OT: NBA

[tzznandrew]

Theres a lot more isolation in the NBA, where as the college game has more motion, in my opinion. Whether it's to disguise the lesser talent or not is immaterial. It is more fluid, which is more entertaining to me.

I'm sure I'll catch a few minutes at some point, but it's certainly not appointment tv.

Honestly, at the highest level there really isn't as much iso, because the best teams can take that away. For instance, OKC is stupid enough to still run a ton of iso, and look what happens when you play a strong defensive team like Memphis...Durant is playing poorly.

The best offensive teams (San Antonio comes to mind) run lots and lots of ball-screens, and there is a ton of motion off the ball. Watching Parker run an offense is magical. And when LeBron is playing a team he respects, he does sometimes have that head-down to the basket offense we hate, but more often or not, when he is playing a strong defensive team, he's creating via ball-screens, or from down on the block.

Defenses in the NBA are really good. The difference, though, is that offensive players or so good that any minor mistake usually ends up in a basket. Especialy when you're watching the best offensive creators.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Theres a lot more isolation in the NBA, where as the college game has more motion, in my opinion. Whether it's to disguise the lesser talent or not is immaterial. It is more fluid, which is more entertaining to me.

I'm sure I'll catch a few minutes at some point, but it's certainly not appointment tv.

Everybody's entitled to their opinion, certainly, but I don't know how you can think college basketball is more "fluid" than the NBA. I just don't get it.

 

[Jluc]

I find watching the NBA to be almost unbearable. The game is just a bunch of super stars running around with zero defense being played. Plus, you dont get the electric atmosphere like you do in a college game due to the students. It's just boring. And what the hell is up with them playing music over the pa DURING the damn game???

I will 100% agree that high level college basketball games have much better atmospheres during the regular season, but if you think that's true when it comes to the NBA playoffs you are mistaken when it comes to some home courts. Portland and OKC are off the charts when it comes to great atmospheres, it is crazy loud in both those places. I myself am much more into college basketball than the NBA and I am a much bigger Uconn than I am a fan of my favorite NBA team, the Celtics. However, I would be lying if I were to say I havent enjoyed the NBA playoffs a ton.

 

[mauconnfan]

I am amazed with the atmospheres at most home games……..I mean home court advantage in a big way in these NBA arena's……..these fans are as whacked as students at the big college programs, that I will give them.

Just not as fun to watch…….

Knew this would be a fun subject to bring up!!

 

[Husky25]

Everybody's entitled to their opinion, certainly, but I don't know how you can think college basketball is more "fluid" than the NBA. I just don't get it.

The same way some poeple dont like Olympic Hockey (or hockey at at any level) or think World Cup soccer is boring whereas I love it.

 

[UConn990411]

I have no problem with people who prefer college bball to the NBA. I do have a problem with people who think college hoops is a better brand of basketball.

While it's hard to top the drama that comes with single-elimination, the NBA is flat out on another level from college. It hasn't been close for awhile.

 

[Walker11]

Honestly, Eastern Conference basketball can be boring. That said, watching these series' in the West is as exhilarating as basketball gets.

There is so much more ball movement in the NBA than college. Anyone saying otherwise doesn't watch the NBA regularly.

Defensive execution is way better in the NBA as well. Only problem is that the skill level is so unreal that sometimes it seems too easy to score.

 

[Robertelamin]

I pick college because as we now know the NBA is a racist league, plus I hate all the foreigners.

 

[BUHusky]

Lots of great games thus far with plenty of exciting endings. It's been fun to watch. Pretty much every series is tight outside of Miami/Charlotte.

Also, lots of terrible officiating. Though that is nothing new in the NBA...

 

[whaler11]

I just can't get into the NBA because I just don't care who wins.

I can watch New Mexico play Pacific at midnight on an internet feed but just don't have any interest in anything that happens in the NBA.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

I really, really, hate posts like this.

You picked the only un-entertaining series in the first round (a totally overmatched Charlotte team playing the defending champs with one of their two best players playing on one foot) and you're going to say college basketball "blows it away" while ignoring all the other series currently going on where the level of play is through the roof and the margin between the teams is razor thin. You're not qualified to say which is better if that's all you've done, honestly.

Dude, relax. NBA 1st round isn't interesting because there's only ever 3-4 teams max that could win the title.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

I find watching the NBA to be almost unbearable. The game is just a bunch of super stars running around with zero defense being played. Plus, you dont get the electric atmosphere like you do in a college game due to the students. It's just boring. And what the hell is up with them playing music over the pa DURING the damn game???

Haha a million likes. I read up until the crowd situation and paused to think about the music during the game crap, then sure enough a few lines down you mentioned it too.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

I have no problem with people who prefer college bball to the NBA. I do have a problem with people who think college hoops is a better brand of basketball.

While it's hard to top the drama that comes with single-elimination, the NBA is flat out on another level from college. It hasn't been close for awhile.

Of course the players are better, but the refs constantly becoming involved with a lot of stuff that isn't called in college, and their penchant for going to the review monitor (and spending like 5 minutes over there) make the games unbelievably choppy.

