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NBA ratings continue to struggle. How can the league fix this?
Posted on 11/19/24 at 11:48 am
Posted on 11/19/24 at 11:48 am
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Considering all that, consider the NBA. The opening week of the new season saw double-digit percentage declines for primetime games on ESPN and TNT, and the second week of this season again saw declines.
We wrote about that, and I noticed this reader tweet in response: “The election and the World Series was on. The ratings only went down for one week out of two weeks so far. Fake news.” (Like I said: People feel strongly about ratings.) Well, it wasn’t fake news—the ratings numbers are real—but I can appreciate the spirit of the tweet, which I would venture to say was that the dip doesn’t matter, and there was an obvious reason for the dip.
Indeed, the World Series was on, the most high-profile Fall Classic in seven years. And then the election sucked a lot of air out of the living room. Whether those were the sole causes and NBA ratings will bounce back, unfettered by baseball and politics, is uncertain.
If you ask Shaquille O’Neal, the culprit is too much three-point shooting. “I have a theory that [the ratings] are down because … everybody’s running the same plays,” O’Neal said this week on his podcast. “I don’t mind Golden State back in the day shooting threes, but every team is not a three-point shooter.” (The average team is shooting 37 threes a game this season, up 50% from 2015; the reigning champion Boston Celtics are averaging 50.)
NBA commissioner Adam Silver pushed back on Shaq. “I don’t think it has anything to do with the three-point shot,” he said this week in an interview on Cheddar. “I think we’re just looking at a couple weeks of ratings, there’s always some unique things, this year we were up against a World Series … you had a presidential election which was commanding an enormous amount of attention.”
If you ask me, there’s a lack of compelling storylines so far this season.
quote:
“We have more social media traffic than any time in our history; there’s a huge global marketplace of interest in the NBA,” Silver told Cheddar. “I think the best things are ahead of this league.”
He is no doubt correct about that.
40
Posted on 11/19/24 at 11:49 am to RLDSC FAN
Star players only playing half the time doesn’t help
Posted on 11/19/24 at 11:55 am to RLDSC FAN
Players constantly hurt, sitting
Posted on 11/19/24 at 11:57 am to RLDSC FAN
Reduce the number of regular season games to like 60
Posted on 11/19/24 at 12:02 pm to RLDSC FAN
There are plenty of different reasons ratings are down. For example, in Chicago you can’t even watch Bulls games on Xfinity or YouTube TV right now because of RSN disputes.
But I think the largest issue with the game is the style of play. The game has become boring to watch. It’s a 3pt shot fest, with mediocre defensive effort.
But I think the largest issue with the game is the style of play. The game has become boring to watch. It’s a 3pt shot fest, with mediocre defensive effort.
Posted on 11/19/24 at 12:07 pm to JetsetNuggs
quote:Americans get up and go to work everyday to earn a living. They don’t want to watch and finance a bunch of crybabies who take multiple games off a year for rest.
Star players only playing half the time doesn’t help
Also contrary to what many believe there’s a large portion of NBA fans who can’t wait for Lebron to go away especially since the latest stunt with Bronny being drafted and he’s absolute trash.
Posted on 11/19/24 at 12:07 pm to ChiGator
Lebron and the fake social justice warriors the league embraced. China's bitches.
Posted on 11/19/24 at 12:09 pm to BayouBaw84
quote:weird reason not to watch considering you could just not watch the Lakers
Also contrary to what many believe there’s a large portion of NBA fans who can’t wait for Lebron to go away especially since the latest stunt with Bronny being drafted and he’s absolute trash.
Posted on 11/19/24 at 12:14 pm to RLDSC FAN
They’re fricked, they won’t change anything for the better, it’s just not what people like that do. You’ll see some silly, gimmicky things tried but they’ll never address the actual problems that have caused this.
Posted on 11/19/24 at 12:16 pm to JetsetNuggs
quote:
Star players only playing half the time doesn’t help
This is why I won't buy tickets to a game
Posted on 11/19/24 at 12:23 pm to RLDSC FAN
Regular season NBA is just a listless product.
You have way too many games and/or way too many playoff spots when many of your star players are cool with taking multiple games off / stretching injury recovery times for more games than necessary. I would reduce the number of regular season games by at least 15 games.
The proliferation of nearly everyone being skilled 3 point shooters has also made the game play pretty predictable and formulaic. It’s almost like players have become too skilled offensively that when you combine that with the half arse defense played in the regular season you get game play that often looks like a scrimmage or all star game. Can’t really move the 3 point line much further out. I think it would be very interesting to see what would happen if you did a trial (like in the in season tournament) where you just got rid of the 3 point line. I honestly have no idea what it would look like (might completely suck) but I’d love to find out.
