Is the NBA Falling Off?

[Adrian Woj Burner]

This topic comes closer and closer to me each year, and I just feel that it almost has to be getting close to rock bottom. It is hard to find a game where everyone is playing (outside of the playoffs), players are playing to their full potential, and players aren't complaining. 

I think that "load management" is slowly but surely killing the NBA. It hurts viewership, ticket sales, and many other things. 

[theguru]

3 minutes ago, Adrian Woj Burner said:

This topic comes closer and closer to me each year, and I just feel that it almost has to be getting close to rock bottom. It is hard to find a game where everyone is playing (outside of the playoffs), players are playing to their full potential, and players aren't complaining. 

I think that "load management" is slowly but surely killing the NBA. It hurts viewership, ticket sales, and many other things. 

I am not qualified to answer the question but I will say I have been watching more college basketball than ever (mostly the Big East and UK) and the other night I turned on a random NBA game and thought to myself what is this garbage.  It looked like a pickup game.  With all that said, I do enjoy NBA playoff basketball. 

[Adrian Woj Burner]

3 minutes ago, theguru said:

I am not qualified to answer the question but I will say I have been watching more college basketball than ever (mostly the Big East and UK) and the other night I turned on a random NBA game and thought to myself what is this garbage.  It looked like a pickup game.  With all that said, I do enjoy NBA playoff basketball. 

I still watch from time to time, but it is extremely hard to catch 2 teams playing each other all full-strength. Just this year teams have started rotating some of their better players in the games (sitting out one, and the others sitting out the next). 

Overall, the NBA is impressive to watch because of the skill-level. I will always hate the "no-defense" argument, but at many times this year I have seen the ability to play decrease from what it looks like. 

NCAA is fun to watch because their kids, and they mess up a lot, but they freaking play hard. I think the imperfections is what makes it to much fun to watch. 

However, the NBA playoffs are tough to beat. 

[theguru]

Just now, Adrian Woj Burner said:

I still watch from time to time, but it is extremely hard to catch 2 teams playing each other all full-strength. Just this year teams have started rotating some of their better players in the games (sitting out one, and the others sitting out the next). 

Overall, the NBA is impressive to watch because of the skill-level. I will always hate the "no-defense" argument, but at many times this year I have seen the ability to play decrease from what it looks like. 

NCAA is fun to watch because their kids, and they mess up a lot, but they freaking play hard. I think the imperfections is what makes it to much fun to watch. 

However, the NBA playoffs are tough to beat. 

The skill of NBA players is what keeps me interested.

[Adrian Woj Burner]

2 minutes ago, theguru said:

The skill of NBA players is what keeps me interested.

The shot-making is unreal. Like the all-star game for example... there was no defense played, but their ability to pull up from half court (which is a lot longer than the average length of a normal court) and drain shots is crazy. Their athleticism going up for a lob, how quick some of these 7-footers can move. It is all unreal to watch, but takes a true basketball-minded person to really know what they're watching these days. 

[theguru]

4 minutes ago, Adrian Woj Burner said:

The shot-making is unreal. Like the all-star game for example... there was no defense played, but their ability to pull up from half court (which is a lot longer than the average length of a normal court) and drain shots is crazy. Their athleticism going up for a lob, how quick some of these 7-footers can move. It is all unreal to watch, but takes a true basketball-minded person to really know what they're watching these days. 

Agree on the big men, unreal.

[TheDeuce]

26 minutes ago, theguru said:

I am not qualified to answer the question but I will say I have been watching more college basketball than ever (mostly the Big East and UK) and the other night I turned on a random NBA game and thought to myself what is this garbage.  It looked like a pickup game.  With all that said, I do enjoy NBA playoff basketball. 

I would challenge you (or anybody) that has that mindset about the NBA to actually go to a game and sit in the lower bowl. 

[theguru]

1 minute ago, TheDeuce said:

I would challenge you (or anybody) that has that mindset about the NBA to actually go to a game and sit in the lower bowl. 

I've been and I know all games are not created equal.  Last time I went I was pretty much in awe of the talent and play but sometimes on TV it makes my eyes bleed. 

[Adrian Woj Burner]

3 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

I would challenge you (or anybody) that has that mindset about the NBA to actually go to a game and sit in the lower bowl. 

It is unreal. The last one I attended was Magic vs Pacers earlier this season. Bol Bol is an absolute freak of nature. 

[TheDeuce]

1 minute ago, Adrian Woj Burner said:

It is unreal. The last one I attended was Magic vs Pacers earlier this season. Bol Bol is an absolute freak of nature. 

It's impossible to really grasp what the NBA is until you see it in person. After my first game, it completely changed how I view the league. 

[Adrian Woj Burner]

1 minute ago, TheDeuce said:

It's impossible to really grasp what the NBA is until you see it in person. After my first game, it completely changed how I view the league. 

Me as well. I have watched it many times in person, and I am in awe every time. I don't think any sports has such a drastic difference between in person and TV, IMO the next closest would be the MLB. 

[bugatti]

The load management thing is a problem. And I am not sure it is solving anything other than allowing those that make the most to prolong their careers, at the expense of everyone else.

And while "player empowerment" is captivating, really all "player empowerment" means is handing over NBA franchises to a handful of players. Don't like your circumstance, KD, after being in year one of a four year contract? Let's demand a trade. That's not how this is supposed to work. I will say the impact of this is being felt less since there is so much talent around the league.

 

[bugatti]

1 hour ago, TheDeuce said:

It's impossible to really grasp what the NBA is until you see it in person. After my first game, it completely changed how I view the league. 

It's weird things like how fast they get the ball up the court. On TV is looks like they are jogging in slow motion because the players are so incredibly skilled and athletic. And yes, I do realize at times there is poor defense played. Also realizing with an 82 game schedule and teams performing 3-4 times a week, some conservation of energy comes about.

[Voice of Reason]

Old man get off my lawn comment on load management:

I remember playing 7 days a week on outdoor courts wearing Chuck Converse All Stars.

[theguru]

2 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

Old man get off my lawn comment on load management:

I remember playing 7 days a week on outdoor courts wearing Chuck Converse All Stars.