2023-24 NBA (Playoffs!) Thread: Message board poster furiously types out one more horrible post before thread closes (1 Viewer)

[Frostillicus]

Friday’s average margin of victory was 4.9 points, the second smallest on a single night (minimum 7 games) in the last 10 seasons. NBA In-Season Tournament brought the intensity.

 

[Kev4029]

The Nuggets offense is so much ******** fun when they are clicking.

But that court gave me a migraine at the end of the game.

Peyton Watson is coming on strong and it was good to see MJP actually show up.

Wasn't Watson like the only thing that kept Dallas in the game? I'd have guessed he was like a -10 or -20 on/off

He got benched in the 4th quarter. He is gobs of fun though.

 

[Capella]

Guys, I’m pretty sure fat, unathletic 50 year old white guys isn’t the demographic they are targeting with these courts.

I’m 45

Deflated banana checks out

We just had our second kid so that would be correct if I was 25 too.

 

[mr. furley]

Guys, I’m pretty sure fat, unathletic 50 year old white guys isn’t the demographic they are targeting with these courts.

I’m 45

Deflated banana checks out

We just had our second kid so that would be correct if I was 25 too.

belated congratulations

 

[Long Ball Larry]

What the hell is going on with these nets uniforms? Look like they were designed by a 5 year old with MS PAINT

 

[Capella]

The Magic might be good. Anthony Black might be good.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

CBS Sports on Instagram: "The trophy on the schedule threw Bones Hyland off #nba #basketball"

29K likes, 362 comments - cbssports on November 3, 2023: "The trophy on the schedule threw Bones Hyland off #nba #basketball"

www.instagram.com

 

[Jayrod]

What the hell is going on with these nets uniforms? Look like they were designed by a 5 year old with MS PAINT

It was some famous Brooklyn artist named "KAWS" that designed them.

I watched a bit of the Brooklyn pregame where some team rep hyped them up. Apparently KAWS is a big deal and it was his first time doing something for any sports team, but they got him to do it because he's a Brooklyn Nets fan.

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

Celtics look fantastic. Zinger addition is huge. His length makes a enormous difference. Might be my favorite free agent/trade acquisition of the off-season. Hope he can stay healthy. Massive upgrade on Bob Williams

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Nick Flicks on Instagram: "Here’s What Damian Lillard Said When Asked About The In-Season Tournament.😳 #nba #basketball #damianlillard #milwaukeebucks #postgameinterview #inseasontournament #sports #interviews #fypシ #foryou"

50 likes, 0 comments - nickflicksphotography on November 4, 2023: "Here’s What Damian Lillard Said When Asked About The In-Season Tournament.😳 #nba #basketball..."

www.instagram.com

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Maybe the NBA could have explained this thing better to the players (and fans) and maybe had an incentive that the players would actually remember?

 

[bushdocda]

The combo of some of the weird city unis and the in season court designs (wtf did I just write) is no good for my viewing. I like the in season concept now that I paid attention to understand it.

At least it makes sense that some goobers are buying the alternate unis. Must be easy to switch out the court but why the whole thing to screw up my rods and cones, Adam Silver, why.

 

[the moops]

Maybe the NBA could have explained this thing better to the players (and fans) and maybe had an incentive that the players would actually remember?

It's been explained plenty. If players or fans don't know by now it is their choice to be ignorant on this

 

[Major]

The combo of some of the weird city unis and the in season court designs (wtf did I just write) is no good for my viewing. I like the in season concept now that I paid attention to understand it.

At least it makes sense that some goobers are buying the alternate unis. Must be easy to switch out the court but why the whole thing to screw up my rods and cones, Adam Silver, why.

Those red courts (was it the Bulls?) are probably the worst thing I've seen in years. It was tough for me to stomach a one minute highlight clip. Couldn't fathom watching an entire game.

 

[Major]

Maybe the NBA could have explained this thing better to the players (and fans) and maybe had an incentive that the players would actually remember?

