The NBA complaints department has worked hard this season. If someone prompted ChatGPT to write a report for product 2022-23, it will be titled “National Load Management Association: How Streetwear Becomes More Noticeable Than Basketball Uniforms.” Join an All-Star Game with the intensity of a shootingand the pre-match NBA product brought a serious vibe to the clearance price.
Those who have paid for regular games during the season in which the stars are resting and for an all-star event that is just a title match will not receive a refund for those tickets, but those who NBA fans across the country received compensation from players who had an outstanding weekend of action.
It started with a thirsty Thursday trailer, with the Boston Celtics beating the Indiana Pacers in extra time, and the Philadelphia 76ers enduring a stormy 3-point early shot from the Memphis Grizzlies to win.
The first nationally televised game on Friday was a bad one with the Milwaukee Bucks beating the Miami Heat 128-99 and the second a good one. The Phoenix Suns held off the shabby Oklahoma City Thunder without their almighty star — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
However, the late game, the 10:30 p.m. game scheduled for the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Clippers turned out to be a match in the record books. kings win double overtime —176-175 — what’s the score second highest scoring game in NBA history. Malik Monk caused a traffic collision on the way to 45 points during the night. Russell Westbrook had 16 assists on his Clippers debut. Kawhi Leonard played the most regular-season minutes of his NBA career and still managed to play 33 minutes in another overtime game two nights later in a 134-124 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
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It was more of the same throughout the rest of the weekend. The 76ers and Celtics played in a thrilling potential playoff preview in the NBA’s featured Saturday night post-football season slot. The Celtics eked out a 110-107 victory once Joel Embiid’s ¾ court heave was waved off. In another nationally televised game on Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers overcame their largest deficit in 20 years to defeat the Dallas Mavericks 111-108, bringing them within a game of the final play-in spot. Oh, and Damian Lillard scored 71 points in the Portland Trail Blazers’ 131-114 victory. An impressive feat even if it happens to the unlucky Houston Rockets.
Once again the NBA shows that at its best, it is an entertainment product that can compete with any other. With large crowds in Philadelphia and Dallas, and individual greatness by Leonard, Monk and Lillard, the NBA has truly GREAT in the past few days.
However, that level of play lends credence to the well-intentioned criticism of the product so frequently consumed by fans this season. Of course, it’s unrealistic for the NBA to get the best of the 82-game schedule. People can’t be expected to be at their best all the time, and most of us don’t jump and land on hardwood courts for six to eight months each year.
However, given the way the league explodes after the all-star break, if the NBA wants to address any TV ratings issues it’s definitely a great way to do so. Sure there are still millions of young people out there who love the sport through TikTok and gossip blogs but there is always a market for dramatic TV.
Last weekend showed that the NBA can still thrill with the best of them. Of course, that won’t last with the star players sure to take off their uniforms and return to their unique wardrobes for select nights, as certain teams gear up for post-season. league and other teams for the May draft lottery.
But over the course of a weekend, intentionally or not, the NBA at least acknowledged that they needed to literally increase the hours to show their fans’ appreciation. Especially after the campfire gathering disguised as the All-Star Game.
