Poll: How Much do you watch the NBA

[KingOfBBN]

I watch NBA whenever I can. Most people don't like it but I always wonder why basketball fans don't genuinely like NBA. It amazes me people don't like watching the most athletic skilled basketball players go up against equal talent on a daily business.

1. NBA doesn't play defense. That' bull ish. They do. Go watch a live NBA game and tell me they don't play defense. Most players can't be guarded anyway. Just have to contain if

2. Too many travels/walks. Very true but the euro step and speed of game plays into the style of play.

3. College ball is more exciting. It is too me but a NBA playoff game live is just as exciting as most tourney games. Plus a 7 game series really defines the better team. Can you imagine UK playing in a 7 game series?

4. Too many egos and issues with NBA. I think it adds personality to the game. It's amazing to me how much talent is in the league. Always fun to see UK players flourish along with other players that never got much recognition in college and now are balling in the league.

I’ll answer for you.

- Many of the players don’t give a crap. I sat courtside at a game seven years ago where one team was getting smoked and their players were laughing and talking on the bench. Plus, Players run the show. Don’t like that.
- The atmosphere. Feels soulless and more like a circus. Just stupid stuff and playing Rihana songs in the middle of play. Fans suck as well.
- So many of the plays go like this- one pass, call iso, rinse and repeat (before playoffs)
- and the biggest reason of all- PARITY. You know before the season starts that there’s only like three teams who have a shot and everyone else is just filler.

Used to like it back in the 90s. I understand they’re the best in the world but it’s just boring as hell to me. Playoffs last too long and there’s rarely legit upsets.

 

[GonzoCat90]

I’ll answer for you.

- Many of the players don’t give a crap. I sat courtside at a game seven years ago where one team was getting smoked and their players on the bench dive a crap.Players run the show. Don’t like that.
- The atmosphere. Feels soulless and more like a circus. Just stupid stuff and playing Rihana songs in the middle of play. Fans suck as well.
- So many of the plays go like this- one pass, call iso, rinse and repeat (before playoffs)
- and the biggest reason of all- PARITY. You know before the season starts that there’s only like three teams who have a shot and everyone else is just filler.

Used to like it back in the 90s. I understand they’re the best in the world but it’s just boring as hell to me. Playoffs last too long and there’s rarely legit upsets.

1. Who do you prefer run the show?
2. Fans are terrible everywhere. They're the most consistently awful demographic of people in the world.
3. Not true.
4. As opposed to? You can do that with any sport. There's a handful of teams with a shot and the rest are filler.

 

[katwest]

Growing up I was a big NBA fan back when they all played more for the love of the game than just the money like they do now. Too many crybabies and to much greed involved now and it has been that way for a while. When certain players can get coaches fired was the final straw for me, when it's like that it's just managing personality's and babysitting. When players make more money than the coaches they can pout and just go through the motions. In college you do what the coach sez or you don't play and that's it, that's the way it should be.

 

[Madcat62_rivals113839]

hate the nba last watched late 70s early 80s

 

[KingOfBBN]

1. Who do you prefer run the show?
2. Fans are terrible everywhere. They're the most consistently awful demographic of people in the world.
3. Not true.
4. As opposed to? You can do that with any sport. There's a handful of teams with a shot and the rest are filler.

No other pro sport has suffered from a lack of parity more than the NBA. It was even worse before the Cavs and Warriors won a few years ago. Like seven or eight teams made up every title from 1983-2014.

Seven game series with terrible parity makes for a very boring product to me. I know you like it but I don’t.

Oh, and I prefer the coach to run the show not the players, which is why the head coaching turnover is ridiculously high in the pros. Easier to get rid of a coach instead of trading a diva.

That Cal 30 for 30 showed a nice glimpse of why I hate it- Sam Cassell refusing to dive for a ball because it’s the first quarter. Not my cup of tea.

 

[why_not_kentucky]

Not a fan of it. College sports only for me.

