We could just build the wall and make them shoot over us. That is what we did with the Bucks and we were good at it. I think the Grizzlies could scheme around that with enough time, so I wouldn't roll it out immediately.
I wouldn’t say zero but I’d say it’d have a very small effect. Like if ratings are down by 25% compared to what they would have been if the Lakers made it or if there was a sweep then it may factor in to the overall analysis. Will it be a material difference? Nah.
The difference is Rudy is the key guy guarding Giannis in that wall... so it kinda works. JV complicates things.
If the Jazz are in the finals against anyone but the sixers or nets it will be the all-time lowest viewership of a finals ever. Even against the sixers or nets there is a good chance it gets the lowest ratings ever. Sub in the Lakers instead and it will be substantially higher.
Na'. It's not going to be a record low only because 2020's numbers were remarkably awful. The Lakers-Heat Finals averaged just 7.45 million viewers over six games. That was down from 15.14 million in 2019 (remember, tho, since the other team was Canadian, there wasn't another US market to draw from which could have boosted the ratings a bit), 17.5 million in 2018 and 20.38 million in 2017.
20 then 17 then 15, then 7 in the bubble. No way it bounces back to 20. Fifteen or less is more likely.
That 15 million was because there wasn't another media market in the US to go up against Golden State (Nielsen doesn't score Canada's market), so, outside the Bay Area, it was a bunch of NBA fanatics who were watching, hence the drop in numbers. Had the Warriors played the Cavs again, and that 2.4 million drop is probably made up in Ohio alone. No way does this series score less than 15 million. Either way, it won't be a record low audience regardless. So...
So you actually care more?
If we hit our shots, yes. If we shoot 20 whatever percent from 3 and play lazy defense like game 1 this could go any way.
Spida is the better player but he isn’t close to 100 percent. I have also seen years and years of winning basketball. Jacking up 3s, wasting possessions, and playing zero defense isn’t a recipe for success in playoff basketball. Like what the Suns are finding out right now as Lebron and AD wipe out their season.
The Suns defense has been fine - their offense has been miserable. It's not due to jacking 3's either - only 4 teams have a lower 3PA rate in the playoffs so far.
