So how are you supposed to drop money on NBA tickets for a good matchup?
I just spent $1200 for 2 tickets to Cavs/Clippers(my 10 year old is a Lebron fan). He was fired up to see James with these great seats. I paid for it thinking there was no chance they would sit. They didn't play the night before and this was the FIRST game of a back to back.
Get to the game right before tip off and find out they aren't playing. Stadium was packed with out of town Cavs fans who paid big money and traveled to see Channing Frye get big minutes. Talked with people who drive from SF and ARZ for this game. They didn't know about it until really late too.
It was awful. Prime time game. Big matchup. And they just sit them and worst of all announce it late. Horseshit move by the Cavs especially doing it so late. GS and Spurs doing the same shit.
You can't count on getting what you paid for at NBA games. I won't do it again. We paid for something and they didn't deliver. Great business. I won't be back for another regular season game.
I hear Van Gundy went off about it all night. Good for him.
These guys suck. Coaches and teams suck too for doing it. I hope this hits them next time the TV deal is up.
What's even more bothersome is that these coaches almost seem to enjoy doing this. Almost looks like they look at the fan base with contempt. At the very least they don't give a fuck if the fans are disappointed. Someone needs to remind these fuckers who the hell pays their insane salaries. It's the fans, you know, those poor misinformed slobs that get in the way. Fuck off there popovich.
Finals should be excellent though.
And yes, I agree. I hate it. Silver needs to do something about it.
Tickets were expensive, 300+ each, and they were just OK seats.
I was actually falling asleep during the game. The NBA bores me that much. And it wasn't even a blowout.
NBA regular season is by far the worst sport to watch.
And yes, I agree. I hate it. Silver needs to do something about it.
Not sure how you can compel players to play, or for teams to play them.
Season is too long, with too many back-to-backs and long road trips. But they'll never shorten it because of the revenue loss.
Don't tell the man how to spend his $. And as he wrote, his son is a huge LBJ fan. If you have the resources, why not treat your kid to something special? Obviously it didn't turn out to be what they thought because LBJ sat, but still.
Ohh booo fucking hooooo. Charter another jet and cry me a river. Schedule my ass. Deal with it. You can't sit your star on a whim you're in the entertainment business. Show the fan base some respect.
Not sure what the league can do. How can they stop players from sitting out? The teams can just make up phantom injuries.
I kind of hope the Cavs blow the #1 seed for doing things like this.
Even if the league fines the players, or institutes a DL-like policy similar to the MLB, you can't prevent the players from logging 2 minutes and calling it a game by feigning injury.
I do hate Popovich's holier-than-thou attitude regarding this practice. Didn't the Spurs lose a game virtually on purpose, leading to an unfavorable draw in the playoffs and their early ouster?
It's still better than the Knicks' inexplicable not tanking for god knows why...
Buy tickets at your own risk. More and more teams are doing this.
There is assuredly things your family spends money one that others would view as wasting it.
Maybe he has enough to where the $1200 isn't as big deal as it would be for you or maybe he saved all year to treat his son to a special gift. Either way it's his business and he wasn't seeking advise on whether he should or shouldn't have spent it.
This is the worst of the regular season, and that says a lot. Teams just tank/rest players. The NBA would ideally be 40-50 games (like the lockout year but more spread out). But its hard to see how to cut down regular season games with how business is going in the NBA.
That being said, this is LeBron James. He's a 32 year old who has played an insane amount of minutes and has been his team's MVP since he was 18. There is a lot of mileage on those tires. Their main goal is to still win it all, and keeping LeBron rested for the playoffs is the most important thing they can do to maximize their chances at winning it all.
Also, as far as regular season's go, college basketball and hockey easily have more worthless ones. Seeds and homecourt actually matter in the NBA and the WC playoff this race is going to come right down to the wire.
The inevitability of Warriors vs. Cavs has casted a shadow over this entire season, but the amount of young stars who have ascended this year has been impressive and the overall leaguewide talent level is probably the highest it's been since the early 90s. Can't wait for the playoffs.
I knew there was a risk but no game the night before made it for me. Also they were playing lakers next. If they were going to site o expected it to be the 2nd game of a nack to back against the weaker team.
What really made it worse was not knowing about it untill the starters were announced. He was crushed. They announced it very late. A lot of people didn't know.
If they keep it up it will impact ticket sales and tv money. Disagree with the comment about people will still buy tickets. No they won't. Not with the same demand.
Then you would just have guys saying they have a slight nagging injury (what pro athlete doesn't) that needs resting.
The league can't fine teams for resting players if coaches/trainers feel they need it.
I doubt they would ever do it but maybe the league should look into shortening the season for the good of the game.
If they keep it up it will impact ticket sales and tv money. Disagree with the comment about people will still buy tickets. No they won't. Not with the same demand.
I don't agree, but you're entitled to your opinion. Plenty of people are bitching about it, and it doesn't seem to be happening less often, so let's circle back at the end of next year and see who's right.
