NBA: Boastin' in LA-LA Land

The NBA is feeling pretty proud of itself now that it has once again manufactured a Boston-L.A. Finals. Last time, when it was Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, it was Cleveland and Golden State that were most ripped off to stuff these teams. This time, it's the Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies. Imagine being a T-Wolf or Grizzlie fan this year or next. Or after that as well.

The fact is, for the most part, it will matter hardly at all, and I say that as a fan of Kevin Garnett, Andrew Bynum, and some of the other players in this series. The fact is, the NBA has been in the ditch for about 15 years now, since Michael Jordan's return from baseball. A league that rips off other clubs and trots out Kobe Bryant, and the appropriately-named Robert Horry, is simply not selling a good national product. For most, there's very little now that could produce good ratings for this league.

Look what the NBA has had to live down in the last 15 years: The Strike, Dennis Rodman, and Ron Harper creaming opponents off the ball, Shaq's Turn and Bash post game, Jordan shoving Utah's Byron Russell, the Lakers' rigged series win over the Sacramento Kings, Miami mugs Dallas, Kobe indicted for rape but still plays, Horry gets Steve Nash with a folding chair, Isiah Thomas and the New York Knicks, and on and on ...

This is a dead league. As someone who has watched the NBA since 1970, I can tell you I don't give a damn about this series. Unless something radically changes, I doubt I ever will again. 

KelsdadAll-Star

526 days ago

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Don't forget the Spurs rigged series against the Suns last year.

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The PipDiv-I Stud

526 days ago

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Well you may be sad and bitter but this Finals is going to have some great ratings. Not everyone is always going to like the championships match-ups in any given sport. These are usually the same people that cry "FIX!" when a team they think should be there isn't. I'm glad that the Celtics have done what they have done this season because I learned to enjoy the NBA again. It's not perfect, but guys like Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, and Chris Bosh make it worth my time. If you want to miss out on these guys that is your loss.

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RomiezzoLegend

526 days ago

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That is absolutely true. Although there might be problems with the sport, I'm still going to watch the games because I like the sport. Although rosters, players, managers, and people in general change, the sport itself doesn't. I will always love basketball no matter what. And you're right about Howard, Paul, Williams, and Bosh (and Wade... just to throw him in). Unselfish players like them make it worth my time to follow the NBA and watch the games.

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Jerjets11JV Squad

525 days ago

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Pip, it's not just about the championship matchup, which was completely contrived. And, you're right the NBA does certainly have some redeeming players, as it does in any era.

It's all the combined nonsense, which even you cannot refute, or you would have. The NBA is a mess. Some of it isn't even basketball now. It's the league's product.

I've been a basketball fan for 35 years. The NBA is terrible.

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Jerjets11JV Squad

522 days ago

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Here's a look at NBA TV Ratings, for those who think the NBA has been bruatlly bad the last 15 years.

http://en.wi...lsen_ratings

The numbers don't lie.

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