Disagree. It’s about time another team came out of the West, especially if the Heat succeed the Lakers/Spurs as the NBA’s current dynasty. Trailblazers/Heat in the Finals would shift continents and cause rivers to flow backwards just based on quality of play alone. Won’t happen this year, but that would be one hell of a series regardless. Bulls/Mavs would be a watchable Finals. And David Stern would probably be happy with the marketing of Mavs/Heat if it happened this year.
Like I said, Bulls/Mavs would get ratings. Last I checked, I’m not a fan of either Dallas or Chicago.
Bulls/Mavs wouldnt generate much IMO. I know I wouldnt cancel anything in my life to watch those two teams play.
Two big market teams with storylines? The media would eat it up and people would watch. Not as much as Heat vs Lakers, but they’d watch.
The average fan knows Kobe Bryant, and LeFraud. Their is no dramatic storyline that would get people who dont normally watch to watch. Sure it would be big in their markets but that series is a snoozer to the average Joe. Infact the Heat/Mavs was one of the boringest series I can remember, and I like D.Wade. Sadly without any dramatics the NBA finals imo wont bring average people to the table.
I don't think any average fan would know who this LeFraud is. I consider myself at least an average fan, and can't find any record of such a player on any roster this season.
Regardless of who the heat play in the finals if they make it that far, they will draw, as evidenced by their regular season ratings. Lakers would obviously have the biggest draw, but I think OKC would be another good draw. Kevin Durant isn't as well known as Kobe, but he is a rising star in the league and his name is fairly well known. Not to mention that the quality of play between those two teams would be fun as hell. The two games they had during the regular season are probably my favorite of the season.
All true basketball fans will watch any NBA finals, I can bet you the average American person doesnt know atleast one of these 2 names. Dirk Nowitzki, Derrick Rose. Its getting the person who doesnt watch to watch to mave good ratings. Or a dramatic storyline and i just dont see where their is one without LA or Miami. Im not saying the games will suck because NOBODY knows if thats true. Im just saying without a MAJOR recognizable star its hard to have "good" ratings. This reminds me of the worst NBA Finals ever....Indiana vs San Antonio.....Id rather masterbate with sandpaper than watch that series again.
But they do know the Chicago Bulls, thanks to MJ. And they do know the Dallas Mavericks, because Dallas is sort of a big deal in general. If people watched last year’s Celtics-Lakers shuffleboard contest, they’d watch “Chicago and Dallas”. There’s absolutely superficial name recognition to build on there. And more when the media gets the storylines going. “Mavs were here in 2006, they lost, will they do better this time?” “Can the Chicago Bulls reclaim the days of Michael Jordan and kick-start a new dynasty?” They’ll have a field day, especially when they play some wacky Mark Cuban quotes for flavor. Really, the nightmare scenario for David Stern right now is Atlanta vs Memphis or OKC. He’s thrilled with anything else. Though he’d likely prefer to see LA vs Miami. Either Miami kickstarts their six year dynasty or LA threepeats again. And yeah, people are going to watch that in droves. That Finals series would have international renown. Wouldn’t be the best from a pure basketball perspective—Heat/Trailblazers would start the apocalypse—but that would draw huge ratings.
Pretty much this. But that matchup would be basketball armageddon. Just for pure quality basketball, I can’t imagine a better Finals.
I want the Lakers because I want to win. Lakers are the easiest series for Miami. But alas, they look sunk.
You never saw the series vs the Lakers where Portland was absolutely SCREWED. And it was a game on the report during the referee gambling scandal. Portland was fked over if not they goto the NBA finals that year.
Which is WHY you should never bet the rent money on a NBA game. Do think the Celtics at home in gm #3 is virtually a lock for the Celtics.
The refs can't control whether or not you make your jump shots. Just make 'em. And while the Celts will certainly some home cooking, they just don't drive the lane enough to really take advantage. My biggest concern is LBJ and Wade getting discouraged from diriving when they don't get calls the first few times. You have to keep going. Do that and make your jump shots and we will win, refs be damned. Game 1 2006 ECF against Detroit, we stole homecourt away from them even when they got some favorable calls because Wade justd ecided he was going to keep driving. Do the same thing tomorrow.
I know guys who are "winners" year in and year out betting Football, CFB, NCAABB, and baseball. I have NEVER EVER known anyone who is a consistent winner betting NBA games. Maybe their are some out there, maybe even yourself but it is by far the HARDEST to bet on in most peoples opinions. I would love to see anyone with over 60 plays in a year win 54% of those games.
LA blows a 4th Q lead, fall 3-0 in the series. Mr. Klutch gene Kobe with another clutch 4 points in 4th.
I have posted my winning postseasons on this site and another. There are trends in the regular season that are so strong that all you need is a pulse to win. The NBA is the most predictable of all the sports. The prop bets that are on bodog and betus are a joke. If you can;t beat those prop bets for at least 60%, then you are clueless about basketball. NFL bettors are straight up action junkie idiots. The only real "PROS/Winners" I know, bet baseball, and dip their toes in college football. NFL football is for the drunks that eat too many nachos on sunday. All of this is true of course, if you like money.
BTW/...60 plays in a NBA season is a bit much. 60 plays is for a real action junkie. I bet to win and make money...not for the action. I want action, I bet the card at Santa Anita/Hollywood/Belmont...or I just plop down $500 on a juicy 2-5 NLHE game at the Hard Rock.
You never know when the Ref's will insert themselves into a game, see Pierce being bounced the other night. Que the Lakers working the Magic in a trade for Dwight Howard in 3..2...
With the totals its 4,920 possible plays in a NBA season, and someone bets 60 of those is an action junkie? I disagree. Betting in general for 90% of the world is a losing proposition, I actually booked bets for 4-5 of Columbus' finest dope dealers for about 2 years and I have NEVER made so much easy money in my life. They never knew I was the one booking the bets because thats a cardinal rule they will think your friends and can slide on things. I swear I mustve made 50 grand in 2 years of these dudes just for keeping track of their bets from September thru June (only 1 bet baseball and I told him I couldnt too much daily hassle for one player) and they almost always lost. The few times they did win was during the NFL season but once the NBA rolled around they were toast. Unfortunately one guy lost way too much and threw a wrench into this nice plan, "My guy" was a fictional charcter that I know in the back of their mind they were nervous about....but this guy lost $11,000+ and could only pay 4 in a cash and offered a cadillac...I felt terrible for the guy he was broke. So I just shut down buisness by telling them "My guy" cut me off because of ------. (yea I regret this) But to the point I believe NBA basketball is the hardest for the average degenerate, maybe its because their are games on every night, I dunno. I dont doubt you are a winning baskeball capper Sect as you seem to have knowledge of defensive sets and player capabilities thus a better chance to analyze the outcome. It may come easy to you but I would BET that in vegas NBA games have the highest losing %.