 

[Big John Stud]

Don't watch the NBA but are NBA experts, welcome to Cats Illustrated.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

Sorta kinda. Since Cal has arrived I’ve watched a lot more of the nba because it’s “fun” to follow UK players.
Growing up , as the case with pretty much every other boy my age, my “favorite team” was the Bulls with Michael Jordon. I also really liked Iverson.

These days I follow/ enjoy Lebron James ... but I also follow/ root for UK guys; specifically John Wall/ Wizards , AD/Cousins and the Pelicans... Booker , Bledsoe etc

I tend to try and catch the playoffs and REALLY enjoy the NBA Finals.

Nothing compares to Kentucky Basketball (not even close as far as passion and excitement ) but man it’s fun to watch the NBA. Some of these guys and what they can do is absolutely incredible

 

[Susan2361]

I do not watch the NBA for all of the various reasons listed above...especially the divas and not the coach running the show. Most of the players act like it is just a job (which it is, I know), and they could really care less about the outcome...no big deal if they lose a game or two. It seems like the coach is just a figurehead, no real power. Also, I rhink college play is more exciting. The NBA players, or most of them anyway, seems to slowly go through the motions. It seems like they play in slow motion compared to college ball. Overall, it just seems boring to me.

 

[KingOfBBN]

Just for comparison
Remember it takes two months of NBA playoffs just to get to the conclusion you knew nine months ago.

1983-2011- only seven different teams won a title.

Lakers-85,87,88,00,01,02,09,10
Celtics-84,86,08
Bulls-91,92,93,96,97,98
Spurs-99,03,05,07,14
Pistons-88,89
Rockets-94,95
Heat-06,12,13
Warriors-15,17
Cavs-16
Mavs-11

MLB
Astros
Cubs
Royals
Giants
Red Sox
Cardinals
Yankees
Phillies
White Sox
Marlins

That’s 10 different champs just going back 15 years, which is more than the NBA has had in 35 years.

NFL
Eagles
Patriots
Broncos
Seahawks
Ravens
Giants
Packers
Saints
Steelers
Colts

that’s only having to go back to 2006.

NHL
Penguins
Blackhawks
Kings
Bruins
Red Wings
Ducks
Hurricanes
Lightning
Devils
Avalanche

that’s just 2001.

 

[MegaBlue05]

Usually playoffs only with an occasional regular season game every now and again. I don't have a team. I like to root for former Cats. I also don't watch full games until the conference finals.

I will say, the talent and skill level of the pro game puts the college game to shame. It's wonderful not having to watch 2 hours of 2-3 zone and 62-59 rock fights where the only offense is free throws or jacked up step-back 3s with 2 seconds left on the shotclock. .

 

[mgrody]

Last time I paid any attention to the NBA was back in the day when Celtics and Lakers dominated. Bird, McHale and Parish versus Magic, Worthy and Jabbar.

Ditto

 

[caneintally]

Around a 100 games a year. NBA is by far the best Pro sport.

 

[DelkBowl]

I keep an eye on the uk guys.

 

[KingOfBBN]

Around a 100 games a year. NBA is by far the best Pro sport.

I think it’s the worst. I find it to be worse than football, hockey and baseball.

 

[JDHoss]

Was a big fan growing up in the 60's and 70's. Watched through the 80's and drifted away in the 90's and didn't come back except for the late round playoffs, until several years ago when a coworker asked me if I was going to watch the Warriors and Spurs that night. I told him that my NBA fandom didn't go much beyond keeping up with former Cats and late round playoffs. He told me to do him a favor and watch the 1st quarter, and let him know what I thought the next day. I watched the 1st quarter...and the 2nd. I told myself at the half that I needed to get in bed, but it was awesome watching these teams fly up and down the floor, sharing the basketball, hitting ridiculous shots and making plays, so I finished the game out and thanked him for asking me to watch that.

I'm guessing I now watch 2-3 games a week in the regular season, but probably much more if you want to count parts of games, and I watch the vast majority of the playoffs. I still love UK basketball and like watching college basketball in general, especially the opening two rounds of the tournament, but the NBA is a far superior product. As for people not liking the players "running the show", what exactly do you tune in to see? I watch basketball at any level because of the players. I don't tune in to see the coaches, and certainly not the officials, many of who seem to think that they are the center of attention in the college game.