It's been explained plenty. If players or fans don't know by now it is their choice to be ignorant on this

The tournament has been explained but the incentives haven't been made clear. Why should teams or fans care?

 

[the moops]

Maybe the NBA could have explained this thing better to the players (and fans) and maybe had an incentive that the players would actually remember?

It's been explained plenty. If players or fans don't know by now it is their choice to be ignorant on this

The tournament has been explained but the incentives haven't been made clear. Why should teams or fans care?

The incentives are the winning teams players get 1/2 million. 200K for runner up, and 100K and 50K for the other in the top 4.

Teams seem to care. Fans should care because these games have been way more competitive than a random early November game

 

[Yo Mama]

Maybe the NBA could have explained this thing better to the players (and fans) and maybe had an incentive that the players would actually remember?

It's been explained plenty. If players or fans don't know by now it is their choice to be ignorant on this

The tournament has been explained but the incentives haven't been made clear. Why should teams or fans care?

The incentives are the winning teams players get 1/2 million. 200K for runner up, and 100K and 50K for the other in the top 4.

Teams seem to care. Fans should care because these games have been way more competitive than a random early November game

Yeah it seemed the teams definitely cared more about these games. It was interesting seeing a lot of teams basically playing a playoff rotation with only 8 or 9 playing any regular minutes. It helped the NBA was smart and didn’t schedule any of these games on the second night of a back to back.

 

[Major]

Maybe the NBA could have explained this thing better to the players (and fans) and maybe had an incentive that the players would actually remember?

It's been explained plenty. If players or fans don't know by now it is their choice to be ignorant on this

The tournament has been explained but the incentives haven't been made clear. Why should teams or fans care?

The incentives are the winning teams players get 1/2 million. 200K for runner up, and 100K and 50K for the other in the top 4.

Teams seem to care. Fans should care because these games have been way more competitive than a random early November game

Yeah, money will definitely incentivize the role players and staff (they often get a sizable cut) plus the stars generally want them to get paid.

As for fans, tough to really get excited this early in the season. Most teams are still trying to figure out their rotations so I wish they held off a bit. I'm just viewing this as a regular season game with tacky court designs

 

[Capella]

I commend the nba for actually trying something different but until they attach stakes the fans care about I don’t see why anybody would actually get into this. To each their own though. IMO the final lottery pick should be the carrot, along with the players getting paid.

 

[the moops]

I don’t see why anybody would actually get into this.

At least through one day of this tournament the games seem to be more intense and have more of a playoff feel than a random November regular season game

 

[Yo Mama]

I commend the nba for actually trying something different but until they attach stakes the fans care about I don’t see why anybody would actually get into this. To each their own though. IMO the final lottery pick should be the carrot, along with the players getting paid.

I think the last set of group play games at the end of this month will be way more playoff-like than any normal regular season game.

 

[Frostillicus]

Maybe the NBA could have explained this thing better to the players (and fans) and maybe had an incentive that the players would actually remember?

It's been explained plenty. If players or fans don't know by now it is their choice to be ignorant on this

The tournament has been explained but the incentives haven't been made clear. Why should teams or fans care?

The incentives are the winning teams players get 1/2 million. 200K for runner up, and 100K and 50K for the other in the top 4.

Teams seem to care. Fans should care because these games have been way more competitive than a random early November game

Yeah it seemed the teams definitely cared more about these games. It was interesting seeing a lot of teams basically playing a playoff rotation with only 8 or 9 playing any regular minutes. It helped the NBA was smart and didn’t schedule any of these games on the second night of a back to back.

I read somewhere that they avoided any back to backs or 3 in 4 situations.

