We'll know the NBA is back when...

[HoodooMan]

...its Finals schedule doesn't look like this:

Game 1: THU, 9PM EST
Game 2: SUN, 9PM EST
Game 3: TUE, 9PM EST
Game 4: THU, 9PM EST
Game 5: SUN, 9PM EST
Game 6: TUE, 9PM EST
Game 7: THU, 9PM EST

Not a single FRI or SAT night game? Not even a SUN afternoon game? And 9PM starts? Monday Night Football had a tough time keeping viewers with 9PM starts, and that's the freaking NFL.

This is all you need to look at to know how full of shit David Stern is when he claims the NBA's popularity is at an all-time high. Weekend afternoon double & triple headers on NBC used to be the shit. Marv & Fratello doing the Eastern Conference game (seemingly always in NY or CHI), Enberg & Steve Snapper Jones doing the Western Conference game (seemingly always in Portland or, well, Portland), the cool NBC intro song, start times that said, "Fuck you, West Coast." It was all great.

[FUDU]

Agreed.

I really don't get starting the games in Cleveland at 9.

[furls]

West Coast compromise. Inconvenience everyone a little.

[Mr. MacPhisto]

West Coast compromise. Inconvenience everyone a little.

Makes perfect sense when neither team in on the west coast. San Antonio is on Central Time. Start the games at 7:30PM in Cleveland and 7:00PM in San Antonio so the game starts at 8:00PM in the East.

[mswerb]

Ratings and money

[jb]

West Coast compromise. Inconvenience everyone a little.

If by "a little", you mean it makes it impossible for anyone under 14 / 15 years old to be an avid NBA fan, then yeah. I agree.

Just like MLB.

And they wonder why suburban kid is more and more into soccer & x treme sports...

[jb]

...its Finals schedule doesn't look like this:

Game 1: THU, 9PM EST
Game 2: SUN, 9PM EST
Game 3: TUE, 9PM EST
Game 4: THU, 9PM EST
Game 5: SUN, 9PM EST
Game 6: TUE, 9PM EST
Game 7: THU, 9PM EST

Not a single FRI or SAT night game? Not even a SUN afternoon game? And 9PM starts? Monday Night Football had a tough time keeping viewers with 9PM starts, and that's the freaking NFL.

This is all you need to look at to know how full of shit David Stern is when he claims the NBA's popularity is at an all-time high. Weekend afternoon double & triple headers on NBC used to be the shit. Marv & Fratello doing the Eastern Conference game (seemingly always in NY or CHI), Enberg & Steve Snapper Jones doing the Western Conference game (seemingly always in Portland or, well, Portland), the cool NBC intro song, start times that said, "Fuck you, West Coast." It was all great.

Is that tip off, or the strat of 30 - 45 minutes of Pussberger bullshit hype and tip off is at 9:30?

And I thought Boston vs Phoenex ended late in double OT as a pup.

[furls]

Makes perfect sense when neither team in on the west coast. San Antonio is on Central Time. Start the games at 7:30PM in Cleveland and 7:00PM in San Antonio so the game starts at 8:00PM in the East.

Actually it does make perfect sense given where the teams play.

They know that ratings in Cleveland and SA are going to be strong, they are trying to push the games to a reasonable time on the west coast without making them insane on the East coast. This is the exact reason MNF has been at 9pm. If you move it any earlier WC ratings will lag.

NBA needs national growth, and it needs to showcase its biggest stage on both coasts. If you put the games at 7:30 in Cleveland than that puts them at 4:30 on the west coast. That would be, ummmm... not good.

NBA's rationale is sound if you step outside of your own personal inconveniences.

If by "a little", you mean it makes it impossible for anyone under 14 / 15 years old to be an avid NBA fan, then yeah. I agree.

Just like MLB.

And they wonder why suburban kid is more and more into soccer & x treme sports...

14/15 year old kids don't drive advertising dollars (10.00 a week in allowance does not make advertisers drool).

[dmiles]

I am glad I am on the West Coast for my kids sake. Bummed that I wasn't at the celebration but still, Momma would be fighting the 11:30 bedtimes.

[Hi Oktane]

14/15 year old kids don't drive advertising dollars (10.00 a week in allowance does not make advertisers drool).

You're kidding, right? Tween/teenage kids have more disposable income than ever before and are prime targets of advertisers.

[Detroit Wahoo]

Working at a bar with Tuesday and Thursdays off, this schedule looks great to me. Throw in the fact that Sunday is my only day shift and it is perfect. Obviously with my hours the starting time isn't going to bother me but when I grow up and get a real job this kind of schedule is gonna suck.

GO CAVS!
Detroit Wahoo

[leadpipe]

These are the times that will generate the most money. That's how the world works. If they gave a shit a son could stay up with his father and watch a World Series games till' 11. Now it's 1:00 am. Don't think for one minute they are thinking of the fans over cash. You aren't even a thought.