 

[kentuckyrld]

I watch a lot of college basketball but you would have to pay me to get me to watch an NBA game and I mean it would have to be a significant sum.

 

[UKUGA]

I mostly watch the play-offs.

I watch the Lakers on Friday night or when they play in the eastern or central time zone.

I have attended 4 games this season, including one play off game.

I do not really like college basketball.

 

[JDHoss]

I'll also add that I've only been to one NBA game. A few years ago, a couple of coworkers and myself were working our employers booth at a trade show and went to a Heat - Bucks opening round playoff game. The atmosphere was great, and the noise level rivaled any big game I've been to in Rupp. The building may have way better acoustics than Rupp, but it was loud as Hell.

 

[musrat59]

I usually start watching when they get down to the final four standing.

 

[Looksbetterinblue]

Playoffs are a lot of fun, I’ll usually watch late games on espn or tnt through the year if it’s a good matchup or some former Cats

That’s me

 

[UKfan2151]

Not my cup of tea. Nor is the NFL. I vastly prefer college basketball and college football over the pro versions.

 

[KingOfBBN]

I've been to maybe like six or seven NBA games.

Bulls vs Sonics 1991
Celtics vs Nets 1997 Cal vs Pitino
Wizards vs Pacers 2010/2011
Suns vs Pacers 2009?
Clippers vs Thunder with Westbrook/Durant
Clippers vs Blazers 2016

 

[JamesLee]

I'll also add that I've only been to one NBA game. A few years ago, a couple of coworkers and myself were working our employers booth at a trade show and went to a Heat - Bucks opening round playoff game. The atmosphere was great, and the noise level rivaled any big game I've been to in Rupp. The building may have way better acoustics than Rupp, but it was loud as Hell.

NBA playoff games are a lot of fun. I went to a Pacers/Sixers game years ago back when Reggie Miller was still playing and it was Conseco Fieldhouse. As a Knicks fan I booed Miller like crazy. But the atmosphere was electric. Regular season NBA games I don't find as fun as say a regular season UK game. Obviously the amount of intensity as a fan is less toward the NBA than it is to the Cats, but NBA games just have too much going on aside from the game during the regular season. Each timeout there is some sort of show going on, on the court. There is music playing during play. I did see LeBron during his first stint at Cleveland and I've believed the hype ever since. You don't realize how big, fast and strong he is until seeing him live. I watched him beat the Celtics when they had the Rondo/Garnett/Pierce/Allen squad and LeBron was still the best player on the court by far. Seeing him live was definitely something special.

 

[wildcatsboston1984_rivals]

Every game I can catch because it's the best league in the world for all sports.

 

[wildcatsboston1984_rivals]

- So many of the plays go like this- one pass, call iso, rinse and repeat (before playoffs)
- and the biggest reason of all- PARITY. You know before the season starts that there’s only like three teams who have a shot and everyone else is just filler.

Used to like it back in the 90s. I understand they’re the best in the world but it’s just boring as hell to me. Playoffs last too long and there’s rarely legit upsets.

First point clearly shows this guy doesn't know jack **** about the NBA.

But to top it off, this guy used to like it back in the 90s, when the Chicago Bulls won 6 championships, and it likely would have been 8 championships had Jordan not left to play baseball.

Only four franchises won a championship in the 90s. Five franchises won a title in the 2000s, and 6 have won a title in the 2010s.

However, he doesn't like how the current game has a lack of parity :joy:

 

[treyforuk_anon]

Not enough to care should.be an option.

 

[wildcatsboston1984_rivals]

It seems like they play in slow motion compared to college ball.

Slowest paced team in the NBA averaged 97.1 possessions.

Savannah St. was by far the fastest paced team in the college games this year, prorate their pace to a 48-minute game, they would have averaged 98.76 possessions per game. That would merely rank 20th in the NBA.

Second fastest paced team would have been Citadel at 92.64 per 48 minutes. That's 4.5 possessions fewer per 48-minute game than the slowest NBA team.

