TV ratings up more than 30% this season (NBA)

[Teddy Roosevelt]

CBSSports.com wire reports
Dec. 22, 2010

NEW YORK -- More viewers are tuning into the NBA -- and it's not just the fascination with the Miami Heat.

Television ratings for games on ESPN and TNT are up more than 30 percent so far this season.

Sure, the Heat are drawing big audiences after a summer of free agent intrigue concluded with LeBron James and Chris Bosh joining Dwyane Wade in Miami. Ratings for Heat games on ESPN have increased 69 percent from last season.

But take out the five matchups involving Miami, and the network's NBA coverage is still up 23 percent from a year ago.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/14475113/tv-ratings-up-more-than-30-percent-this-season

[Chamillitary Click]

The Heat are good for basketball.

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Also, big market teams bring in the biggest ratings. If you look at the top 10 metro areas in the US, 7 of those teams (NYC, L.A., Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Boston) are playing really well.

[M Dogg™]

I think it is the Heat, as the Laker fans are paying attention to basketball earlier, as well as Boston fans. I mean Boston already beat the Heat twice this year. So you have traditional fans getting into their teams early. Also the big markets are doing really well to begin the year. All of this is good news for the NBA.

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

Also, big market teams bring in the biggest ratings. If you look at the top 10 metro areas in the US, 7 of those teams (NYC, L.A., Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Boston) are playing really well.

But what about NIKs argument that the league DOESNT have an interest in the Lakers getting to the finals...and instead would rather see small market teams like the Spurs get there to build up the league?? LOL

[M Dogg™]

Also, big market teams bring in the biggest ratings. If you look at the top 10 metro areas in the US, 7 of those teams (NYC, L.A., Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Boston) are playing really well.

But what about NIKs argument that the league DOESNT have an interest in the Lakers getting to the finals...and instead would rather see small market teams like the Spurs get there to build up the league?? LOL

Elior ate paint chips as a child and shouldn't be listened to.

[OG Hack Wilson]

one - the knicks are good now (and this is 30 games into the year, a decent timeframe of good play)

two - the Heat started out poorly

three - Lakers aren't running away with the west yet

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

one - the knicks are good now (and this is 30 games into the year, a decent timeframe of good play)

two - the Heat started out poorly

three - Lakers aren't running away with the west yet

The Lakers wont run away with the West. The Lakers may not even win the West. There is a long way to go still so you never know, but the Lakers have had the easiest schedule in the league so far (strength of schedule), so it will only get tougher. San Antonio has had a pretty average schedule, not the easiest, not the hardest. But we do have a brutal stretch of road games in the second half of the season...that will be a real test. Dallas has actually had a fairly tough schedule, so what they are doing right now is impressive.

[Chamillitary Click]

I think the Lakers are just pacing themselves; they will be dangerous & still likely take the West when its all said & done.

The Knicks suck. They lost the Celtics & got blown out by the Heat; they are going to lose tomorrow vs. the Bulls & then lose to the Heat again. They've had arguably the weakest schedule in the NBA so far.

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

I think the Lakers are just pacing themselves; they will be dangerous & still likely take the West when its all said & done.

The Knicks suck. They lost the Celtics & got blown out by the Heat; they are going to lose tomorrow vs. the Bulls & then lose to the Heat again. They've had arguably the weakest schedule in the NBA so far.

The Knicks are overrated, but they will make the playoffs.

The Lakers have had far and away the easiest schedule so far this year, Knicks second...but its not all that close

Average win percentage of opponents:

Lakers - .410
Knicks - .439

Which is what kind of makes the Mavericks record impressive because they have the 5th toughest schedule so far at .534

[theremedy360]

The Lakers have definitely had some disappointing games but having a healthy Bynum should be a huge lift for them. As great as Pau is he's definitely not suited to play the 5. I think with their talent they'll definitely take the West, the Spurs have been pretty damn impressive though.