And yet the Spurs won the game through defensive execution throughout the game. I find it amusing why scoring more points = more exciting, yet running an impeccable defensive set is boring.
I also find it amusing why people would think that the refs/league want the Spurs to win. Small market, supposedly boring game, unmarketable star and low TV ratings. Is there any logical sense as to why the league would want the Spurs? If I have heard one, it's a first.
I have been thinking about this one for awhile and here is a reason:
The popularity of the NBA has been sagging over tha last decade due to an identity crisis, that is many(middle class) fans that can afford the tickets dont identify with the newer generation of hip hop players that tend to project a threatening image(gang banger) to said fans. I have no access to the polls that the NBA has surely taken, but it seems likely. All the tatoos, images projected, and possies, are perhaps ugly to an important affluent market sector, including the one that buys tickets as a business function, to take their clients out($$$$). The Hip hop/gang banger image would be terrible for that one. The brawl at the palace probably did alot to get the NBA looking at what is wrong, along with ratings. I also expect that most memorabilia sales includes alot of parents buying for their kids, and parents dont want bad influences on their kids. I expect polls were taken of fans/ticket holders that left, who know what the results are.
So, if the NBA was going to protect it financial future by social engineering, what would it do? Well you cant get these guys to remove tatoos, but you could changes the rules to punish certain brawl related behavior, enforce a dress code and "discipline" players who project a bad image. With billions at stake, I'll bet the owners would want it, its their money. The NBA also treats the players quite severely when they break the rules, moreso than other sports, thats for sure. Looks like social engineering to me.
Now, the spurs have no players that project this image, and do have discipline(character is one of pops requirements). Among the spurs, just who has a hip hop image? Perhaps the league is looking down the road and saying that the gang banger image must be discouraged, and that international players should be encouraged(big future market). I wouldnt be suprised if even the superstar treatment instructions given to the refs byt he league vary with the players image, as a hip hop image isnt worth as much to the league in the long run.
Its just an educated guess, but I suspect the long term view is more important then the short term ratings view, and the leagues actions against the hip hop culture might encourage the broadcast stations to stick around till its straightened out in spite of the current low ratings. Frankly, ratings are about advertizing dollars, and advertizing dollars are about people that watch and spend money(middle class), not those who just watch.
Just my 2 cents, but to think its a simple ratings calculation is just silly.
