I deleted every app possible and just did not pick up my phone. I’m Irish but work US hours so thankfully I had the morning to watch it.

Funnily enough, game 3 was ruined by someone in my office in Ireland. I had deleted everything and planned on watching it and it got spoiled from the most random source possible 😂

I got texts from people I haven’t talked to in two decades because I’ve always been such a passionate fan

Imagine how confused you’d be if you actually knew the result before you watched it. You’d think you were somehow watching a Game 6 back at MSG before it even happened because there’s no way a team could come back from 29 down in the NBA Finals and win.

Reminds me of that HIMYM SB episode

I’m in Europe and I just wake up 50 minutes earlier than I would normally do, I don’t check any social media (all notifications silenced) and I put the game on league pass as soon as my eyes are fully open.

Staying off your phone is easy

damn, that’s about as high as an NFL game

Absolutely incredible. I bet Silver and co. desperately want a Game 6

Alright Boaby?

Hence why all of the media, even the left-leaning sources, did everything they could to win him two elections

Lose some not all but its mostly the blowout not him

People love drama. He also won the popular vote. Guy generates ratings hate & love.

First time didn’t take

For the fouls he committed?

You’re being silly, it’s apparent that refs tip the scales but don’t completely control games in order to maintain a watchable product. Refs were obviously pulling for Spurs in games 2 and 3 to try to avoid the sweep, and they’ll probably be on our side again tomorrow to give NY the chance to win at home.

I see what you’re saying but we were a dumb Fox play away from having a 2-2 series

“The NBA is rigged but the refs are so incompetent they can’t even rig it properly” actually feels like a great comedy sketch idea.

I mean if it were rigged they can now just give Wemby the second 3-1 comeback and instantly put his legacy next to LeBron, at the beginning of his career. I’m not saying it’s rigged, but your argument is shit lol. If they had the ability to rig it, why not go for max drama? Max drama would be exactly the event you described them as “failing” at. You didn’t think about this very much did you?

That’s exactly why the NBA will never go anywhere and remains a cultural fixture in the US. The nature of the league and sport is such that there is a constant “assembly line” of megastar athletes to keep fan interest

It’s like if baseball got a new Ohtani every 10 years or so. MJ, Shaq, Kobe, Lebron, Steph, Wemby, and before too long there will be someone else to keep the cycle going

I think the issue was the lack of a prime lebron figure or KD Warriors team.

People see Wemby and they know he’s got the potential to be a full step above guys like Giannis, SGA, Luka, or Jokic in terms of starpower. Finally a guy with real GOAT potential. Not saying that Wemby is already there or that he will even have that kind of career, but the possibility exists now.

I feel it got easier to watch this year. A weekly game on NBC where all you need is a \(20 antenna, \)30 for one with extended range if you don’t live close to the city.

Plus you don’t even need cable or YouTube anymore. Prime, Peacock and Disne/ESPN are a lot cheaper than cable. I think that’s one of the reasons ratings are higher. I’m older, but the prime demographics are under 40 years old. Most people that age don’t have cable, but most have a few streaming services.

Yes I forgot about the Wemby effect. Having a European superstar helps A LOT 

Damn, from that article

For nearly a decade, Nielsen has been capturing viewing that occurs outside of the home, including airports, hotels, bars and restaurants. Through proprietary Portable People Meter (PPM) Wearables technology, Nielsen has delivered metrics for out-of-home audiences to ensure clients can track viewer consumption regardless of the platform, screen or location. By adding additional homes to the PPM Wearables footprint, Nielsen’s OOH coverage will expand from 65% to 100%.

Yea that was my point

Casual fans never cared about teams that don’t have their favourite player on them anyways.

Like Lebron fans weren’t keeping up with the Bobcats or tuning in to watch the 2018 Kings

Casual interest always depends on who is playing - thats like the whole point of casual viewership - they need to be enticed to consume your product - they won’t seek it out themselves like hardcore fans do

Biggest media market vs the likely next face of the league. Of course it’s doing great ratings.

Every sport but the NFL and Soccer experiences this.

Tbh all the traditional platforms botted to hell so it’s going to be inflated from past examples.

It took a crazy sequence of events (not like the other games didnt have them too) to get there lol 

Wait… both of them were there?!?

I would say Yes, just on availability. No NBA Finals series has been available to view worldwide. And the drama adds to them viewership.

Give Game 4 a good 10 years and I’m sure it’ll get pretty close in terms of Youtube views as the 2016 Game 7. Heck, I’m sure New Yorkers will spam this video for years to come, especially if they complete the mission.

Then you have to say most viewed within X hours. Can’t state in unqualified manner that it’s the most viewed.

Then you have to say most viewed within X hours. Can’t state in unqualified manner that it’s the most viewed. You can’t possibly be that illiterate