History Shows Pacers vs. Thunder May Draw Record-Low Ratings

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TNGophfan said:
Win a road game or don't lose either of first 2 at home. Easy.
Seems to work fine for baseball. Again, know I'm probably in minority on this.
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Baseball/World Series is a different animal than the NBA Finals & Stanley Cup, playing on consecutive days as many as 4 times during a 7 game series so it's much less feasible to do the 2-2-1-1-1 thing.

Even if the NBA stuck with 2-3-2 there would be just as many off days. The games are being played when Disney/ABC-ESPN wants to show them.
 

Ope3 said:
Baseball/World Series is a different animal than the NBA Finals & Stanley Cup, playing on consecutive days as many as 4 times during a 7 game series so it's much less feasible to do the 2-2-1-1-1 thing.

Even if the NBA stuck with 2-3-2 there would be just as many off days. The games are being played when Disney/ABC-ESPN wants to show them.
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Maybe the ratings this year will tell Disney that people lose interest when the series is spread out so much, though not holding my breath.
 

TNGophfan said:
Maybe the ratings this year will tell Disney that people lose interest when the series is spread out so much, though not holding my breath.
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In this day in age, I am not sure how much ratings matter with how much is consumed online and via highlights etc, not just nationally but across the globe.

Having extra days off also gives the networks/broadcast partners extra days to fill their schedule with other NBA programming, talkers and the like.
 

kg21 said:
Nobody can physically wear down the other team in the playoffs anymore.

And the finals possibly ending 2/3 of the way through June is a f-------g joke.
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The finals has only ended at this point in June for about the last 30 years...
 









Someone correct me if I'm wrong......but did Indiana not end up using their challenge?
 


Someone will probably prove me wrong.........but does OKC just come out on fire every game they play.

I swear they just score at will to begin games.
 

OKC is danm good, but they are going to another game 7

Dynasty is premature!
 



BleedGopher said:
Per Colin:

History shows that several ingredients lead to a highly rated NBA Finals: big-market teams, marketable superstar players, and a competitive series. Unfortunately, the 2025 NBA Finals between the Pacers and Thunder don’t appear to have any of those ingredients, even with league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the fold.

Indiana and Oklahoma City are two of the smallest U.S. television markets in the NBA, according to Nielsen. Indianapolis is the 25th-largest market in the country and 23rd of 29 NBA teams (excluding Toronto), while Oklahoma City is 47th in the U.S. and third to last in the league, only ahead of New Orleans and Memphis.

Series between two relatively small markets tend to draw lower ratings. Since 2000, the two lowest-rated championship series, excluding those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, were in 2003 between the Spurs and New Jersey Nets (9.86 million) and in 2007 between the Spurs and Cavaliers (9.29 million).

San Antonio is the No. 31 market in the country and Cleveland is No. 19. New Jersey isn’t listed, though they get a bite from big markets in New York (No. 1) and Philadelphia (No. 5). There is a reason, however, that the franchise moved to Brooklyn in 2012.

The Thunder and Pacers have both been in the Finals this century, and drew strong ratings, but it helped that their opponents played in large or medium markets that had the league’s biggest names. Indiana faced the Lakers (No. 2 market) with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 (17.4 million), while the Thunder faced the Heat (No. 18 market) led by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh in 2012 (16.9 million). Oklahoma City also had Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden at the time.

Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t have the same viewership pull as those stars, as evidenced by the 5.59 million viewership average of the Thunder’s five-game Western Conference finals series against the Timberwolves, down 17% from last year. The games were also mostly blowouts, as four of five were decided by at least 15 points and three by more than 25 points.

The Pacers aren’t expected to do better. Oklahoma City entered the Minnesota series with -375 odds to win, while the Thunder enter the Finals as -750 favorites, tied for the sixth-most-lopsided Finals when compared with data from Sports Odds History.