I say this as someone whose favorite sport is basketball too. I think the NBA playoffs are still a good product. The stars play and for the most part teams give 100% on the defensive end.
However even in the playoffs you can see that players are so athletic and skilled offensively that defenses still have a very difficult time stopping anyone particularly with how the game is officiated these days.
You have way too many games and/or way too many playoff spots when many of your star players are cool with taking multiple games off / stretching injury recovery times for more games than necessary. I would reduce the number of regular season games by at least 15 games.
The proliferation of nearly everyone being skilled 3 point shooters has also made the game play pretty predictable and formulaic. It’s almost like players have become too skilled offensively that when you combine that with the half arse defense played in the regular season you get game play that often looks like a scrimmage or all star game. Can’t really move the 3 point line much further out. I think it would be very interesting to see what would happen if you did a trial (like in the in season tournament) where you just got rid of the 3 point line. I honestly have no idea what it would look like (might completely suck) but I’d love to find out.
I say this as someone whose favorite sport is basketball too. I think the NBA playoffs are still a good product. The stars play and for the most part teams give 100% on the defensive end.
However even in the playoffs you can see that players are so athletic and skilled offensively that defenses still have a very difficult time stopping anyone particularly with how the game is officiated these days.
Posted on 11/19/24 at 12:25 pm to RLDSC FAN
All regular seasons suck except for college football and NFL
It is what it is
No urgency in sports other than football because a regular season game doesnt matter that much
Only way to increase ratings is have less games but that means less money so not happening
It is what it is
No urgency in sports other than football because a regular season game doesnt matter that much
Only way to increase ratings is have less games but that means less money so not happening
This post was edited on 11/19/24 at 12:27 pm
Posted on 11/19/24 at 12:27 pm to RLDSC FAN
I say make 3 pointers only 2 points and vice versa
Posted on 11/19/24 at 12:32 pm to RLDSC FAN
1) It’s a star driven league and there is a lack of stars people want to watch. People want to watch Jordan, Shaq, Kobe, Iverson, LeBron, etc. The current superstars aren’t that appealing. Durant, Jokic, Tatum, Doncic, etc. Who is likable and can’t miss TV? NBA tried to go all in on Zion and Ja, but that has flopped.
2) Too many games. Who wants to watch game 18 of the season? Hell, the players don’t even want to play in those games.
3) Style of play is boring. The NBA and NFL have made a fundamental flaw in reasoning that points equals excitement. That’s not correct. Ii like a good compelling game where the players play defense and both teams are trying to win.
2) Too many games. Who wants to watch game 18 of the season? Hell, the players don’t even want to play in those games.
3) Style of play is boring. The NBA and NFL have made a fundamental flaw in reasoning that points equals excitement. That’s not correct. Ii like a good compelling game where the players play defense and both teams are trying to win.
Posted on 11/19/24 at 12:33 pm to RLDSC FAN
quote:
NBA ratings continue to struggle. How can the league fix this?
I do agree with Shaq...it is either shoot a 3-pointer or drive to the hoop and get fouled.
Also, it used to be that all NBA players went to college and you got to know them playing for their college team...now, the players don't get any name recognition from their college days because they skip college, or they are one and done or they come from outside the US.
finally, I think the NBA suffered from taking too many political stances since 2020...turned a lot of fans off.
Posted on 11/19/24 at 12:37 pm to Chicken
The three point analytics that most teams have embraced has completely screwed the product
Posted on 11/19/24 at 12:38 pm to RLDSC FAN
1) Reduce regular season to 64 games
2) Reduce number of playoff teams
3) Eliminate the play-in tournament
4) Fine healthy players for missing games
5) Move the 3 point shot line back
6) Make any made shot from the other half 4 points
2) Reduce number of playoff teams
3) Eliminate the play-in tournament
4) Fine healthy players for missing games
5) Move the 3 point shot line back
6) Make any made shot from the other half 4 points
Posted on 11/19/24 at 12:40 pm to RLDSC FAN
I think more of the players should look like me, I can't relate to them. 
Posted on 11/19/24 at 12:48 pm to saturday
They need more gimmick jerseys & colorful courts.
Posted on 11/19/24 at 12:57 pm to RLDSC FAN
We need more focus on shite players who are only in the league because of who their fathers are. We also need the NBA’s media partners to spend more hours and hours of coverage on this bullshite
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