Comments on: Thoughts on the NBA Finals heading into Game 5

By: James Askew

James Askew — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:03:04 +0000

I argee with everything you said. The best commericals that are on are Nike’s. The Rasheed Wallace fire is my personal fav, even being a Mavs fan. Any thoughts on the Phil Jackson hiring? Can he resurrect the dead Lakers back to the Finals?

By: Greg Burton

Greg Burton — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:03:04 +0000

Bring your idea to Albuquerque, Mark – you’d definitely get a warm welcome, even if this tends to be Maloof country.

Greg

ps: agreed, it’s a great series. Too bad some of the media think it’s boring if the scores aren’t in triple figures.

By: Christopher Uthe

Christopher Uthe — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:03:04 +0000

I agree Mark, the NBA has the product, if they can find ways to get out and include cities that have been otherwise alienated. Cities with teams do a great job of marketing themselves, leaving a loyal crowd to keep support high, but in cities and states that lack a team, the same kind of excitement can be created. Open tryouts, despite creating a lot of disappointment will give fans one more opportunity to interact with their favorite players and teams, even if not one player is ever signed into the NBA through them. Overseas is great, but you have a large untapped market here- just think if you could get half the diehard hockey fans..

Chris

By: Greg Burton

Greg Burton — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:03:04 +0000

Heh. Richard, I personally find this series less boring than the Shaq/Kobe stuff – more good defense, and more decent coaching. But then, I like soccer, too.

I’m not enamoured of the “external storyline” approach that most televised sports seem to think is a requirement. I totally agree with Mark, from a perspective of watching WAY too many basketball games over the years – you sell what you have. And the product right now is pretty darned good.

By: Tino Buntic

Tino Buntic — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:03:04 +0000

Your enthusiasm for Basketball is amazing, Mark. Kind of like me and hockey (hockey will be played again). Legends can sell the game, I see nothing wrong with a hybrid of legends and current stars selling together. Just this week, The Leafs had all 8 of the living team captains under one roof for the first time (there have only been 9 captains in the team’s history). I thought that this was an amazing thing to see.

By: sledge

sledge — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:03:04 +0000

Seriously –

The NBA Finals need to start earlier than 9 PM eastern time. There are those of us who don’t stay up that late (past midnight) when the game ends because of commercials every ten minutes.

By: Chris Rhoton

Chris Rhoton — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:03:04 +0000

I’m definitely on board with your comments about the drama and athleticism of today’s NBA. My biggest gripe is with the start time of games. I work for a living, and I would imagine that most of the people that the NBA and its advertisers are trying to attract do so as well. Maybe I’m just getting to be an old man, but I can’t make it through a whole game and given the choices that cable (or Tivo) provides, why invest time watching a game I can’t even finish? Even the younger fans are not an exception: 99% of the NBA season occurs during a normal school calendar year.

Am I missing something? Even just a few years ago (<10) the NBA Finals never started after 8:30 EST. Sure, the NBA wants to pull in the west coast fans, but a large percentage of the US population lives along the Atlantic coast. Can anyone educate me here? (seriously)

By: Glen Wilson

Glen Wilson — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:03:04 +0000

Mark,

I am a big fan. I have learned much from your business postings. However, the NBA finals are dreadful. There is no scoring. All the games have been blowouts. (This one is tied at 42-42) at the half. I change in and out. I can’t watch the whole game. This is from a man who was glued to his TV during the Magic/Bird era.

The average fan does not like defense and low scoring games. This is something that the NFL figured out long ago. Baseball has working to improve offense by closing the strike zone and building smaller parks. This is one of hockey’s big problems.

The NBA needs to do something immediately to improve scoring. All the athletic moves in the world are no good if they don’t make the basket. Please lobby to change the rules (or anything else) to help scoring. Make them move, make them pass. Do something!! Phoenix was a godsend for the NBA.

I think the NBA made a major mistake moving the All-Star game and almost all of the playoffs to cable. Yes, most of us have it (myself included – DIRECTV), but I think you lose too much exposure by not being on broadcast TV. There is no buildup to the finals. Also, I thought it was ridiculous that some of the Mavs games were not on Channel 21, but only on TNT. I have several friends who were very disappointed that they could not see the games.

Let’s get those Mavs back on track for next season!!

By: Glen Wilson

Glen Wilson — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:03:04 +0000

I forgot to add that the earlier comments about the finals starting too late are on the money. It’s hard for me to make it to the end of games here in Dallas. I would never make it if I were on EDT.

By: Chad Sexington

Chad Sexington — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:03:04 +0000

Mark,
I’m just curious as to your opinion of analysts like Steven A Smith of ESPN. Smith in particular appears to be more interested in putting down other analysts/players than actually analyzing the game. It’s people like these (Stuart Scott another terrific example) who turn me off from the NBA brand of basketball sometimes. Like you said in the post, we wana know what is and isn’t working for the teams. However, instead we are treated to a ridiculous insult fest, not fit for the fifth grade locker room. It’s be nice two see these men display a little more knowledge of the game and a little more maturity on screen! I would find it very interesting to get your thoughts on this topic. thanks