defense league, it's going to continue to decline IMO. The NFL should really be taking notes here. Yeah, the NFL enjoys a huge popularity advantage over the NBA but what has killed the NBA is the very same path the NFL is traveling down IMO.

Pretty sure nobody watches basketball for the defense. The problem with the NBA is that the best players don't give max effort every night and only care about stat lines and social media. Lebron and many others actually will sit out road games to rest. And then when they do play, its like watching a 5 on 5 pickup game. You got 10 players trying to create their own shot. Its just ugly basketball. Magic, Bird, Jordan......these guys were diving for every loose ball, cared about winning every game, and understood that fans are paying money to see them play and thats why they have jobs.

 

[atlantacowboy]

You do understand that you are talking about 20 years ago correct? I'm talking about the last 15 years or so. If you look at this graph, you will see that from 98/99, ratings have fallen off dramatically and they've never ever come back to anywhere near the golden age, which is what I said in the earlier post. I think it's the game. JMO

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Basketball_Association_on_television

Average rating per regular season game on broadcast networks
(1995–present)
Season Network Rating
2017–18 ABC 2.2
2016–17 ABC 1.9
2015–16 ABC 2.3
2014–15 ABC 2.2
2013–14 ABC 2.3
2012–13 ABC 2.9
2011–12 (lockout shortened) ABC 3.3
2010–11 ABC 3.0
2009–10 ABC 2.3
2008–09 ABC 2.3
2007–08 ABC 2.2
2006–07 ABC 2.0
2005–06 ABC 2.2
2004–05 ABC 2.3
2003–04 ABC 2.4
2002–03 ABC 2.6
2001–02 NBC 2.9
2000–01 NBC 3.0
1999–2000 NBC 3.3
1998–99 (lockout shortened) NBC 4.3
1997–98 NBC 4.8
1996–97 NBC 4.7
1995–96 NBC 5.0

I think you just slam dunked this thread. lol

 

[kskboys]

Pretty sure nobody watches basketball for the defense. The problem with the NBA is that the best players don't give max effort every night and only care about stat lines and social media. Lebron and many others actually will sit out road games to rest. And then when they do play, its like watching a 5 on 5 pickup game. You got 10 players trying to create their own shot. Its just ugly basketball. Magic, Bird, Jordan......these guys were diving for every loose ball, cared about winning every game, and understood that fans are paying money to see them play and thats why they have jobs.

And add in that it's become a huge 3 point shooting contest, and it's just gotten boring.

Football should have taken notice. The fans THOUGHT they wanted to know the players on a personal level. Problem is, players are just people. They're not special outside of athleticism. They are petty, mouthy, narcissistic, boring, greedy, shallow, and a host of other things. Just like we all are. Problem is, before all this twitter/media trash bombardment, we didn't know it.

Is this one of those "Be careful what you ask for" thingies?

 

[atlantacowboy]

And add in that it's become a huge 3 point shooting contest, and it's just gotten boring.

Football should have taken notice. The fans THOUGHT they wanted to know the players on a personal level. Problem is, players are just people. They're not special outside of athleticism. They are petty, mouthy, narcissistic, boring, greedy, shallow, and a host of other things. Just like we all are. Problem is, before all this twitter/media trash bombardment, we didn't know it.

Is this one of those "Be careful what you ask for" thingies?

True! I never thought of it in those terms. The more I know, the less I want to root for any of them. I was happier when they were just football helmuts and jerseys.

 

[coogrfan]

I doubt this is accurate.

https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2019/01/top-sports-audiences-2018-list/

In 2018 the NBA failed to have a single game that cracked the list of the 50 most watched sporting events.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2019/01/top-sports-audiences-2018-list/

In 2018 the NBA failed to have a single game that cracked the list of the 50 most watched sporting events.

Not surprised Coog. I mean, if you slant the game to the point where defense is no longer a relevant part of the game, you might as well be watching underware Olympics.

 

[jsb357]

apples and oranges

 

[EST_1986]

https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2019/01/top-sports-audiences-2018-list/

In 2018 the NBA failed to have a single game that cracked the list of the 50 most watched sporting events.

idk about you but I call that domination.