My father was in college during the 1980s. And for basketball fans living in Massachusetts, brains immediately jump to the Celtics vs. Lakers rivalry – Brent Musburger on the call, of course.
Not only Bird and Magic, but a culture clash between the lunch-pail, nose-dirty group from Boston, and the flashy highlight-reelers from Los Angeles.
It wasn’t just basketball. It was an event. Cinema, even.
Has anyone watched ESPN’s “30 for 30” documentary about the rivalry? It’s a keeper, as is “The ’86 Celtics” one.
Then, there’s me. I’m 25 and grew up during the Pierce vs. Kobe days. Not to mention Garnett, Gasol, Allen, Fisher, Rondo, and Odom.
True story: The Celtics were always my favorite team, but Kobe was my favorite player. When the C’s lost to the Lakers in the 2010 NBA Finals, 11-year-old me took down the Kobe poster in my room because I was so upset.
Yes, I just put that in writing. Too late now…
Then, there’s today’s league. It’s… eh?
I still enjoy it. My eyes were on the TV when Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown won their first title together earlier this year, but the intensity – the crave – from my childhood just isn’t there anymore.
So, the Front Office Sports report saying that NBA ratings have dipped 48 percent over the last 12 years didn’t surprise me – not one bit.
Here’s my take. I have four reasons.
Some people might not like this one, but reason No. 1 is on the political side. Regardless of your party affiliate or who you voted for, the NBA makes its political views VERY clear. From messaging painted on the courts and jerseys to players and coaches endorsing candidates during their postgame interviews, one could see why it could be a turn-off.
I’m not saying it’s a dealbreaker for me – I still watch – but I understand where people are coming from when they say, “I just want to watch basketball.”
But let’s get to the game itself. That’s more fun.
Playstyle, and I’m not necessarily talking about all of the 3-pointers. Heck, I think it’s fun watching Steph Curry pull up from 35 feet.
But it’s the fact that every team and every player does it…
In the 1990s, you’d have to worry about the Stockton-Malone pick-and-roll, Jordan’s mid-range isolation, Detroit’s physicality, and the post play of Houston’s Hakeem Olajuwon.
Every team had a style. No, an identity!
But today, every player just likes to “dribble, dribble, dribble,” as Charles Barkley says, then shoot a contested jumper.
Math classroom or not, who likes repetition?
Reason No. 3 is the personality of superstars. I’m not saying the storyline needs to be as good as Bird vs. Magic every time, but would it kill these players to have a bit of personality? Or, would it kill the media to show us their personalities?
I know Larry used to mow his own lawn; I know Kobe used to ask hotel managers for a roll-out television so he could watch film from that night’s game.
Magic made a statement a few weeks ago, saying that players used to HATE each other and do anything to win. To be honest, I’m not sure we have that anymore with all of the selfies and jersey-swapping going on after games.
We want to watch competition – not a pick-up game between friends.
Now, look, I don’t think NBA players are soft. They’re some of the best athletes in the world and at the peak of human performance.
But, there is a perception around the league that SOME players are rather soft nowadays. That’s my fourth and final reason.
From load management – players taking nights off to recover – to all of the flopping, it’s incredibly unattractive to the viewer.
By the way, this quote from Kevin McHale is gold.
“This ‘rest’ stuff drives me crazy,” he said. “You’re playing basketball for a living, OK? I understand if you’re working in a coal mine, you may need a rest day after it.”
Anyway, that’s all I’ve got for today.
Like Larry’s last-second steal against Detroit, maybe the NBA can save itself with a little bit of hope.
