Write On Sports LLC - "Abysmal NBA Finals Ratings -- Don’t Blame the Cavs" by Omer Salik

Abysmal NBA Finals Ratings -- Don’t Blame the Cavs

2007-06-14 13:10:19 | By: Omer Salik

In the last few weeks, there have been countless articles in the media about the horrid NBA finals and their low TV ratings. This year’s finals are averaging ratings of about 7.2% of U.S. households, down from 31% from last year.

Most, if not all, of the articles lays the blame for this situation squarely on Cleveland and its allegedly inferior team. But the history of TV ratings in NBA finals demonstrates a different conclusion – the San Antonio Spurs are to blame. Since the end of the Jordan era in the 1998 finals, the finals that have included the San Antonio Spurs, including this year, have comprised four the six lowest ratings, including the three lowest: 6.5% in 2003 versus the Nets – the worst rating in NBA finals history, 7.1% this year and 8.2% in 2005 versus the Pistons. The only Spurs finals series to not be among the lowest since Jordan was against the Knicks, which even with the aid of the largest American market, drew only 11.3% of viewers.

Many of the past finals have included their fair share of lopsided mismatches. Many of the past finals resulted in a sweep. Many of the past finals featured small-market teams. They each performed better than the Spurs finals. The only possible conclusion supported by the numbers is that the Spurs simply do not attract a nationwide audience. I can provide several speculations as to why this may be – consistently one-sided refereeing in their favor, a ho-hum superstar in Duncan who is allowed to travel on most possessions, the dirtiest player in Bowen who rarely fouls out, one of the biggest floppers in Ginobili, one of the whiniest coaches and group of players in the league, this so-called “dynasty” starting with an asterisks (much like the Patriots), and the only exciting player being French, to name a few.

But the reason people hate the Spurs is not what’s important. It probably depends on the person and is likely a combination of factors. What is important is that this year’s poor finals performance is not the Cavs’ fault, who is the only team bringing anything to the fans in LBJ. So stop cooking up schemes to re-work the playoffs, stop disparaging a Cleveland team that legitimately outplayed Detroit for six straight games, and for God’s sake stop bombarding me with stories about Duncan, Parker and Popovic and their great relationship. Let’s start discussing the real problem with the finals – the Spurs.

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