the ratings for game 1 of the NBA finals was the highest since 04 b/t the lakers and pistons. it was higher than last year b/t arguably the 2 biggest NBA teams (lakers-celtics). overall, ratings have been higher throughout the playoffs. the NBA cannot afford a lockout right now given its momentum nationally. hopefully both sides can resolve their issues so we can have a full season next year.
There will be a lockout because the NBA needs a lockout and because of how well it's doing, if the league was struggling, there would be a real panic of the lockout killing it for good, but because the league is doing well there's no concern on ethier side to get a deal done. A lockout might be benefical, the NHL managed to get their finances sorted out because of a lockout and now most of their teams, even in small markets, make money and are even competitive!
What the fans think does not matter to the players and owners. They don't care about us and know that no matter what, we will always come back to the stadium and buy their jerseys and buy their $8 beers. Sad, but true.
Hasnt the NBA as a whole been losing $300 million + annually for the last 3 years? Or is that Stern talking out of his as$?
I don't know about the "all costs" part. Personally, I would like to see a hard cap, or whatever it takes to prevent what happened in Miami from becoming business as usual in the NBA. Sports franchises should be entertainment for the fans, not something controlled by multimillion dollar players looking for glory in any way they see fit. Smaller markets have always had it tough, but they might as well just start considering themselves practice teams that the elite teams use to warm up for the playoffs. Houston is the fourth largest metropolitan area and has one of the largest salary bases in the NBA, but were unable to draw a star player. The Thunder and the Grizzlies played well, but how could they possibly draw some big time talent if Houston could not. I have never been a Mavs fan, but I hope they can win this somehow. Game 7's really favor the home team, so for them to win it in six means winning four out of the next five. Oh well.
Either raise both the soft and the hard cap, or cut the salary of players. Something needs to happen. Players are overpaid, but it would't seem that way if one max contract wasn't 35% of the $58 million soft cap.
