Anyone else lose complete interest in the NBA Playoffs?

onlooker · 05-20-07, 08:50 PM

If the Cavs go down 0-2, then I will really start to lose interest. I want them to get to the finals and are really the only team I want to watch in these playoffs at this point.

Dark Horse · 05-20-07, 09:05 PM

I haven't watched another game. Done with the NBA, other than two or three weeks out of the year. Stern is such a pompous prick. For fear of being fined, Steve Nash couldn't even say why he had such a sick feeling in his stomach after being 'eliminated', but finally, in response to a question what the Suns should do better next year, answered that it would help if the league didn't take out two of their players.

It's not that the Suns were eliminated, but how. That type of unrighteous rewarding of thuggery will never fly with me. The NBA has lost all credibility for me.

EBone · 05-20-07, 09:18 PM

Personally, I've lost my interest in basketball. I go to games on occasion but I just can't get into it anymore and I played Div 2 college basketball. It is just so selfish....everything about it is selfish. NBA is the absolute worst but college basketball is that way too. There are only a handful of college basketball teams that I'll go and watch now. The dunk is the crowd pleaser and team defense seems to be non-existent nowadays.

If the 'I' is still going to be prevalent in today's basketball, then I advocate that a dunk should be worth 20 points (at least 10). No question that the athletes are amazing in both NCAA and NBA but the current players have no idea how suddle the game is and don't know what in the world the word "fundamental" means. That's why I have sworn it off as a passion. I admit I do watch it from time-to-time but, the more I watch it, the more sick I become. I'm not talking about officiating; I'm talking about the players themselves.

The NBA has had multiple problems for a very long time. When you have a 4 quarter game and the players dont exert any effort for 3.5 quarters, then there is a huge problem. It starts with how these players are taught at an early age.

Sorry for the rant. I'm just so disappointed in the sport I grew up to love.

E

gridironguy · 05-20-07, 09:40 PM

E-bone, I can relate on some fronts. I am much more into college hoops than the NBA, and I would contend that college hoops is making a big come back with the "Age 19 rule" by the NBA. All of the great freshman playing at least 1 yr is huge for the overall college product. This last season was quite memorable in my mind.

onlooker · 05-20-07, 09:42 PM

I'm with you GG. I like college hoops more then the NBA as well. Pretty much the same could be said for football.

rjt721 · 05-20-07, 10:17 PM

For betting purposes, yes, I'm pretty much done with the NBA for this year. I couldn't care less about the Pistons/Cavs series, which will be almost unwatchable, and I don't think there's much value in the Spurs/Jazz series.

I can't wait until college football starts, both from a betting aspect and for entertainment purposes.

rjt721 · 05-20-07, 10:19 PM

Originally posted by onlòóker

If the Cavs go down 0-2, then I will really start to lose interest.

So your interest will be gone by Thursday night looker?

Dark Horse · 05-20-07, 11:04 PM

For me it wasn't just the crazed NBA decision to treat the Horry provocation and reaction from the PHX bench as two separate instances. It was also the way the two-time MVP received absolutely no respect. Coincidence or not, in game 1 Nash couldn't finish the game (which probably decided it) because of a collision with Parker, then Bowen knees him in the groin, and finally Horry bodychecks him into the scorer's table. And Bowen was slapping Nash's arm the entire series, resulting in a large number of turnovers, but was Bowen called for it even once? I don't remember. Has anybody ever seen a MVP treated like that consistently, by the refs or opponents?

What kind of a league is it anyway that suspends a veteran referee for the entire playoffs for giving innocent little Tim Duncan two technicals? Do you think Rasheed Wallace deserved every T he ever got? Why then was Joey Crawford suspended? Because it was on national tv (on Sunday afternoon). Public perception. Plain and simple. Same thing for the getting off the bench rule in game 6 between Spurs and Suns. Most of us know that Duncan and Bowen were much further into the court earlier in the game after a hard foul by James Jones, but it was never shown on national tv. And so it never happened. The NBA is far more concerned about keeping up an external image than about its inner integrity. You truly would have to become extremely forgetful to still be able to enjoy the NBA; i.e. as anything more than the WWF wrestling circus.

Bill Dozer · 05-21-07, 05:48 AM

Originally posted by gridironguy

I am very passionate about sports, but when Phoenix got eliminated, my interest in this year's NBA playoffs went down about 10 fold.

