The Basketball Thread

[PicardMan]

That was a disgusting showing for the Thunder. Disgusting. The Pacers are really good, but it's obvious the Thunder weren't even trying that game. To be fair, they've played ugly ball on the road all playoffs.

 

[Space Cadet]

Tonight's the night. Game 7 is finally here and either the Pacers or Thunder will win their first championship.

 

[Space Cadet]

Congrats to the Thunder winning their first NBA championship in franchise history(since moving from Seattle)! It was a really good game for most of it. Pacers really fought hard once Tyrese Halliburton sadly left the game with an Achilles injury. Really sad seeing him greeting the team in crutches at the end.

With the 2024-25 now concluded, next season will see some major changes on the broadcast front as NBC returns to airing NBA games after 25 years and Amazon will be streaming games for the first time. NBA Draft is on Wednesday.

 

[PicardMan]

What a great weekend for me. I had a blast at Soonercon and my team did what the Durant teams couldn't do. Indiana played great as hardly anyone expected them to be the East's representative. Upset the Thunder didn't get to beat the Pacers with Haliberton and that injury was so unfortunate as that game one shot was impressive. I do hope the "NBA is dying" crowd would shut up and stop downplaying the accomplishments of the 2020s small market teams that have won despite the system favoring the big markets. For middle America, Denver, Milwaukee, and OKC winning titles is big as it felt like the system did whatever it took to make sure the coast or Texas teams always won.

 

[Space Cadet]

What a great weekend for me. I had a blast at Soonercon and my team did what the Durant teams couldn't do. Indiana played great as hardly anyone expected them to be the East's representative. Upset the Thunder didn't get to beat the Pacers with Haliberton and that injury was so unfortunate as that game one shot was impressive. I do hope the "NBA is dying" crowd would shut up and stop downplaying the accomplishments of the 2020s small market teams that have won despite the system favoring the big markets. For middle America, Denver, Milwaukee, and OKC winning titles is big as it felt like the system did whatever it took to make sure the coast or Texas teams always won.

Agreed. The NBA is nowhere near dying but it's clear the audience prefers big market teams in the finals since outside of Game 7, none of the other games cracked over 10 million viewers. Great series overall.


NBA Finals on ABC Game 6: Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers (S) (ABC, 8:29 PM-11:00 PM, 151 min.)
• 9.282 million viewers
• 4.76/18 HH rating/share (Range: 5.982-5.994 million households)
• 2.48/36 A18-49 rating/share (Range: 3.319-3.332 million adults 18-49; 1.70/27 F18-49, 3.25/44 M18-49) • 0.00/32 A25-54 rating/share (0.001 million adults 25-54; 2.19/24 F25-54, 3.89/39 M25-54)


Read more: Thursday Ratings: NBA Finals Game 6 Blowout on ABC Slips Behind Two Prior Contests in the Series



NBA Finals on ABC Game 7: Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder (S) (ABC, 7:55 PM-10:53 PM, 178 min.)
• 16.605 million viewers
• 7.64/26 HH rating/share (Range: 9.605-9.617 million households)
• 5.15/58 A18-49 rating/share (Range: 6.899-6.912 million adults 18-49; 3.72/50 F18-49, 6.57/64 M18-49)
• 5.83/50 A25-54 rating/share (Range: 7.193-7.205 million adults 25-54; 4.22/41 F25-54, 7.43/57 M25-54)


Read more: Sunday Ratings: Oklahoma City Thunder Becomes Champions with Finals Game 7 Victory on ABC is Largest NBA Audience in Six Years

 

[PicardMan]

Agreed. The NBA is nowhere near dying but it's clear the audience prefers big market teams in the finals since outside of Game 7, none of the other games cracked over 10 million viewers. Great series overall.