The #1 ranked team heading into the tournament, UVA, would have averaged 71.28 possessions in a 48-minute game. They would have to play 66 minutes to get up to over 97.1 possessions.

But the NBA moves in slow motion :joy::joy::joy::joy:
[roll][roll][roll][roll]

 

[GonzoCat90]

Growing up I was a big NBA fan back when they all played more for the love of the game than just the money like they do now. Too many crybabies and to much greed involved now and it has been that way for a while. When certain players can get coaches fired was the final straw for me, when it's like that it's just managing personality's and babysitting. When players make more money than the coaches they can pout and just go through the motions. In college you do what the coach sez or you don't play and that's it, that's the way it should be.

When was this?

 

[GonzoCat90]

No other pro sport has suffered from a lack of parity more than the NBA. It was even worse before the Cavs and Warriors won a few years ago. Like seven or eight teams made up every title from 1983-2014.

Seven game series with terrible parity makes for a very boring product to me. I know you like it but I don’t.

Oh, and I prefer the coach to run the show not the players, which is why the head coaching turnover is ridiculously high in the pros. Easier to get rid of a coach instead of trading a diva.

That Cal 30 for 30 showed a nice glimpse of why I hate it- Sam Cassell refusing to dive for a ball because it’s the first quarter. Not my cup of tea.

But you said the NBA's problem was that a handful of teams were the only ones with a shot. That's the case in every sport. Just because which teams are in that group changes more often in other leagues doesn't mean there's more parity. You still have only a few real contenders aside from the occasional anomaly.

The season and schedule length is a fair point. All preference. I hate MLB for similar reasons but I like it in the NBA because I enjoy the product.

You prefer the coach to run the show? You tune in to see Cal? You watch games to see coaching?

The head coaching turnover is high because the stakes are high. It's high in all major sports.

 

[KingOfBBN]

First point clearly shows this guy doesn't know jack **** about the NBA.

But to top it off, this guy used to like it back in the 90s, when the Chicago Bulls won 6 championships, and it likely would have been 8 championships had Jordan not left to play baseball.

Only four franchises won a championship in the 90s. Five franchises won a title in the 2000s, and 6 have won a title in the 2010s.

However, he doesn't like how the current game has a lack of parity :joy:

First of all, you can EAD and your dad’s Netflix.

Yes, when I was younger, I enjoyed Michael Jordan and the Dream Team. However, Jordan left, and over 30 years of predictability piled up for me to not give a crap from 99-today.

And get better reading comprehension. I didn’t say the “current” anything. I said the NBA has a parity problem and went back all the way to 1983 to show that.

My first point about players laughing and not giving a crap about being blown out and losing during the regular season is wrong how exactly? Lol.

 

[KingOfBBN]

But you said the NBA's problem was that a handful of teams were the only ones with a shot. That's the case in every sport. Just because which teams are in that group changes more often in other leagues doesn't mean there's more parity. You still have only a few real contenders aside from the occasional anomaly.

The season and schedule length is a fair point. All preference. I hate MLB for similar reasons but I like it in the NBA because I enjoy the product.

You prefer the coach to run the show? You tune in to see Cal? You watch games to see coaching?

The head coaching turnover is high because the stakes are high. It's high in all major sports.

I prefer a system where the players have to listen to the coach, not one where the coach is a joke and can be replaced at any time at the expense of an ego of a player.

And I disagree that it’s the case in all sports. In the NBA, you may have three times with a shot, not even five. About three. It’s why everyone knew it was going to be Warriors/Cavs. How many people knew the Eagles were winning it all going into last football season or knew the Astros were winning? Or that the 8th seed Predators were going to the Stanley Cup?

Warriors will win the west again. And this is the first time since 2010 that a Lebron team winning the East may be in question. I still expect it to happen but maybe the Sixers win.

 

[wildcatsboston1984_rivals]

First of all, you can EAD and your dad’s Netflix.

Yes, when I was younger, I enjoyed Michael Jordan and the Dream Team. However, Jordan left, and over 30 years of predictability piled up for me to not give a crap from 99-today.

