The NBA Thread

[jbissell]

Following Buzz's theory, wouldn't the hockey game have drawn bigger ratings since most of the players are white?

Hell, what about NASCAR? I know nothing about it but I hear they've been struggling.

Either way, this has been one of the most entertaining regular seasons in many, many years. I can't remember the last time that there were Jan/Feb games I was actually looking forward to watching and wasn't disappointed.

[Gilly]

Racism is part of the problem but it's not the main issue.

First, a lot of people crave for the way the game was played in the 80's which today's game can't provide. In my opinion, today's game is far more entertaining to watch but I totally get that some people gave up in the early 00's after they didn't have Jordan to watch anymore because the game wasn't the same.

Second, the league had a serious image problem up until about 2005-2006 and people haven't come back to realize the league has done a 180. That image problem wasn't based on race it was based on players flashing gang signs, the whole Pacers/Pistons brawl and everything else that went with that gang culture. It was prevalent in the NBA for at least five years. The common fan doesn't want any part of that and that doesn't have anything to do with race. It was hard for even a hardcore fan to love the NBA during those years.

And then lastly race. I get so mad when a couple of punches are thrown on the court and it becomes the top story on Sportscenter and makes local news when it's not even local. Meanwhile over at the hockey arena across the street people are cheering on two goons dropping gloves on the ice. Or, a brawl erupts at the baseball stadium and barely anybody flinches. That's directly related to race issues and that's where you get a lot of people who haven't come back to the NBA the chance to say, "They're thugs." No, they are pro athletes in a competitive enviroment. If you don't like it, don't watch sports. But, at least be consistent.

[dave from knoxville]

I didn't forget to mention that I am not a racist, right?

[dave from knoxville]

Hmmm, timely.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/18/cnn-black-thanksgiving-nb_n_825335.html#s242844&title=Courtney_Browne

[dave from knoxville]

Since the All-Star break is on, here's my midseason rankings

1 San Antonio Spurs Home 31.7
2 Chicago Bulls Home 31.5
3 Boston Celtics Home 29.3
4 Denver Nuggets Home 27.8
5 Orlando Magic Home 26.3
6 Dallas Mavericks Home 26.1
7 Miami Heat Home 25.4
8 Oklahoma City Thunder Home 25.2
9 Memphis Grizzlies Home 24.6
10 Portland Trailblazers Home 24.4
11 New Orleans Hornets Home 24.2
12 Los Angeles Lakers Home 24.2
13 Golden State Warriors Home 23.4
14 Philadelphia 76ers Home 22.7
15 Utah Jazz Home 22.5
16 Los Angeles Clippers Home 22.2
17 Dallas Mavericks Away 21.6
18 Miami Heat Away 21.4
19 New York Knicks Home 21
20 Phoenix Suns Home 20.8
21 San Antonio Spurs Away 20.8
22 Indiana Pacers Home 20
23 Charlotte Bobcats Home 19.9
24 Milwaukee Bucks Home 19.7
25 Houston Rockets Home 19.4
26 Atlanta Hawks Home 19.3
27 Los Angeles Lakers Away 18.8
28 Detroit Pistons Home 18.6
29 New Jersey Nets Home 18.1
30 Boston Celtics Away 17.8
31 Washington Wizards Home 17.5
32 Oklahoma City Thunder Away 17
33 Atlanta Hawks Away 16.9
34 Orlando Magic Away 16.2
35 Utah Jazz Away 15.2
36 Phoenix Suns Away 15
37 Toronto Raptors Home 14.6
38 Chicago Bulls Away 14.6
39 New York Knicks Away 14.3
40 Minnesota Timberwolves Home 13.4
41 New Orleans Hornets Away 13.1
42 Houston Rockets Away 12.4
43 Portland Trailblazers Away 12.2
44 Cleveland Cavaliers Home 11.7
45 Denver Nuggets Away 11.6
46 Sacramento Kings Home 11.3
47 Memphis Grizzlies Away 10.9
48 Philadelphia 76ers Away 10.3
49 Indiana Pacers Away 9.8
50 Charlotte Bobcats Away 9.3
51 Golden State Warriors Away 9.1
52 Milwaukee Bucks Away 9
53 Sacramento Kings Away 8.3
54 Detroit Pistons Away 6.3
55 Toronto Raptors Away 6.1
56 Los Angeles Clippers Away 5.9
57 Minnesota Timberwolves Away 5.2
58 New Jersey Nets Away 4.2
59 Cleveland Cavaliers Away 2.6
60 Washington Wizards Away 0

