NBA Playoffs 2011: Fans Dream of Heat-Lakers Final for Record TV Ratings
This is shaping up to be the stuff that David Stern's and NBA fans' dreams are made of.
At the start of the playoffs the NBA had seven out of the top-eight cities in regards to TV market size with a team in the mix. Marquee franchises such as the Lakers, Bulls, Knicks and Celtics were all in it. There were large markets such as Atlanta, Dallas and Philadelphia buzzing with excitement.
This fortune in terms of the teams/markets involved is only heightened by the possibility of a Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers Final as many experts have predicted and fans have wished for.
The NBA needs this more than anything. Since 1998 when Michael Jordan last played for the Bulls the league been unable to even come close to matching the ratings for that Chicago vs Utah series. Ratings have gone from the 18.7 all time high in !998 to a 6.2 all time low in 2007.
Last season the Lakers and Celtics managed to surpass double digits in ratings for the first time since 2004 when they recorded a 10.6 share.
Now the NBA knows that to get even closer to matching the success they enjoyed for nearly 20 years, 1982-2001, the league needs to hope that the NBA Finals will be spiced up by the presence of the most talked about team and set of athletes in America along with the equally popular and polarizing reigning champions.
If ever there was a made for Hollywood blockbuster showdown it is this. It is now.
This is the league's one chance to get back up on that mountain top.
Osama bin Laden has just been killed and the American public which has been burdened for so long is going to finally enjoy a temporary sense of relief.
That feeling, along with the overwhelming news coverage and the intriguing drama of a Miami and Los Angeles series, is going to create a perfect storm of sorts for an epic NBA Finals.
The league would capitalize on an entire summer's worth of subplots and build-up. They would be showcasing the leagues best three players on the same court at the same time.
Sorry Derrick Rose, maybe in three years.
If ever there was a moment where everything was in place for the league to challenge that record ratings number from 1998 it's right here and now.
It's East Coast versus West Coast. South Beach against So Cal.
Phil Jackson facing Pat Riley's padawan.
You would have two large TV markets and star studded rosters.
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh versus Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest and Pau Gasol.
It all seems so beautiful, just picturing that gold and purple versus that red and black (wish Miami would debut the black on black uniforms for this series). Sean "P.Diddy" Combs and Jack Nicholson sitting courtside while the cameras zoom in on their conversation. Hollywood Stars, Music Stars, Sports Stars all there to be seen and witness the greatest show on Earth.
But wait... the Lakers just lost another Game 1 at home. The Heat still have to get past a battle tested Celtics squad.
Not to mention there is the leagues nightmare scenario.
Oklahoma City's market is just as small as Memphis (they ranks 45 and 48) but at least the Thunder have Kevin Durant and draw interest from a curious nearby Texas market and a justifiably disgruntled Seattle population. Neither scenario would be great but a Hawks vs Grizzlies Finals would quite possibly be an all time low.
Commissioner, TV broadcasters, advertisers and fans all have their hopes and wishes aligned this year. Question is will the stars be too in order for the Lakers-Heat dream finals to occur? For now all anyone can do is sit, wait and wish.