And get better reading comprehension. I didn’t say the “current” anything. I said the NBA has a parity problem and went back all the way to 1983 to show that.

My first point about players laughing and not giving a crap about being blown out and losing during the regular season is wrong how exactly? Lol.

You could use some reading comprehension of your own as I deleted the parts of your post that were not relevant to my own.

 

[wildcatsboston1984_rivals]

I prefer a system where the players have to listen to the coach, not that the coach is a joke and can be replaced at any time at the expense of an ego of a player.

And I disagree that it’s the case in all sports. In the NBA, you may have three times with a shot, not even five. About three. It’s why everyone knew it was going to be Warriors/Cavs. How many people knew the Eagles were winning it all going into last football season or knew the Astros were winning? Or that the 8th seed Predators were going to the Stanley Cup?

Warriors will win the west again. And this is the first time since 2010 that a Lebron team winning the East may be in question. I still expect it to happen but maybe the Sixers win.

But LeBron has been on two different teams in that span. You can't just be changing the definition of parity in sports to fit your agenda. Two different teams is more parity than one team.

 

[wildcatdonf]

Not much.

 

[mjj_2K]

Growing up I was a big NBA fan back when they all played more for the love of the game than just the money like they do now. Too many crybabies and to much greed involved now and it has been that way for a while. When certain players can get coaches fired was the final straw for me, when it's like that it's just managing personality's and babysitting. When players make more money than the coaches they can pout and just go through the motions. In college you do what the coach sez or you don't play and that's it, that's the way it should be.

When the hell was that?

You're getting all nostalgic for something that never existed except in your head, which has everything to do with you and nothing to do with reality.

The NBA is a professional league. Guys have been playing for money, and not just "a love of the game", since the league was founded. Certain players have been able to get coaches fired almost since the league was founded. Players have made more money than the coaches almost since the league was founded.

All situations, BTW, that exist in almost every professional sport, with some variations.

If you really want an example of "going through the motions, just cashing checks" attitude, the 70's was almost certainly way, way, way worse than what we see now. That was the first era of really big money. Travel was brutal (teams flew commercial), medical support sucked, and training methods were antiquated. All problems that have been addressed.

There are always going to be bad apples in pro sports, guys who get their money and pretty much cease to care. However, the standard of performance in the NBA has become so high that I think there are far fewer of those types than there used to be.

 

[KingOfBBN]

The people being so upset about someone not finding the NBA entertaining is like people getting mad at you for not liking a TV show they prefer.

 

[CATofninelives]

I have the league pass

The play in the NBA is definitely a lot better to watch than college . I watch both but outside of Kentucky I barely watched any other college basketball games

Exactly. We are all different, doesn't mean one is right and one is wrong. I personally can't imagine watching college basketball religiously other than when UK is playing.

 

[katwest]

When the hell was that?

You're getting all nostalgic for something that never existed except in your head, which has everything to do with you and nothing to do with reality.

The NBA is a professional league. Guys have been playing for money, and not just "a love of the game", since the league was founded. Certain players have been able to get coaches fired almost since the league was founded. Players have made more money than the coaches almost since the league was founded.

All situations, BTW, that exist in almost every professional sport, with some variations.

If you really want an example of "going through the motions, just cashing checks" attitude, the 70's was almost certainly way, way, way worse than what we see now. That was the first era of really big money. Travel was brutal (teams flew commercial), medical support sucked, and training methods were antiquated. All problems that have been addressed.

There are always going to be bad apples in pro sports, guys who get their money and pretty much cease to care. However, the standard of performance in the NBA has become so high that I think there are far fewer of those types than there used to be.

If you like crybabies and watered down basketball go ahead and watch the NBA with all of their drug suspensions and fines handed out left and right. I give the reasons why I don't watch, you don't have to like it. I'm not condemning those that do.

 

[Shaudylo]

If you like crybabies and watered down basketball go ahead and watch the NBA with all of their drug suspensions and fines handed out left and right. I give the reasons why I don't watch, you don't have to like it. I'm not condemning those that do.

All of their drug suspensions ???

You think college athletes aren’t out here smoking weed ?