NBA Playoffs

[NickleDimer]

"stale venues" sounds like an issue with the fans rather than the game.

Certain styles of play in the NBA revolve more around economy of motion, spacing and timing rather than straight up hustling all the time.

The constant threat of contact and dump n chase play in the NHL is just visually more "gritty". Also the lack of visible tattoos, headbands, and long shorts appeals more to "middle amerika".

 

[adp98]

I agree on the fans but that's the nature of 82 games. You have a bunch of people in suits and there is little urgency from the players you won't get urgency from the fans. This isn't limited to the NBA but is more more pronounced. Attend a nova game in the pavilion, also awful. Who is getting excited to see us pound the sisters of the poor by 20. Usually the students adn that's about it. The NBA regular season game is a quiet crowd with some background music pumped in. That's true for the bulk of the games in most cities. I say this as someone who likes the NBA. I don't watch a ton of it. However, the atmosphere in Oakland is not the same in say Washington etc...as someone who attends a lot of live sporting events it's true across many sports. However, the NBA is worse than most due to the compact nature of the schedule, the make up of the fans (let's face it up, people attending these games are more likely to be rich guys). It becomes more pronounced as ticket prices go up and the in-home experience continues to improve. The one sport that combats this better live is hockey. It's a non-stop event with action.

 

[NickleDimer]

However, the NBA is worse than most due to the compact nature of the schedule, the make up of the fans (let's face it up, people attending these games are more likely to be rich guys). .

NBA schedule's compactness isn't much different from NHL. And MLB is more compact and more of a snooze.

Are NBA fans more likely to be rich? Or just sober?

Drunkest fans power rankings:
1. College football - boozing all day, many students
2. NFL - boozing all day
3. NHL - canadians and WT
4. College Hoops - students
5. Baseball - unbearable without a beer to sip on
6. NBA

 

[KennyTheKangaroo]

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that the Dimer deliberately left NASCAR off his list.

 

[NickleDimer]

NASCAR is a confusing activity that people watch more so than a sport.

 

[adp98]

Hockey fans are more rabid and the sport is just better live. Tough to compare.

 

[gldendog]

Warriors are still a 1-7 favorite to beat Memphis even without home court. Those are ridiculous odds.

 

[MakingLove2BeckyLobo]

Warriors are still a 1-7 favorite to beat Memphis even without home court. Those are totes redonks odds.

Fixed

 

[SnottieDrippen]

I was thinking "we've had this discussion 30 times" until ND brought up the average fan drunkness. That certainly plays a part.

Also, I watch over 100 games per year and when in attendance, unless the game is in a very crucial moment, you won't find me making any noise other than appreciative clapping. Everyone i've gone with has been quiet too - unless someone gets dunked on. Basically, the more savage the action, the louder the crowd response. Imagine if golfers beat each other with their clubs? Off the charts ratings.

Anyway, back to the games:

Austin Rivers is hilarious. That behind the back dribble attempt summarized everything about him. He also can only jump off of two feet and tries to do so in the half court. Just doesnt make sense.

Is Corey Brewer the skinniest non-Manute Bol player in NBA history? Gotta be up there.

Tony Allen - could you imagine how maligned this guy would be if defense wasn't his calling card? Yells about being first team all Defense but can't make layups often. If the opposite was true, he'd be one of the most hated guys in the league. The thing is, it's easier to learn offensive skills than it is to become a better defender (past lowest common hustle denominator)

 

[novabball2]

why the long layoff between games? next game is Sat.

Austin Rivers = Nepotism. maybe the worst player in the NBA. probably cant even beat his dad in the backyard.

 

[SnottieDrippen]

Guess they want the weekend ratings?

 

[novabball2]

cant do Thursday/Sat? not like they are playing back to back Sat and Sun games.

its funny how in basketball post seasons no one plays back to back then all of a sudden in the college game teams are forced to play 3-4 games in the same amount of days in the conf tournaments right before the NCAA tourney. pretty sure it wears some teams out.

 

[NickleDimer]

Defense only wins champion

I was thinking "we've had this discussion 30 times" until ND brought up the average fan drunkness. That certainly plays a part.

No one says "I'm going to go to an NBA game between 7 and 9 PM and pound 10 beers." Hockey has two built in binge drinking breaks and even satisfies the drunken urge for a bit of the old ultraviolence with on-ice punching. Baseball, Hockey and Football all heavily feature beer sponsors.

 

[novabball2]

cardele jones seems like a nice kid

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on...tates-cardale-jones-is-coming-for-joakim-noah

 

[NovaTras22]

love to see Jones throw hands with Noah

 

[TTMMJJ]

Bulls Cavs right now is a battle.

 

[gldendog]

Anyone have a clue who wins the NBA title? With the Spurs out and Kevin Love out I have no idea. Golden St has all kinds of problem with Memphis and San Antonio. Terrible matchups.