 

[jvdesigns2002]

My general opinion about the play in tournament is that I think that it’s a nice concept—but it needs tweaking. I do like the idea of adding some value to regular season games by adding incentives. With that said—I’m not a fan of the play in courts with the new color schemes and runway down the middle. I also think that they need to change the structure of the tournament so that it doesn‘t start on what feels like the first week of the season. The NBA regular season is 82 games. In my opinion—they play in tournament should start around the game 15 mark for most teams and somehow end around what would be the halfway point. I‘m just getting used to the NBA season starting. As a fan—I find it difficult to celebrate that and then immediately try to follow the details of this new play in. With that said—this is the first season of it—and my guess is that they knew that they will get a lot of feedback and make adjustments for future years.

 

[Yo Mama]

My general opinion about the play in tournament is that I think that it’s a nice concept—but it needs tweaking. I do like the idea of adding some value to regular season games by adding incentives. With that said—I’m not a fan of the play in courts with the new color schemes and runway down the middle. I also think that they need to change the structure of the tournament so that it doesn‘t start on what feels like the first week of the season. The NBA regular season is 82 games. In my opinion—they play in tournament should start around the game 15 mark for most teams and somehow end around what would be the halfway point. I‘m just getting used to the NBA season starting. As a fan—I find it difficult to celebrate that and then immediately try to follow the details of this new play in. With that said—this is the first season of it—and my guess is that they knew that they will get a lot of feedback and make adjustments for future years.

I think the challenge with the timing is they don’t want it to interfere with either Christmas or the all-star break.

Also, they need time to schedule the additional games for teams that don’t make the final 8 knockout bracket (games will be later in the season but it is probably a logistics pain to schedule everything).

 

[Kev4029]

Maybe the NBA could have explained this thing better to the players (and fans) and maybe had an incentive that the players would actually remember?

It's been explained plenty. If players or fans don't know by now it is their choice to be ignorant on this

The tournament has been explained but the incentives haven't been made clear. Why should teams or fans care?

The incentives are the winning teams players get 1/2 million. 200K for runner up, and 100K and 50K for the other in the top 4.

Teams seem to care. Fans should care because these games have been way more competitive than a random early November game

Yeah it seemed the teams definitely cared more about these games. It was interesting seeing a lot of teams basically playing a playoff rotation with only 8 or 9 playing any regular minutes. It helped the NBA was smart and didn’t schedule any of these games on the second night of a back to back.

I read somewhere that they avoided any back to backs or 3 in 4 situations.

The Nuggets just finished a 5 in 7 stretch, including a back to back after the tournament game. There is no back to backs where the tournament game is the second game though.

 

[Moe.]

OKC’s court and art in general is so bad I actually liked the tournament court as a change of pace.

 

[Mister CIA]

My general opinion about the play in tournament is that I think that it’s a nice concept—but it needs tweaking. I do like the idea of adding some value to regular season games by adding incentives. With that said—I’m not a fan of the play in courts with the new color schemes and runway down the middle. I also think that they need to change the structure of the tournament so that it doesn‘t start on what feels like the first week of the season. The NBA regular season is 82 games. In my opinion—they play in tournament should start around the game 15 mark for most teams and somehow end around what would be the halfway point. I‘m just getting used to the NBA season starting. As a fan—I find it difficult to celebrate that and then immediately try to follow the details of this new play in. With that said—this is the first season of it—and my guess is that they knew that they will get a lot of feedback and make adjustments for future years.

I think the challenge with the timing is they don’t want it to interfere with either Christmas or the all-star break.

Also, they need time to schedule the additional games for teams that don’t make the final 8 knockout bracket (games will be later in the season but it is probably a logistics pain to schedule everything).

They might have something if this tournament collides with all-star events.

 

[Yo Mama]

Payback:

https://x.com/espnnba/status/1721315995472540003?s=46&t=y6cC9YGHSWmPAqN66itfRA

 

[Jayrod]

Payback:

https://x.com/espnnba/status/1721315995472540003?s=46&t=y6cC9YGHSWmPAqN66itfRA

Half the league sending Allen gift baskets.

 

[General Malaise]

I commend the nba for actually trying something different but until they attach stakes the fans care about I don’t see why anybody would actually get into this. To each their own though. IMO the final lottery pick should be the carrot, along with the players getting paid.