People can rant and rave about how something must be done and, try to convince themselves Silver is going to do something but, the reality is, he wont.
I think that while the game may not be as physical as in the past in terms of body-on-body contact, these players are so much bigger and more athletic and are putting so much more stress on their bodies than they did in the past-- exploding faster, cutting harder, jumping higher, etc.
I also recommend this video post by this guy Mike Korzemba (only know him from this video) arguing that there is a big problem with a sharp rise in the number of playoff games missed by starters due to injuries and how the schedule needs to be reconsidered to cut down on this big problem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk9OGqNfi3o - ( New Window )
I knew there was a risk but no game the night before made it for me. Also they were playing lakers next. If they were going to site o expected it to be the 2nd game of a nack to back against the weaker team.
What really made it worse was not knowing about it untill the starters were announced. He was crushed. They announced it very late. A lot of people didn't know.
If they keep it up it will impact ticket sales and tv money. Disagree with the comment about people will still buy tickets. No they won't. Not with the same demand.
The NBA could easily avoid this by not scheduling a back-to-back with a national TV game. The league didn't.
I don't think the fans matter. The league has worldwide TV deals and much better to watch at home anyway. I don't see attendance down so fans are obviously happy with it if they continue to pay outrageous prices for the product.
The only solution I could see is to fine the NBA owners. Good luck with that one.
Sorry the fans will always buy tickets. They are too stupid and clueless about the business not to. I mean why would anyone go to any Lakers or Knicks game this season? Yet look at the attendance for those teams. Fans in LA and NY will always go, no matter how shitty the product is, because the rich people who can afford thousand-dollar tickets will buy them.
I am proud not have gone to a Knick game since 2005. Suck on it NBA.
People can rant and rave about how something must be done and, try to convince themselves Silver is going to do something but, the reality is, he wont.
Supposedly the league called the Cavs owner a few minutes after tip off to let him know they were not happy. I'm not saying there is much the league can do about it, but to assume so emphatically that they will do nothing is a bit off, imo. Clearly Silver doesn't like this tactic and he has shown to be a man of forward thinking. Not sure what he can do, again, but I'm sure he will be looking at some things.
It's the one major team sport where that is the case. To me that is a huge flaw in the sport.
The root of this is lack of parity in the league, with all these stars wanting to team up together. What do these mega teams care when they are up 15 games in the standings.
The most maddening thing is also the flippant way teams are doing it now, they are not resting one player who's marginally hurt, instead they are resting three of them at a time when they are not hurt but simply to rest them. If that's not a big fuck you to the fans, I don't know what is. And honestly I don't even think even diehard fans would empathize with that logic just so their team has healthier players going into the playoffs.
I supposed they'd try not to do it on their homecourts just so not to anger hometown fans, but maybe someone can look into it. Where did the Warriors and Cavs rest practically half the team, on the road or at home? There should be a rule that the fans get a refund or free ticket to another game whenver this happens, that will put a stop to this practice.
The root of this is lack of parity in the league, with all these stars wanting to team up together. What do these mega teams care when they are up 15 games in the standings.
The most maddening thing is also the flippant way teams are doing it now, they are not resting one player who's marginally hurt, instead they are resting three of them at a time when they are not hurt but simply to rest them. If that's not a big fuck you to the fans, I don't know what is. And honestly I don't even think even diehard fans would empathize with that logic just so their team has healthier players going into the playoffs.
I supposed they'd try not to do it on their homecourts just so not to anger hometown fans, but maybe someone can look into it. Where did the Warriors and Cavs rest practically half the team, on the road or at home? There should be a rule that the fans get a refund or free ticket to another game whenver this happens, that will put a stop to this practice.
Who are these mega teams up 15 games you speak of?
There were a lot of people pissed off. The bitching is just getting started. You are right that it "doesn't seem to be happening less often" but that sure as hell does not mean it won't hurt the league down the road. This BS is growing.
Keep it up and it will impact the bottom line. My story wasn't an isolated incident. There were so many pissed off people in that stadium. I talked with people who traveled and made special arrangements for this game. That won't happen again for many.
People paid a premium for this matchup. They did not deliver what the customer paid for.
They can't just piss on the customers and expect they will continue to step up with their wallet. It won't happen. Buying trends in sports change. It has in baseball, right? In boxing too. And it sure as hell can here with the NBA.
Silver lining: your son will never forget the night you took him to the game. Regardless who played or who won.
The schedule has some teams playing 6 games in 8 days.
Wimps- such wimps-
And yes I think it's unfortunate for fans to pay to see lebron in prime time and not get that... but some of the commentary in here just echos the bias people have against the NBA. They prefer to watch bad college basketball games because there is a fun tournament and lot of school pride .
The NBA is doing just fine
End of the day people want to feel their money was well spent.
The schedule has some teams playing 6 games in 8 days.
Wimps- such wimps-
And yes I think it's unfortunate for fans to pay to see lebron in prime time and not get that... but some of the commentary in here just echos the bias people have against the NBA. They prefer to watch bad college basketball games because there is a fun tournament and lot of school pride .