 

[TooTchuisi]

I really hate Delladelova. Don't think I'll ever get over him hitting 3s while laying on the ground against us

 

[NickleDimer]

Anyone have a clue who wins the NBA title?

7 teams that you could make a case for (excluding Wizards). Gr8 time to not be a fuddy duddy NBA hater.

 

[wcburrs87]

With a healthy Wall I'd give the Wiz just as much a chance to win east as other three.

 

[Ninetynine5.0]

Most exciting NBA post season in ages. The unknowing factor a major lift for the league. Also, getting rid of 2/3/2 was a long overdue.

 

[NorCalVU10]

I really hate Delladelova. Don't think I'll ever get over him hitting 3s while laying on the ground against us

He is the only NBA player from that game. Pretty amazing.

 

[NickleDimer]

With a healthy Wall I'd give the Wiz just as much a chance to win east as other three.

I know - which makes it even more crazy. We're a broken hand away from a total free-for-all in every series. And the Wiz are even putting up a fight without him somehow.

 

[TheDean]

Anyone have a clue who wins the NBA title? With the Spurs out and Kevin Love out I have no idea. Golden St has all kinds of problem with Memphis and San Antonio. Terrible matchups.

I still think it's Warriors -Cavaliers in the finals.

Memphis has won two games in their series but c'mon, they suck. Randolph and Gasol are just not enough. Houston had a nice win last night and could pull it out but I think it's the end of the line for either them or LA vs. GS.

LeBron had a buzzer-beater for the G4 win and then put his foot down last night with 38/12/6. He had a great sequence when he jumped for Mirotic's pump-fake in the lane and still blocked the ball cleanly with his left hand while coming down, then on offense scored a Jordan-like 3-point play. (Mirotic did hit a half-court buzzer-beater at half-time though).

Atlanta is another team that needs another star player. Teague, Horford and Millsap are not enough vs. the likes of LeBron.

 

[NovaHoops2002]

What was up with the B crew on Inside the NBA last night? Just a day off? Best studio show on TV.

 

[NickleDimer]

Atlanta is another team that needs another star player. Teague, Horford and Millsap are not enough vs. the likes of LeBron.

Korver's not enough of a star for you?

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/image...korver1_original_display_image.jpg?1304979353

 

[novabball2]

does anyone like Chris Webber? i cringe everytime i see him or hear his voice. i just cant get out of my mind what a dog he was during his time in Philly.

 

[NovaHoops2002]

does anyone like Chris Webber? i cringe everytime i see him or hear his voice. i just cant get out of my mind what a dog he was during his time in Philly.

He is actually a very good color guy.

 

[novabball2]

yeah i hate to admit it but he does a nice job along side Marv Albert who IMO was the best NBA guy ever, he is just ok at this point in his career. the NBA on NBC was great. best music too!

 

[NovaHoops2002]

No one is better than the ABC/ESPN trio of Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy. Hubie Brown is great too, he really drops a lot of knowledge on you. The combo of Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller is not bad either.

 

[novabball2]

the ESPN crew is good, i like Jackson and Van Gundy together but i do not like Hubie Brown and Mike Tirico. Reggie Miller is very good.

 

[TheDean]

Always liked Dick Stockton back in the day

 

[novabball2]

was before my time but wasnt Bill Russell on the CBS broadcast and considered the worst color man ever?

I loved BILL WALTON when he did NBA on NBC. he is still great with the Pac 12 ESPN games.

 

[NickleDimer]

I loved BILL WALTON when he did NBA on NBC. he is still great with the Pac 12 ESPN games.

This. Bill Walton doing western conference playoff games in the early 00s was a treat. I think he did some of the most obviously rigged series: Lakers/Kings in 2002 and Lakers/Blazers in 2000. Stern desperately wanted that Lakers dynasty.

 

[lowry99]

Most exciting NBA post season in ages. The unknowing factor a major lift for the league.

Agree with this, and the reason why. I am definitely watching more than I have any year when the Sixers haven't made a run out of the first round or beyond (and in those years even mainly watched only Phila. games).

Also think having the "other" LA team doing well helps. Lakers and especially Kobe were insufferable, was sick of them especially post-Shaq. Was tired of watching the Spurs too after all these years. Seeing LA take them out was interesting and kicked things off nicely.

Lot of fun players who haven't traditionally had the spotlight getting it now.

 

[novabball2]

Walton did the Sixers/Raptors series in 01 and it was a treat.

 

[adp98]

Two years ago after pot was legal in CO, listening to Walton doing the Colorado/Arizona game was the single best prodcasting performance in ESPN history. The number of pot references was hysterical.

 

[NovaTras22]

Listening to Van Gundy, you realize why he's no longer coaching basketball.

 

[NickleDimer]

Bill Walton was not afraid to take anyone to task - players, refs, etc.
Steve "Snapper" Jones was solid, too.

 

[wcburrs87]

Memphis doesn't suck. They have a nice team and their front court poses match-up problems. Conley is availed player, as is Jeff Green. Lee and Allen do enough to chip in.