Well, they put it up against the NFL and NCAA Football in November. Nobody is watching this when sports that matter are on TV. Do this in February when the king is hibernating.

 

[Instinctive]

LaMelo was scary in the 4th but damn Dallas looked good.

 

[Capella]

I commend the nba for actually trying something different but until they attach stakes the fans care about I don’t see why anybody would actually get into this. To each their own though. IMO the final lottery pick should be the carrot, along with the players getting paid.

Well, they put it up against the NFL and NCAA Football in November. Nobody is watching this when sports that matter are on TV. Do this in February when the king is hibernating.

Yea, there’s that also.

 

[Frostillicus]

Thanks to a heads up text from @the moops, who still sucks, my boy and I are heading to watch the #1 defense take on the #1 offense tomorrow for the low low price of $1 per ticket. Second to the last row of the upper deck in a corner, but hey, aisle seats!

 

[msudaisy26]

Payback:

https://x.com/espnnba/status/1721315995472540003?s=46&t=y6cC9YGHSWmPAqN66itfRA

Half the league sending Allen gift baskets.

Heard Steven Adams sent him a Rolex.

 

[the moops]

I commend the nba for actually trying something different but until they attach stakes the fans care about I don’t see why anybody would actually get into this. To each their own though. IMO the final lottery pick should be the carrot, along with the players getting paid.

Well, they put it up against the NFL and NCAA Football in November. Nobody is watching this when sports that matter are on TV. Do this in February when the king is hibernating.

Yea, there’s that also.

The NBA tourney had 7 games on Friday night. There were exactly zero NFL games on Friday night, and the two college football games were 4 unranked teams that nobody really cares about

 

[the moops]

Thanks to a heads up text from @the moops, who still sucks, my boy and I are heading to watch the #1 defense take on the #1 offense tomorrow for the low low price of $1 per ticket. Second to the last row of the upper deck in a corner, but hey, aisle seats!

Bring some binoculars you cheap *******

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

I commend the nba for actually trying something different but until they attach stakes the fans care about I don’t see why anybody would actually get into this. To each their own though. IMO the final lottery pick should be the carrot, along with the players getting paid.

Well, they put it up against the NFL and NCAA Football in November. Nobody is watching this when sports that matter are on TV. Do this in February when the king is hibernating.

Right! I thought this was supposed to be a mid-season tournament? It's week 2!!

 

[the moops]

I commend the nba for actually trying something different but until they attach stakes the fans care about I don’t see why anybody would actually get into this. To each their own though. IMO the final lottery pick should be the carrot, along with the players getting paid.

Well, they put it up against the NFL and NCAA Football in November. Nobody is watching this when sports that matter are on TV. Do this in February when the king is hibernating.

Right! I thought this was supposed to be a mid-season tournament? It's week 2!!

The finals is December 9th.

 

[Jayrod]

I'm not a huge soccer fan, but I believe this is how those mid-season tournaments go for them, there are just random games interspersed throughout the early season that leads to a small tournament and a championship of some kind. I believe they are copying the European soccer club format almost exactly.

 

[Yo Mama]

I commend the nba for actually trying something different but until they attach stakes the fans care about I don’t see why anybody would actually get into this. To each their own though. IMO the final lottery pick should be the carrot, along with the players getting paid.

Well, they put it up against the NFL and NCAA Football in November. Nobody is watching this when sports that matter are on TV. Do this in February when the king is hibernating.

Right! I thought this was supposed to be a mid-season tournament? It's week 2!!

IN-season tournament, not mid-season.

 

[Capella]

I'm not a huge soccer fan, but I believe this is how those mid-season tournaments go for them, there are just random games interspersed throughout the early season that leads to a small tournament and a championship of some kind. I believe they are copying the European soccer club format almost exactly.