The most compelling story (in my mind) would be if Utah and Cleveland both make the finals, as watching Lebron and company against the Jazz would be something fresh and interesting. Unfortunately, I don't see it happening, so other than some tennis (French and Wimbledon) and a few big fights in boxing, there is nothing to keep me excited about sports until football begins in early September.

Don't get me wrong, I have tons of respect for San Antonio and Detroit, esp. the Spurs for having won 3 titles in 8 yrs, but I'm over watching them both play so late in the year.

If the best team is to win, I have to say it's the Spurs. But I would be remiss if I didn't say that Lebron making the finals would be one of the best thing for the TV ratings this year..

I don't think you are alone. This finals has a chance to bring in the lowest TV rating ever beating out the Spurs/Nets in 2003. Spurs finals have the worst two TV ratings in past 20 years. You probably have to blame a weak Eastern Conference more than Spurs-style basketball. If the Cavs could go up 3-0 and the Spurs had to battle back, or if it was Lebron's rookie year the general public might care. There isn't much of a story line. Spurs make a run every year. Sometimes they win and sometimes they dont.

jjgold · 05-21-07, 06:08 AM

Cavs only team left to watch, if Lebron loses the finals will be a disaster.

nep1293 · 05-21-07, 06:42 AM

Just remember, if Utah and Cleveland make the finals we'll have to hear about that whole Boozer contract fiasco 12 billion times.

I think a Jazz-Pistons finals would be pretty good. Pistons-Spurs would be boring. Cavs??? I don't think they can beat Detroit but if they do I guess having LeBron in the finals would be OK. Phoenix was the team that had make it for the finals to be fun.

BadAzz · 05-21-07, 06:57 AM

From my perspective, there is only Cavs left not to watch. All 3 other teams play team team oriented basketball at least by NBA standards. Jazz has also been my team since the days of Mark Eaton & co. and it is refreshing to see them advance. Also, I love Detroit defense, even though it ain't quite what it was when they beat the lakers. Spurs have the best ball movement in league and they play exceptionally smart. Only Cavs play "give the ball to the star an lets see what happens" -ball, which I hate. I am in the minority with my views and thus I believe NBA is soon over for me as well. The ratings decide which way to rules are changed and what style of play they favor.

jjgold · 05-21-07, 07:25 AM

If Utah does win game two, it is all over. Many think Jazz are the better team and Spurs played perfect to beat them yesterday.

moses millsap · 05-21-07, 07:59 AM

Cavs are boring to watch too. I have zero interest left.

isetcap · 05-21-07, 08:04 AM

The Cavaliers are by far the most painful team to watch of the 4 remaining. Any player that makes an effort to defend Larry Hughes when he's about to shoot a jumpshot should be banned from the league for stupidity.

crackerjack · 05-21-07, 09:02 AM

I am with the OP on this one, although I would give my left nut to see the Jazz beat the Spurs. I lived in San Antonio for two years and just never became a Spurs fan. It's probably more of my dislike for the NBA than any dislike for the Spurs (they ARE boring). But what happened with the Suns players was inexcusable and Stern should be fired. Ratings will plummet and I hope all networks pull out of broadcasting games and leave Stern holding his ding dong in one hand and scratching his head wondering what went wrong with his other hand. He is a pompous prick, as dark horse said. I will never pay to see a game in person and will boycott watching NBA games until Stern is ousted. He has ruined the NBA. It's not even a great game to bet on (with the exception of second half betting which is a huge money maker...)

Seattle Slew · 05-21-07, 03:14 PM

I've only watched a few games this season and won't watch anymore. The officiating makes it impossible, and the NBA suspending players is a joke.

I also can't take Gregg Popovich's arrogant look on the sideline anymore like he's god's gift to coaching. Disliking him more than Phil Jackson.

SBR_John · 05-21-07, 04:05 PM

Love these play offs! Been really fun so far, a lot of good close games. That Phx - SA series and Dal vs GS series were great. And Hou - Utah was good too.

I mean boston and the lakers are not there any more. But SA and Detroit have a big following. It is also a cool contrast between the thugs and the good guys and north vs south.

seaborneq · 05-21-07, 04:28 PM

If I had not taken the Spurs at 9/2 in the preseason, or if Phoenix had won their series, I would have no interest in the NBA playoffs. I lost every dime I had betting the Mavs/Warriors series. So I am waiting to collect the future money which is like watching grass grow.

Tchocky · 05-21-07, 06:18 PM

This year's NBA Finals will have very low ratings. Thanks, David Stern. I hope you and your friends make out on the Spurs you dick!