The only way to watch an NBA game is to watch two teams where you absolutely don't give two poops about. For example Bobcats vs Pacers. That way if the refs mess it up for either team, you wouldn't be affected at all. No emotional attachments. Cept the only problem with that is, you don't care about either team to begin with, so you'd probably not watch the game anyhow. Lose-Lose. NBA = Refs = Stern = Sucks = Me no watch.
I watch mostly the Rockets. Watch parts of various other games though. May watch entire games again during the Finals.
Me and my friends were discussing this EXACT thing just last night. You could literally FEEL the intensity of the games back then, where every team had an attitude, and every player on that team took on that attitude like his own. You had personalities like Barkley, Reggie Miller, Gary Payton, Jordan, Tim Hardaway, Larry Johnson, etc. Heck, even the freaking THEME SONG had attitude to it. Now, everything is artificially created, and you have this feeling that none of it really matters. Stern has tried so hard to turn this into a superstar driven league that he's forgotten that the real identity of the sport lies in the CITIES. Back then, every city felt a connection with their team......now, you have 12-13 year old kids who would rather root for LeBron to score 60 than have his team win. You still see it in the NFL where cities identify with the TEAM, but the NBA has really gone away from that.
This. LeBron/Kobe is rammed down our throats 24/7. Durant is waiting in the wings to be the next anointed one. It's only a matter of time until the league gets Durant and LeBron into major markets, then it will just be a matter of which 2 of the 3 the NBA wants to ref into the finals in a given year.
THIS and This... The NBA has become so boring that I just dont watch anymore. Haven't watching a single second of a Rockets game this season, much less, any other team. The NBA players have become unwatchable with their crying and complaining.
Good post. Exactly what I was trying to say. As much as I hated those George Karl Sonic teams, those stockton/malone j*zz teams, those Isiah Thomas/Bill Laimbeer Piston teams, those Magic/Kareem Laker teams, those Bird/McHale Celtic teams.......at least they were fun to watch.
Its weird because I love to watch the Rockets, but generally don't like the NBA. Its so damn frustrating watching those officials. I hold out hope that someday soon Stern retires and the refs get cleaned up, but who knows. I agree with the earlier poster about following more a few years back. Around the the early decade I was all about some basketball, not so much these days. On top of that I don't really watch Sportscenter too much anymore because I feel like its just a popularity contest. It reminds me of teenage girls jocking douchey athletes.
I love basketball so I find it easy to watch any basketball game. If I don't have a team to root for I'll pay more attention to how they play. Look at defense, play off the ball, plays, ball movement, and stuff like that. It's actually pretty fun watching what goes on off the ball. As Kobe's shot goes up, I'll pay attention to the other players. Whether they're battling for the box out or just standing around. As for CF...I hate the GARM. I just can't find it in myself to analyze, debate, and talk about "what if" anymore when it comes to the Rockets. So instead of worrying about my team, I now like to take a step back and watch as things just happen. I find myself in the Hangout a lot now...for entertainment purposes only.
Rockets only... I'm completely disinterested when it comes to the NBA as a whole... which is ironic, since I first got into the sport by watching the NBA playoffs sans Rockets in the late 90's... I wasn't even aware they had been eliminated... I also used to enjoy watching MLB, Astros and all, just to see how each team had upgraded or worsened in the offseason and see how everything would play out on the field for each team... now, it's strictly Astros... Spoiler [OBLIGATORY]football sux[/OBLIGATORY]
I don't have cable and my finals started at the same time as the playoffs and I can't focus on studying 100% b/c I am watching every game. The first round had a lot of exciting match-ups. Spurs v. Mavs and Lakers v. Thunder were the standout series but the others were also good. Other than the Orlando series which was lop-sided and had no storyline, the rest of them all had something to watch for. Were the C's really going to be able to turn it on? How much **** talking could Noah do? etc. Good start to the playoffs. Now if only the Rockets were in!
I don't get why people watch other teams besides their own. The only time I do that is during March Madness. I watch almost every Rockets game and almost every Texans game. I will watch the Astros and Spurs if they are in the playoffs, but thats it. I have no reason to watch NBA games unless the Rockets are in it.
If I have $ on it or at a bar I'll watch a game start to finish. Other wise I'll watch the last 5 minutes if its close if its a non-rocket game....I'm more likely to watch the cavs more than anybody. If cavs/lakers does happen I'm pretty likely to watch every game.... NFL i can watch any two teams play other sports just arent the same. Though I think that is largerly b/c of fantasy footballl and more gambling.....
Almost the same here. Knew every roster and was pissed when the earlier versions of NBA Live wouldn't let me create enough players to keep it accurate. I still know most of the rosters but most of that comes from video games. I watch every Rockets game I can but they're mostly at 3 AM or 4 AM so I have to pick and choose... As for other teams, I usually fall asleep if I try to watch a whole game. It's sad.
This is me. EDIT: No, this is not me. I don't watch every rockets game. Not at all. I don't have cable and I see no need to shell out extra money to watch bull**** reffing and haphazard "superstar" play. I go to a few games each season but I'm usually dissapointed. It's sad really. The Donaghy scandal really did it for me - not that I was surprised by the activity....the lack of any real reaction from the league is just mind-boggling though. Seriously, the league cannot even call traveling consistently...it's the most basic thing in basketball. It's damn near the only rule that is non-subjective...and it's still not enforced. Just. Plain. Unwatchable.
NBA would be great if we had the rivalries again, we got enough teams near each other geographically to create some good ones. Orlando and Miami, Nets and Knicks, even a Houston-OKC rivalry.
Love watching basketball. If you haven't noticed, there are some great series played by teams other than the Rockets (i.e. Spurs-Suns 2007 playoff series).