Think they play against teams in other leagues which the nba isn’t doing. Now that would be cool and I’d be into that.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

I'm not a huge soccer fan, but I believe this is how those mid-season tournaments go for them, there are just random games interspersed throughout the early season that leads to a small tournament and a championship of some kind. I believe they are copying the European soccer club format almost exactly.

It could be the model for this tournament but there is at least one huge difference that I think is pretty important. Each league (England, Germany, France, etc.) has its own in-season knock-out tournament that includes all clubs registered in the league. But these leagues all have multiple levels through which teams move up and down through promotion and relegation each year. So for example in England the tournament is the FA Cup, and includes every club from the tiny lower division semi-pro teams all the way up to the massive clubs. There are typically about 100 teams that start the tournament, with the big clubs getting byes through to the later rounds. So last year for example there was a 4th division team that made it to the round of 16 and one second division team that made the semi-finals. Last week in the German Cup a 3rd division team beat Bayern Munich, the largest and most successful club in German soccer history, knocking them out of the tournament in a massive upset for the ages. So there's a charm to these tournaments that can't be recreated just by changing the colors of the court floor but still having the same 32 teams playing each other that we always see. It would almost be like if they had an in-season basketball tournament but included G-League teams and top college teams, but just imagine that they actually had a chance to compete and possibly pull an upset on the right night.

 

[Anarchy99]

I admit to not following the tournament storyline all that closely, but aren't the group games essentially the same regular season games that each team would play anyway? If I understand things correctly, even the 8 teams that make it to the knockout round are going to play conference teams they would have anyway? Wouldn't the only "not usually scheduled" game be the tournament final (meaning those two teams will play 83 games instead of 82)? Is that the outline for the tournament in a nutshell?

Theoretically, couldn't a team opt to rest players against a tough opponent in the tournament, take the loss, and then get a softer schedule against other teams that didn't advance in the tournament? Sure, I get it that there's no guarantee the teams that make the knockout stage and advance will by powerhouse teams, but couldn't some teams game the system? In the West, could the Clippers punt their tournament game against DEN and end up adding UTA and HOU to their schedule by losing to Denver . . . a game they likely would have lost anyway? (Just using that as an example.) Are there stipulations that teams have to play their regular starting lineup for all tournament games?

 

[General Malaise]

I commend the nba for actually trying something different but until they attach stakes the fans care about I don’t see why anybody would actually get into this. To each their own though. IMO the final lottery pick should be the carrot, along with the players getting paid.

Well, they put it up against the NFL and NCAA Football in November. Nobody is watching this when sports that matter are on TV. Do this in February when the king is hibernating.

Yea, there’s that also.

The NBA tourney had 7 games on Friday night. There were exactly zero NFL games on Friday night, and the two college football games were 4 unranked teams that nobody really cares about

Do you know what those TV ratings were per game? I'd be curious, but I'd also bet they are LOW.

On NBA TV Thursday night, Spurs-Suns — featuring Victor Wembanyama’s 38-point performance — averaged 580,000 viewers, down 12% from Heat-Warriors last year (658K).

Do you know how many people tuned in to watch Titans/Steelers? 11.5 million.

My argument is a larger one - NBA in November is an afterthought for most sports fans. It may not be for you, but for the average US TV sports viewer, early season NBA basketball isn't important. Speaking personally, my sports attention is on who the Ducks play on Saturday and what my fantasy football roster is looking like heading into Sunday. An in-season NBA tournament in November isn't making my sports' pants tight. Hell, I don't even think many of the players understand what it's all about.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

I commend the nba for actually trying something different but until they attach stakes the fans care about I don’t see why anybody would actually get into this. To each their own though. IMO the final lottery pick should be the carrot, along with the players getting paid.

Well, they put it up against the NFL and NCAA Football in November. Nobody is watching this when sports that matter are on TV. Do this in February when the king is hibernating.

Yea, there’s that also.

The NBA tourney had 7 games on Friday night. There were exactly zero NFL games on Friday night, and the two college football games were 4 unranked teams that nobody really cares about

Do you know what those TV ratings were per game? I'd be curious, but I'd also bet they are LOW.