The NBA is doing just fine
If someone were to pay $1200 to watch a QB of a team that they know will likely be resting players in the last two weeks then that's on them. The NBA situation is completely different. This stuff is happening throughout the season, so how can a fan possibly know when? It's a ridiculous comparison in your fight to stick up for the NBA. You don't think fans would be pissed if they bought tickets to a Giants game in November and the team sat 3/5 of the starters, and ALL of the superstars? And it's worse in the NBA to begin with, since it's such a star players league.
What a weird time to throw around the "you just hate the NBA" nonsense. If there were ever a time you'd think we'd all agree...nope.
I haven't watched a game his year.
Seriously how
Many teams have a chance to win it all. The only reason most people will go is to see someone like LeBron or Curry. It's like going to a top shelf restaurant and getting Spam
No rules against it but teams want older players who are stars
Those guys need rest. Just be happy they don't
Aggressively test for TRT and HGH. Half the NBA would be suspended
Plus, it doesn't make sense for teams to completely burn out their players that they will need for lengthy playoffs when they know they are making the playoffs.
Fix the schedule, NBA. I'd say reduce it, but it's all about $ so that will never happen.
Mark a game down that you want to go to and try to get tickets day of. Not ideal, but it keeps you from having to blow money on something.
does it suck for Kwall? yes absolutely. do i feel bad? yes absolutely. I would be pissed as well.
that doesn't mean this is some indictment on the toughness of NBA players... or the product
Same, though its been that way for a while for me. I'm not a basketball purist, I'm fine not seeing the best players in the world play since they are a bunch of insufferable whiny cunts with few exceptions.
College ball just has the drama the NBA doesn't and the atmosphere can't be topped.
I could never economically justify that.
College Pride definitely makes for a better atmosphere, but that only goes so far. The NBA product is infinitely more interesting to watch for me.
To me that makes a grand total of basically 7 games the entire year worth watching.
College Pride definitely makes for a better atmosphere, but that only goes so far. The NBA product is infinitely more interesting to watch for me.
I agree, but only for a week in June.
To me that makes a grand total of basically 7 games the entire year worth watching.
...and that's what I end up watching, if at all. The Finals.
Warriors played the Wolves and Spurs back to back. Try and get the win against the worse team and rest for the tougher game - although they lost both.
Cavs playing Clips and Lakers. May as well ensure the win over the Lakers by letting the King reign and rest against the Clips. Makes perfect sense, especially in the analytics era that is driving the decision-making.
Jordan also sat out two seasons to go play minor league baseball.
It's a different game now.
But based on a 30 team league i'd cut the regular season from 82 to 76 games. Right now you play your division 4x, West 2x, and other divisions in the east sometimes 3 and sometimes 4. Just make it 3x against non division opponents. Schedule makers limit back-to-backs to 6-8 range over a season.
First round needs to go back to best of 5. I cant remember the last great 7 game first round series. Maybe there's 1 every 5 years. If there is its usually two mediocre teams in the East that lose in 5 in the next round anyway.
Have one or two wild card play-in games in both conferences to get some of that first round interest back - 7 plays 10 and 8 plays 9 in both conferences. One game sudden death on the higher seeds court.
I also feel like the NBA will go to 32 teams seattle and (cinci,vegas, kansas city, pitt, another cali etc.)
For 30 team league: 2 conferences 72 games
3x own conference
2x other conference
5 game first round
My favorite: 1 table play everyone twice. 58 games and in a 32 league team 62 games
Also...(no real disrespect to KWALL), but no player is worth that kind of money to see play.
Season ticket holders should just dump the season seats next year and just buy tickets to games on a one off basis. Maybe target the game after your star player sits.
I see a sports market crash at some point. When our economy gets in real bad shape and people just dont have the disposable income, then watch teams fold, salaries drop, etc etc. Hockey will be the first to go and it is a shame because those guys give 100% every night and most of them play for the love of the sport.
Sorry but this is just plain wrong. Hockey (for some damn reason) hasnt had the exponential revenue growth the other sports have had, is not dependent on the huge TV deals, and is not paying guys $25 million a year to pitch every 5-6 days.
Second, half the league sits in Canada which has already gone through its currency crisis. A U.S. recession would strengthen the looney and provide the league relative strength versus the 3 other sports.
No, without question, the first sport "to go" as the bubble bursts is baseball. I make a nice living but for the life of me cannot understand how they are able to get people to pay so much money for regular season baseball tickets, and the TV deals make absolutely no sense. Its like the networks are too lazy to put stuff on over the summer with better bottom line.
Teams may fail, salaries and ticket prices may be adjusted but the game won't go away.
Its just a question of which bubble will burst the loudest, and my educated guess is baseball.
Ugh I miss it
Jordan: 82, 82, 82.
Wilt: 82, 82, 82.
Stockton: 82, 82 82
Yeah, today players need rest because...
Just because.