NBA Discussion - The Stretch Run
- Thread starter tomalak301
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And I wonder how abysmal the ratings will be. Though that was possibly one of the most exciting and competitive finals series in the last decade.
I have a minor rant though about the hatred of the Spurs. They're a small market team and not that many people cared about to begin with, and others are tired of seeing them in the title hunt year after year. They bore some casual fans because they don't play up-tempo basketball in favor of hard physical defense. I understand that. But they're one of the classiest sports organizations around. They rarely complain or make excuses for their loses. Their big three (or at least two of the three) have taken pay cuts to stay together and keep quality role players around them. But especially over at the ESPN message boards, some of the hatred and name calling just baffles me. People act like basketball is going to disappear if the Spurs make it to the finals again, and that Stern should intervene and break this team up because they're ruining the sport. People continuously call them dirty, again because of the hard defense.
Anyway, it doesn't matter what other people think, I guess. SA will keep loving them. And even if they lose, I'll watch and enjoy the finals whoever plays.
I'm no Spurs hater. I like the way they play, I enjoy watching them and certainly don't begrudge what they've earned, but what you say is not quite accurate. The Bulls and the Lakers both played slow deliberate styles and the ratings were great when either were in the Finals. I don't think I need point out what those teams had that the Spurs didn't, and don't.
From a "casual" fan (and therefore, ratings) standpoint, San Antonio's problem is that they don't have any charismatic personalities. They're all nice guys, great players, but ultimately, from a personal standpoint, uninteresting.
It's nothing to do with SA, I don't think. It's just the fickle nature of the "casual fan". They're in the corner of the new team the first time they go for the win, and then after that, get distracted by the next big thing, and are suddenly sick of the old winner. Who needs most of those bandwagon fans in the first place? They're just going to like whoever ESPN tells them to anyway...
What you're seeing with SA is the same thing you see with the Yankees (everyone was on board in the late 90s for the first couple rings in that run, but then started rooting for everyone else, despite it being basically the same thing). Patriots are experiencing it (and the spygate thing gives them just enough justification to have the conversation without sounding completely petty). Red Sox are definitely experiencing it, despite being the team everyone loved just a couple years ago. If hockey still has fans, there's probably a team like that there, too.
In the end, it just doesn't matter. The casual fan is fickle and not all that into it. Swayed easily by soundbites and talking heads, and is gonna be rooting for the underdog most of the time anyway, except for the REAL bandwagon fans, who just cheer for whoever is winning.
Enjoy the success of your team, and drown out the shouts of the other morons. Next year they'll be cheering for someone different anyway...
What you're seeing with SA is the same thing you see with the Yankees (everyone was on board in the late 90s for the first couple rings in that run, but then started rooting for everyone else, despite it being basically the same thing). Patriots are experiencing it (and the spygate thing gives them just enough justification to have the conversation without sounding completely petty). Red Sox are definitely experiencing it, despite being the team everyone loved just a couple years ago. If hockey still has fans, there's probably a team like that there, too.
In the end, it just doesn't matter. The casual fan is fickle and not all that into it. Swayed easily by soundbites and talking heads, and is gonna be rooting for the underdog most of the time anyway, except for the REAL bandwagon fans, who just cheer for whoever is winning.
Enjoy the success of your team, and drown out the shouts of the other morons. Next year they'll be cheering for someone different anyway...
Frakking Spurs!
God, I hate 'em!
That makes two of us. They're the only TX team I don't root for.
Does it have anything to do with maybe you being a Mavericks fan?
Well that is true. As dominant as Duncan has been over the years, he nor any of the other Spurs are that marketable.
You know what the Spurs lack, donchya??? 
The Spurs lack...
the "JACK" factor!!!
GO LAKERS!
the "JACK" factor!!!
GO LAKERS!
Just wait the Suns will wipe the floo--ah crap.
I haven't read the whole thread, so I don't know if there are any Spurs fans here. So, I thought I'd show up and represent the team of the decade.
Go Spurs!
Go Spurs!
Jack needs to keep his Geritol takin', Viagra suckin', Hair Club For Men ass at home. Gramps is too old to risk a heart attack watchin' the Lakers get schooled by The Big Three. That's Duncan, Parker, and Ginobli.
Actually, I like Jack and was a Lakers fan in the 80s when Magic and Byrd were playing. Just thought I'd throw out some pre-game smack.
Actually, I like Jack and was a Lakers fan in the 80s when Magic and Byrd were playing. Just thought I'd throw out some pre-game smack.
Frakking Spurs!
God, I hate 'em!
That makes two of us. They're the only TX team I don't root for.
Does it have anything to do with maybe you being a Mavericks fan?
Well, I'm not a Mavs fan, even though they are the best team in the WNBA.
Well, I'm not a Mavs fan, even though they are the best team in the WNBA.
Sadly I'm unable to dispute this obvious shot at the Mav's toughness. And now that they've dismissed the toughest coach they've had for nearly two decades, I'm not sure when I'll be able to.
No its not. The Spurs have never been media darlings. Their championship series have always gotten poor ratings.
Additionally, the Bulls ratings remained high even after multiple appearances in the Finals, same with the Shaq/Kobe Lakers. Hate, many times equals ratings. Folks tune in just to see you lose. The ratings for the Celts/Lakers series back in the 90's also continued to get high ratings even though plenty of fans were "sick" of both. They still tuned in, just on the chance that their "most hated", would lose.
The Spurs, as great as they have been, have never generated much "casual fan" interest. They just don't have charismatic personalities.
I think it's the lack of charisma of the Spurs that prevents me from hating them. They've quietly built up one of the greatest dynasties in recent memory. That being said, they win every other year, so they need to lose this year and win in 2009
Every team left in the league has either historically won a lot or recently won a lot. At this point, it doesn't matter to me who wins (Boston's gone the longest, but if the Celtics hang any more championship banners from their rafters, the weight would cause the ceiling to collapse).
Every team left in the league has either historically won a lot or recently won a lot. At this point, it doesn't matter to me who wins (Boston's gone the longest, but if the Celtics hang any more championship banners from their rafters, the weight would cause the ceiling to collapse).
Now THAT was a great game!!!! 
The Lakers are 52-7 when winning Game 1 in a best-of-seven series.
The Lakers have beaten the Spurs in seven of their previous 10 postseason matchups,
including all three in the conference finals. (soon to be all four in the conference finals.)
The Lakers are 52-7 when winning Game 1 in a best-of-seven series.
The Lakers have beaten the Spurs in seven of their previous 10 postseason matchups,
including all three in the conference finals. (soon to be all four in the conference finals.)
I can't believe the Spurs choked like that. I'm glad they did though. Go Lakers!