The series isn’t expected to be a long one, either. The best odds for an exact series score prediction are for Oklahoma City to win in five games (+225), followed by a Thunder sweep (+290).

frontofficesports.com

Pacers vs. Thunder Could Draw Record-Low NBA Finals Ratings

Two of the least-watched NBA Finals series were in 2003 and 2007. Both featured relatively small market franchises.
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Howl Wolves!!
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Referring to the original post, while the per game ratings might be low I am quite positive that the NBA & Disney brass are quite thrilled with how it's turned out.

The are getting the maximum inventory of 7 games. They will take that every time as opposed to a highly rated 4 or 5 game blow out.

Already assured of the 7th different NBA Champ in 7 seasons it is also guaranteed that either Oklahoma City or Indiana will win their 1st ever Title. This gives hope every fanbase, especially the ones that have never tasted success (with their current franchises), such as Minnesota for instance or whatever Expansion franchise is on the horizon.

If the Pacers can pull this off, I also wonder if there has ever been a Champion in a 7 game series that was a Point Spread underdog for all 7 contests.
 


Hilarious clip of O’Connell’s old man busting his chops on TV because his daughter was an undefeated state champ and TJ wasn’t - win it for this guy and his perfect crew cut 🤠

youtube.com

T.J. McConnellâs dad is proud ð¥¹

T.J. McConnell's dad crashed his interview on NBA TV#nba #nbafinals #pacers
youtube.com youtube.com
 


Ugh. Having been through it myself that sure looked like a torn Achilles for Halliburton.
 

Frink said:
Ugh. Having been through it myself that sure looked like a torn Achilles for Halliburton.
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You could literally see it pop on the replay. It's surprising how many calf strains ultimately result in an Achilles tear if not treated properly.

That's now Haliburton, Tatum, Lillard and Murray essentially out for all of next season.
 

Slim Tubby said:
You could literally see it pop on the replay. It's surprising how many calf strains ultimately result in an Achilles tear if not treated properly.

That's now Haliburton, Tatum, Lillard and Murray essentially out for all of next season.
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all of them have the ball in their hands a ton.

Wear and tear?

NBA preseason games are here in basically two months.
 

kg21 said:
all of them have the ball in their hands a ton.

Wear and tear?

NBA preseason games are here in basically two months.
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I think it's a minor miracle to avoid eventual injury over the course of their careers considering how much stress these guys put on their muscles, ligaments and joints.

What a terrible way to see a great series get decided.
 


Ope3 said:
Yea Sonics.
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They're getting a new franchise along with LV as early as next year. Expect the Wolves and MEM to get moved to the EC.

And yes...I always find it comical that LA fans take full credit for the Mikan titles here in MN.
 

Slim Tubby said:
They're getting a new franchise along with LV as early as next year. Expect the Wolves and MEM to get moved to the EC.
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Moving both the Minnesota AND Memphis to the Eastern Conference does not work mathmatically in your scenario of rebirthing the Seattle Sonics along with a fresh Expansion franchise in Las Vegas. The East & West Conferences are currently both at 15 teams each.

West / 15 - 2 + 2 = 15
East / 15 + 2 = 17

It would likely have to be just 1 of either the Wolves, Grizzlies or even perhaps the Pelicans moving East.
 

Ope3 said:
Moving both the Minnesota AND Memphis to the Eastern Conference does not work mathmatically in your scenario of rebirthing the Seattle Sonics along with a fresh Expansion franchise in Las Vegas. The East & West Conferences are currently both at 15 teams each.

West / 15 - 2 + 2 = 15
East / 15 + 2 = 17

It would likely have to be just 1 of either the Wolves, Grizzlies or even perhaps the Pelicans moving East.
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Good point. Considering no team has more travel air miles than the Wolves, it would just be MIN that moves even with MEM technically being farther east geographically.
 

I think OKC would have won even if Haliburton had played. They are the best team in the league and they proved it all year. However, I counted five phantom calls in favor of SGA last night with no reciprocal treatment in favor of Indiana on the other end. OKC plays tackle football on defense and gets touch fouls on offense.
 


jamiche said:
I think OKC would have won even if Haliburton had played.
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Probably, but Haliburton did have 9 pts in just the 7 minutes before the injury.

Seeing him go down was a hard watch and knowing he was already battling ailments. Durant flashback.
 

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