Pretty hard disagree from me on this point. The improved shooting in the league has opened the game up and made it much more entertaining to the average viewer. I'm interested to know what you think should be done to improve the game in this area.
Step 1 would be eliminating the corner 3. I'd also do a full scale crackdown on flopping on the perimeter (Trae young gets about 4 FTs a game with these things) and actually enforce offensive fouls on the perimeter.
I actually like this idea, I've been on board with making the 3-point line the same distance from the basket all the way around that perimeter for a while now.
As for flopping, I don't see it as the huge problem you do. Exaggeration to draw attention to a foul is not the same as faking a foul altogether. I *do* think it's an issue that could get worse, as I've seen some soccer-level stuff happen. So while we may disagree with it's current affect on things, I think we're on the same page with your suggestions.
What does this even mean? What is an "actual fan?" The only people I see make comments like these are often waxing whimsical about the ugly basketball that was played in the 80s and 90s. You can't sell that game to the masses.
The 80s and 90s were when basketball became popular, so that seems facially untrue. Also, a fan is a person who watches the games (you know the people that the NBA actually can make money off of).
From that perspective, I think the most important factor is merchandise and specialty-networks purchasing. As individuals, the NBA can only make money off people who purchase merchandise and things like NBA Network, and those that pay for game tickets (also, betting I think). Otherwise they make money off their advertisers and TV broadcast rights-holders which is based on viewership. I'll bet there are millions of people who you don't consider "actual fans" that DO watch the games and make those viewership numbers look real nice to those advertisers and Broadcast rights-holders. There are also probably a couple million that claim to be "actual fans" that only watch a few games a year at their local bar who contribute no monetary value to the league at all. So this appears to be a murky idea with no real clear answer... Lots of nuance I think.
This won't happen. The game has more big names in it than it ever has before. Most of the time Lebron is relegated to an after-thought or an also-ran during the season and then we're all reminded about how great he is when the playoffs start. When he leaves the league, another player will take his place just like Kobe did when Michael left. The marketing machine won't let it be any other way.
Your example makes no sense. The NBA has never recovered from Jordan's retirement. The non-Lebron finals when he went to the Lakers took a huge ratings hit.
They took a hit because of the Canadian team in the finals, not because of Lebron, lol. Their finals ratings had been in a small decline already due to the loss of interest as the same two teams had met up 4 times in a row, and the belief was that the finals were a no-contest as Golden State would romp.
Mostly the ratings dip is due to apathy from Golden State being so dominant, and I think that the player movement is a huge factor as well, probably *THE* biggest factor, actually (though I have no proof and I'm not about to go looking for it, but it's my gut feeling). I believe "The Decision" followed a few years later by KD joining an already-established super-team and the antics of guys like Kawhi and others to get traded off their teams has done a ton of harm to the league. More than 3-pointers and flopping, for certain.
in Canada, interest in the game of basketball is way up. interest in the game of hockey is way down. the NHL and NBA have had an impact on this general over all trend.
The NBA adjusted their rule set better than the NHL over the past few decades as athletes in both sports have grown bigger and become better.
On January 16 2021 10:20 Nemireck wrote: a few years later by KD joining an already-established super-team and the antics of guys like Kawhi and others to get traded off their teams has done a ton of harm to the league. More than 3-pointers and flopping, for certain.
i battled tendonopathy for two brutal years. no improvement. limited stretching exercises and limited activities. It took four years to heal to the point where I could do everything again. I still have to stretch a lot more than a normal person to avoid re-injury. Kawhi's method of dealing with his injury was great. Any one who has battled tendonitis for over a year can prolly sympathize. I don't view what Kawhi did as "antics" .. he is my long-term, chronic tendonitis brother.
On the positive side, I ended up learning a metric tonne about the mechanics of the human body. I also learned how to traverse the labyrinthical maze the Canadian government calls their "medical system".
The 80s was when cable television became popular in the US. The NFL, even though it was mostly in broadcast tv, also exploded during that same time frame. The growth in sports viewership during that time has nothing to do with any superiority of the product. Besides, the play today has more in common with the play in the 80s, not the play of the late 90s and early 00s.
The 90s has to do with Jordan and the Barcelona Olympics. Basketball really took off internationally after a worldwide audience was exposed to NBA players during that Olympics. Basketball was going down in ratings after Jordan left because of the style of play, which was why the new rules went in effect.
On January 17 2021 10:00 andrewlt wrote: Basketball really took off internationally after a worldwide audience was exposed to NBA players during that Olympics. Basketball was going down in ratings after Jordan left because of the style of play, which was why the new rules went in effect.
the 1994 MLB strike really killed baseball in Canada. The Expos and Blue Jays were never the same. I played baseball from age 6 to 18 ... so from 1993 to 2005. It was way easier to play in the top league in Ontario when i was 18 compared to when I was 10. That's because participation rates plummeted. I prolly wouldn't have been good enough to play in the top league in Ontario if the participation rates in 2004 were what they were in 1994.
On January 17 2021 10:00 andrewlt wrote: The 80s was when cable television became popular in the US. The NFL, even though it was mostly in broadcast tv, also exploded during that same time frame. The growth in sports viewership during that time has nothing to do with any superiority of the product. Besides, the play today has more in common with the play in the 80s, not the play of the late 90s and early 00s.
The 90s has to do with Jordan and the Barcelona Olympics. Basketball really took off internationally after a worldwide audience was exposed to NBA players during that Olympics. Basketball was going down in ratings after Jordan left because of the style of play, which was why the new rules went in effect.
in the early 90s the difference between the NHL and NBA wasn't very wide while baseball and tackle football dominated.
the NHL and the NHLPA really messed up badly with the 1995 strike. To show how much hockey was breaking thru into the US mainstream...