[jbissell]

Second, the league had a serious image problem up until about 2005-2006 and people haven't come back to realize the league has done a 180. That image problem wasn't based on race it was based on players flashing gang signs, the whole Pacers/Pistons brawl and everything else that went with that gang culture. It was prevalent in the NBA for at least five years. The common fan doesn't want any part of that and that doesn't have anything to do with race. It was hard for even a hardcore fan to love the NBA during those years.

Those problems may not be race based, but I'm pretty sure that gang culture automatically goes to that place for the majority of people.

[jbissell]

Pretty great dunk contest. Definitely the best first round in ages. Wish we had gotten 2 more dunks from DeRozan.

[TheeChrisDee]

very entertaining dunk contest. Blake had to win just because he didn't hurt or kill himself jumping over that car.  He is still a Clipper, after all.

[jbissell]

Thank god it's over.

[nec13]

Thank god it's over.

Here here.

As a Knick fan, I can't say that I'm disappointed with the outcome. 

The Knicks need just one more piece...a stud point guard. CP3 or D-Will would fit the bill. Is it feasible capwise? I don't know.

[Greggulator]

Buzz Bissinger is terrible. Friday Night Lights is one of my favorite books. I also liked A Prayer for the City. But he comes of as just so entitled and lazy. He's a lot like John Feinstein in that way.

Basketball is such a weird sport in terms of fandom. A lot of my friends are huge college basketball fans but don't like the NBA. And I can understand why, to a point. I love college basketball because, with the sheer amount of teams and the longer shot clock and slight rule changes, there's a lot more variability and can be a lot of fun to watch. And the NCAA Tournament is the best sporting event in our country, and with good reason. There are so many built-in storylines about Cinderella stories and rivalries and the like. It's just an awesome month to be a sports fan.

I also will admit to zoning out on the NBA a few years back. It just became too much one-on-one play (like Buzz said) and I couldn't watch another game where someone like Antoine Walker would go 1 for 9 from deep. But that hasn't been the case in years. There have been so many great teams that play a good team style over the past few years: the C-Web era Kings of Fun, the Mavs Finals team, the Seven Seconds or Less Suns, the Spurs this year, etc. Heck, even the Warriors and Clippers are awesome to watch and they're not even very good.

Buzz is a clown.

[Greggulator]

The Nets just landed Deron Williams! They gave up Devon Harris, Derick Favors, a few draft picks and cash for him.

They essentially made the Knicks bid up for Carmelo and then got a better player for what they were offering Denver.

[TheeChrisDee]

The Curse of Isiaah is back with avengence.

That was the shrewdest move I've seen in a while.

Jay-Z must be writing a new verse to The Takeover.

[gravy boat]

The Nets just landed Deron Williams! They gave up Devon Harris, Derick Favors, a few draft picks and cash for him.

They essentially made the Knicks bid up for Carmelo and then got a better player for what they were offering Denver.

I like the craftiness of the Nets owner and like this trade.  I liked Harris when he came from Dallas but he has flatlined a bit--maybe hearing every day that your team wants to trade you isn't the best for your game. And as a Nets fan, I can only hope that the rumors of Isiah coming back to NY are true.

[jbissell]

My favorite part about this whole deal is that it caught EVERYONE totally off guard. Like not even hearing him mentioned in all the rumor mill stuff and then BAM. Refreshing.