On NBA TV Thursday night, Spurs-Suns — featuring Victor Wembanyama’s 38-point performance — averaged 580,000 viewers, down 12% from Heat-Warriors last year (658K).

Do you know how many people tuned in to watch Titans/Steelers? 11.5 million.

My argument is a larger one - NBA in November is an afterthought for most sports fans. It may not be for you, but for the average US TV sports viewer, early season NBA basketball isn't important. Speaking personally, my sports attention is on who the Ducks play on Saturday and what my fantasy football roster is looking like heading into Sunday. An in-season NBA tournament in November isn't making my sports' pants tight. Hell, I don't even think many of the players understand what it's all about.

I think that is what the NBA is trying to solve for, but they botched the marketing if the players don't even know what is going on. The incentive seems so meaningless to them, that it is just another game. And it being so early, teams are still ramping players up from the off-season to even get minutes.

 

[the moops]

I commend the nba for actually trying something different but until they attach stakes the fans care about I don’t see why anybody would actually get into this. To each their own though. IMO the final lottery pick should be the carrot, along with the players getting paid.

Well, they put it up against the NFL and NCAA Football in November. Nobody is watching this when sports that matter are on TV. Do this in February when the king is hibernating.

Yea, there’s that also.

The NBA tourney had 7 games on Friday night. There were exactly zero NFL games on Friday night, and the two college football games were 4 unranked teams that nobody really cares about

Do you know what those TV ratings were per game? I'd be curious, but I'd also bet they are LOW.

On NBA TV Thursday night, Spurs-Suns — featuring Victor Wembanyama’s 38-point performance — averaged 580,000 viewers, down 12% from Heat-Warriors last year (658K).

Do you know how many people tuned in to watch Titans/Steelers? 11.5 million.

My argument is a larger one - NBA in November is an afterthought for most sports fans. It may not be for you, but for the average US TV sports viewer, early season NBA basketball isn't important. Speaking personally, my sports attention is on who the Ducks play on Saturday and what my fantasy football roster is looking like heading into Sunday. An in-season NBA tournament in November isn't making my sports' pants tight. Hell, I don't even think many of the players understand what it's all about.

I think that is what the NBA is trying to solve for, but they botched the marketing if the players don't even know what is going on. The incentive seems so meaningless to them, that it is just another game. And it being so early, teams are still ramping players up from the off-season to even get minutes.

I think there has been one player, Bones Hyland, who has come out and said he doesn’t know what is going on. Every NBA team has minimum players and guys who have not made a bunch of money in their lives. 1/2 million is not nothing for those guys. Also these guys are hyper competitive. I bet when it gets to semis and finals for this thing these dudes are gonna ball

 

[thecatch]

I commend the nba for actually trying something different but until they attach stakes the fans care about I don’t see why anybody would actually get into this. To each their own though. IMO the final lottery pick should be the carrot, along with the players getting paid.

Well, they put it up against the NFL and NCAA Football in November. Nobody is watching this when sports that matter are on TV. Do this in February when the king is hibernating.

Yea, there’s that also.

The NBA tourney had 7 games on Friday night. There were exactly zero NFL games on Friday night, and the two college football games were 4 unranked teams that nobody really cares about

Do you know what those TV ratings were per game? I'd be curious, but I'd also bet they are LOW.

On NBA TV Thursday night, Spurs-Suns — featuring Victor Wembanyama’s 38-point performance — averaged 580,000 viewers, down 12% from Heat-Warriors last year (658K).

Do you know how many people tuned in to watch Titans/Steelers? 11.5 million.

My argument is a larger one - NBA in November is an afterthought for most sports fans. It may not be for you, but for the average US TV sports viewer, early season NBA basketball isn't important. Speaking personally, my sports attention is on who the Ducks play on Saturday and what my fantasy football roster is looking like heading into Sunday. An in-season NBA tournament in November isn't making my sports' pants tight. Hell, I don't even think many of the players understand what it's all about.