EA NHL '94 hockey remains one of the greatest multiplayer games ever made. The NHL and NHLPA should've compromised. Oh well, its too late now.
MLB really messed up badly with the 1994 strike.
in the mid 90s the NBA did a nice job of not totally screwing up. They gained marketshare accordingly. good on that group.
On January 21 2021 22:42 JimmiC wrote: Shutdown defender Andrew Wiggins is making a big difference in GS while Russell is doing as bad or worse then Wiggins was for the Wolves.
There was also a time when a bunch of names were said to be WAY better on this thread then him, some out of the league, some like Gary Harris just not looking good but Bazemore was one of the favorites, he now plays well behind Wiggins in the rotation and barely hanging on in the NBA.
Wiggins won't ever be a great one, won't live up to the pre-draft hype or the max contract but he is a solid NBA player and a strong contributer on the Warriors.
His reputation would be a lot more different if he was the 20th pick in the draft. Might have changed his development and style of game, too, if he wasn't trying to be a go to scorer. And obviously people would look more positively on his contributions and limitations if he was paid like a role player.
His shooting is still questionable. He's shooting what seems to be an unsustainable high percentage on pull up jumpers while still shooting miserably on catch and shoot opportunities.
Warriors are still only 8-7, so it's not like Wiggins is putting the league on notice. Then again, the Wolves are 3-11 and I think they owe the Dubs a pick or a pick swap, not sure which.
On January 21 2021 22:42 JimmiC wrote: Shutdown defender Andrew Wiggins is making a big difference in GS while Russell is doing as bad or worse then Wiggins was for the Wolves.
There was also a time when a bunch of names were said to be WAY better on this thread then him, some out of the league, some like Gary Harris just not looking good but Bazemore was one of the favorites, he now plays well behind Wiggins in the rotation and barely hanging on in the NBA.
Wiggins won't ever be a great one, won't live up to the pre-draft hype or the max contract but he is a solid NBA player and a strong contributer on the Warriors.
He definitely looks like he's finally putting some extra effort in.
Wonder if getting traded was a wakeup call or if he was just generally unsatisfied in Minnesota.
I still think he's just Canadian DeRozan.
Wiggins is a key part of the 27th best defense in the NBA. A defense so bad that one of the most woeful offenses in the NBA .. the Knicks racked up almost 120 points.
looks like the Warriors defense is getting shredded again tonight. LOL. Wiggins a shutdown defender. LOL.
lots of players 26+ when Wiggins started in the league are worse than Wiggins is now. This is because players on average decline after age 26. Vince Carter is worse than Wiggins now.
to his credit, Wiggins is the best player to come out of Kleinburg Ontario, Canada.
On January 24 2021 12:40 JimmyJRaynor wrote: looks like the Warriors defense is getting shredded again tonight. LOL. Wiggins a shutdown defender. LOL.
lots of players 26+ when Wiggins started in the league are worse than Wiggins is now. This is because players on average decline after age 26. Vince Carter is worse than Wiggins now.
to his credit, Wiggins is the best player to come out of Kleinburg Ontario, Canada.
On January 25 2021 07:21 JimmiC wrote: But when you goto hold onto the hate you goto do what you goto do.
meh. hate? Wiggins is a poor defender playing on a poor defensive team. No hate there. The other line is a joke about how no one correctly identifies where Wiggins grew up. When you have to explain this stuff the Andy Kaufman/Tony Clifton style joke loses its effect. Kinda like my "welfare for the rich" post on which you wanted sources.
On January 24 2021 06:41 andrewlt wrote: His reputation would be a lot more different if he was the 20th pick in the draft. Might have changed his development and style of game, too, if he wasn't trying to be a go to scorer. And obviously people would look more positively on his contributions and limitations if he was paid like a role player.
Wiggins BBIQ is low. OTOH the undrafted FVV is so smart. Many scouts seem to go only by physical characteristics they can see in individual workouts. They go by easy to measure stuff in order to please the guys 3 management layers above them.
This also happens in other sports. How many college pitchers get drafted because they have a great change up? All the scouts want to know is the velocity on the pitcher's 4 seam fastball and how tall the pitcher is. Its a miracle Marcus Stroman got a pro contract.
I love Kyle... but man.. the Raptors can't have 2 six footers on the floor 30+ minutes a game. Its time for the Raptors to send Kyle off for another ring and make Freddy the captain of this team. The trash brothers were great in their day. They took a 23 win team to the 6th game of the conference finals. It was a great, wild ride. However, its time for the Raptors to move on.
On January 25 2021 07:21 JimmiC wrote: But when you goto hold onto the hate you goto do what you goto do.
meh. hate? Wiggins is a poor defender playing on a poor defensive team. No hate there. The other line is a joke about how no one correctly identifies where Wiggins grew up. When you have to explain this stuff the Andy Kaufman/Tony Clifton style joke loses its effect. Kinda like my "welfare for the rich" post on which you wanted sources.
All the info I've ever seen on the guy says he grew up in Thornhill and Vaughan. I can't find anything about Kleinburgh...
On January 24 2021 12:40 JimmyJRaynor wrote: looks like the Warriors defense is getting shredded again tonight. LOL. Wiggins a shutdown defender. LOL.
lots of players 26+ when Wiggins started in the league are worse than Wiggins is now. This is because players on average decline after age 26. Vince Carter is worse than Wiggins now.
to his credit, Wiggins is the best player to come out of Kleinburg Ontario, Canada.
why is your entire personality based on hating Andrew Wiggins?
EPT