NBA fans did warm up to the 2000s Spurs when they became a perennial contender. I was a Spurs kid back in ye old days when OKC didn't have a team. My hope is that if OKC does become a dynasty, they get a similar nationwide following as the Spurs. As for big markets, Knicks fans are probably salivating at Haliburton and Tatum probably being out all of next season and having a theoretically easy route to the finals. Lakers have Doncic, who won the West last year with the Mavericks. They just need to find the right pieces to put alongside him. Jokic has a national following, and I'd like to think it's because he is a Center who can do things most Centers don't do and not for...other reasons. There are plenty of reasons for people across the country to be excited for next season (except for Pacers and Celtics fans because of those terrible injuries).

 

[Space Cadet]

Due to the split with Warner Discovery, the NBA will run NBA TV and the app for the first time:

NBA Sets Reimagined NBA TV and NBA App

The league is taking full control over its cable channel and streaming platform, 17 years after Turner Sports and Warner Bros. Discovery first began running the operation.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[Space Cadet]

The NBA returns tonight and with a new media rights deal, it sees the league air games on NBC for the first time in over 20 years. Also, no more games on TNT after 30+ years, Amazon will take their spot. Inside the NBA will air on ESPN but will still be produced from Atlanta.

Any predictions on who will win the championship this season?

 

[Mandouga]

Didn't TNT first air NBA games in 1989 or so?

 

[Space Cadet]

Didn't TNT first air NBA games in 1989 or so?

Correct, 1989 was the first year they started airing games.

 

[PicardMan]

The Kevin Durant Rockets vs Thunder matchup was an exciting way to open things. Well, Kevin Durant put together a solid but outshined by Alperen Şengün performance. SGA put on a show again and won even when Jalen Williams was unable to play in the opener. Even if my Thunder don't repeat, they are look to still be a force to be reckoned with.

 

[Space Cadet]

Victor Wembanyama had a huge game last night and has come back better than ever but his performance was overshadowed by today's bombshell news regarding illegal gambling that has caused active player Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups to be arrested. Lots of people involved in this alleged scheme, including the mafia:

Inside the federal gambling case that ensnared NBA stars and mobsters

The U.S. attorney for Brooklyn outlined two cases: an insider sports betting scheme and a high-tech plot to rig underground poker games.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[the greenman]

The Kevin Durant Rockets vs Thunder matchup was an exciting way to open things. Well, Kevin Durant put together a solid but outshined by Alperen Şengün performance. SGA put on a show again and won even when Jalen Williams was unable to play in the opener. Even if my Thunder don't repeat, they are look to still be a force to be reckoned with.

Nice double header. Okc is a nice favorite and knew they would win. Same as my old favorite GSW.

Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk

 

[dmxx116]

Hasbro needs to sue McFarlane Toys for making articulated 6 inch NBA NFL and MLB action figures McFarlane don’t have the license to make them
#NBA #NFL #MLB #Hasbro #McFarlaneToys

 

[Space Cadet]

Coming down to the 11th hour, the owners of the WNBA and the players' association have reached a new deal on the CBA that will significally raise the salaries of the players among other perks. This is a huge stepping stone for both the league and women's professional sports in general. Of course, it needs to be formally signed before the new league year starts but it should go through, barring any unforeseen delays.

What's WNBA salary cap in new CBA? Salaries and revenue sharing, explained

Here's what we know so far about the WNBA's new salary cap, maximum salaries, minimum salaries, average salaries and revenue sharing from the new CBA.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Space Cadet]

The NBA regular season concluded last night and here's the teams that made it into the playoffs and play-in tournament:

 

[AdrenalineRush1996]

Oklahoma City Thunder player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named MVP of the season for the second time.
Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander repeats as NBA MVP

 

[PicardMan]

Based on Wemby's performance in game one, it looks like Spurs are gonna dominate for the next half decade. Jokic, Tatum, and Giannis (probably Shai too) were one season wonders, but it seems like Wemby is probably going to be the first NBA superstar in a while with multiple rings.

 

[Space Cadet]

Both Game 1 conference finals have been exciting, especially the Knicks coming back from behind to beat the Cavs last night.

 

[PicardMan]

Shai had a much better game 2 with that clutch shot hit in the last minute of the game. Wemby "only" had 21 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 4 blocks. Still think the the East has no chance against either of the two West teams.