The tournament doesn’t need to be more popular than football to make it successful. It just needs to slightly move the needle on fan interest during the early regular season so the NBA can make this part of its sales pitch on the new media deal.

 

[General Malaise]

I commend the nba for actually trying something different but until they attach stakes the fans care about I don’t see why anybody would actually get into this. To each their own though. IMO the final lottery pick should be the carrot, along with the players getting paid.

Well, they put it up against the NFL and NCAA Football in November. Nobody is watching this when sports that matter are on TV. Do this in February when the king is hibernating.

Yea, there’s that also.

The NBA tourney had 7 games on Friday night. There were exactly zero NFL games on Friday night, and the two college football games were 4 unranked teams that nobody really cares about

Do you know what those TV ratings were per game? I'd be curious, but I'd also bet they are LOW.

On NBA TV Thursday night, Spurs-Suns — featuring Victor Wembanyama’s 38-point performance — averaged 580,000 viewers, down 12% from Heat-Warriors last year (658K).

Do you know how many people tuned in to watch Titans/Steelers? 11.5 million.

My argument is a larger one - NBA in November is an afterthought for most sports fans. It may not be for you, but for the average US TV sports viewer, early season NBA basketball isn't important. Speaking personally, my sports attention is on who the Ducks play on Saturday and what my fantasy football roster is looking like heading into Sunday. An in-season NBA tournament in November isn't making my sports' pants tight. Hell, I don't even think many of the players understand what it's all about.

The tournament doesn’t need to be more popular than football to make it successful. It just needs to slightly move the needle on fan interest during the early regular season so the NBA can make this part of its sales pitch on the new media deal.

Well, it's not going to be as popular as football. That was never my argument. That's a ludicrous ask. I'm just suggesting if the NBA wanted to draw attention to an in-season tournament, do it when football is in the rearview mirror and not in November when most sports fans are focused on football.

But if this is a sales pitch for a new media deal, maybe this was the best option for timing?

 

[Anarchy99]

I commend the nba for actually trying something different but until they attach stakes the fans care about I don’t see why anybody would actually get into this. To each their own though. IMO the final lottery pick should be the carrot, along with the players getting paid.

Well, they put it up against the NFL and NCAA Football in November. Nobody is watching this when sports that matter are on TV. Do this in February when the king is hibernating.

Yea, there’s that also.

The NBA tourney had 7 games on Friday night. There were exactly zero NFL games on Friday night, and the two college football games were 4 unranked teams that nobody really cares about

Do you know what those TV ratings were per game? I'd be curious, but I'd also bet they are LOW.

On NBA TV Thursday night, Spurs-Suns — featuring Victor Wembanyama’s 38-point performance — averaged 580,000 viewers, down 12% from Heat-Warriors last year (658K).

Do you know how many people tuned in to watch Titans/Steelers? 11.5 million.

My argument is a larger one - NBA in November is an afterthought for most sports fans. It may not be for you, but for the average US TV sports viewer, early season NBA basketball isn't important. Speaking personally, my sports attention is on who the Ducks play on Saturday and what my fantasy football roster is looking like heading into Sunday. An in-season NBA tournament in November isn't making my sports' pants tight. Hell, I don't even think many of the players understand what it's all about.

The tournament doesn’t need to be more popular than football to make it successful. It just needs to slightly move the needle on fan interest during the early regular season so the NBA can make this part of its sales pitch on the new media deal.

The first Super Bowl wasn't exactly a smash. Tickets were only $12 then, and there were 62,000 people in attendance (and 15,000 empty seats). I think things turned out ok for the NFL. Not suggesting the NBA in-season tournament will grow by leaps and bounds, but it could develop into something once they figure out what they are doing.

 

[gruecd]

Lillard came out and basically said that they want to win it for their two-way guys, who apparently also get the $500K if the team wins. While obviously not significant money for guys like Giannis and Lillard, it would effectively double the two-way players' annual earnings.