If the refs became less involved, they got better announcers that do anything beyond cream themselves over LeBron/KD etc, and cut down on the music and all that other pa-led piped in crap, the nba would be a fantastic product.

 

[Inyatkin]

Of course the players are better, but the refs constantly becoming involved with a lot of stuff that isn't called in college, and their penchant for going to the review monitor (and spending like 5 minutes over there) make the games unbelievably choppy.

If the refs became less involved, they got better announcers that do anything beyond cream themselves over LeBron/KD etc, and cut down on the music and all that other pa-led piped in crap, the nba would be a fantastic product.

You're really going with music during game play as a reason not to watch? I can't imagine something dumber to get mad about.
OK, yes I can, because they've all come up in this thread, but that's pretty weird.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

You're really going with music during game play as a reason not to watch? I can't imagine something dumber to get mad about.
OK, yes I can, because they've all come up in this thread, but that's pretty weird.

Yeah I didn't list 2 other reasons. You can't tell me a great crowd doesn't add to a sporting event, isn't that the main reason most people prefer Gampel to XL? With the PA blasting those hot jamz all game you don't get to hear the crowd. Also, I don't think we need to be told when there's "TWOOOO MINUTES! (DOS MINUTOS!)" left.

But hey, if having a frenzied crowd doesn't do anything for ya, that's fine. Don't act like I didn't list other reasons though.

 

[Inyatkin]

Don't act like I didn't list other reasons though.

I said you listed it as a reason not to watch, not the reason.
But let's try those other two reasons. One, you said the refs are too involved. Presumably this means you think that's not a problem in college, so … Did you watch any Kentucky games this year? Maybe you didn't.
Two, better announcers. You're going with Jim Nantz as your go-to guy for college? Vitale? Mike Patrick? Who exactly do you have a problem with?
Edit: I don't care who you have a problem with.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

I said you listed it as a reason not to watch, not the reason.
But let's try those other two reasons. One, you said the refs are too involved. Presumably this means you think that's not a problem in college, so … Did you watch any Kentucky games this year? Maybe you didn't.
Two, better announcers. You're going with Jim Nantz as your go-to guy for college? Vitale? Mike Patrick? Who exactly do you have a problem with?
Edit: I don't care who you have a problem with.

It's not even a question that the refs both call way more fouls and other random game stoppages. Not even going to argue that with you.

Vitale is obviously a clown, but did you hear the guy calling the first Rox/Blazers OT? Right as it dramatically went to OT the guy calling it made Joe Buck seem like Gus Johnson. Beyond that, Reggie Miller is probably the worst broadcaster in all of sports right now. Going back to the Rox Blazers game from Sunday night on the possession where the Rox were down 2 late in the 4th he spent 3 minutes talking about how Harden was clearly going to do his thing and shoot, play ends up being a Harden dish to Howard for an easy dunk and Miller does a complete 180 saying "see there was no way he was shooting it!".

Nantz isn't the best but he's far better than most anyone who calls NBA games. Then you have Verne Raft Bilas Knight, even Saunders and the guy who usually does play by play with Vitale are all better than anything you get in the NBA. The only decent NBA guy is Van Gundy, and only because he spends the entire game criticizing the refs for the numerous horrible calls.

I like watching basketball so I watch a decent amount of NBA games, the product would be much better without the problems I've pointed out, none of which are really unreasonable.

 

[Husky25]

...I do have a problem with people who think college hoops is a better brand of basketball....

My guess is this directed at me, however I didn't say better (opinion). I said different (fact). Sure the court is still 94' x 50' and the hoops are still 10 feet off the floor, but the length of the season, age of players, and the salaries inevitably make it a different game.

Personally, my favorite team not being in the playoffs has approximately 82.53% to do with me not watching the first round. Not having a vested interest in the outcome (i.e. wagering) makes up another 7.82%. There is a non zero percentage that has to do with biased referees (IMO), and another non-zero factor related to the timing of the games. Either by prior commitment or by choice, I just cannot get into the NBA Playoffs this year, ergo they are not appointment TV.

 

[UConn990411]

My guess is this directed at me, however I didn't say better (opinion). I said different (fact). Sure the court is still 94' x 50' and the hoops are still 10 feet off the floor, but the length of the season, age of players, and the salaries inevitably make it a different game.

Personally, my favorite team not being in the playoffs has approximately 82.53% to do with me not watching the first round. Not having a vested interest in the outcome (i.e. wagering) makes up another 7.82%. There is a non zero percentage that has to do with biased referees (IMO), and another non-zero factor related to the timing of the games. Either by prior commitment or by choice, I just cannot get into the NBA Playoffs this year, ergo they are not appointment TV.

It wasn't directed at anyone.

It's just a pet peeve of mine when people call a league garbage simply because they aren't a fan.

 

[Husky25]

It wasn't directed at anyone.

It's just a pet peeve of mine when people call a league garbage simply because they aren't a fan.

Understood. But calling the NCAA "better" does not necessarily mean the NBA is garbage. Incidentally, if one does think that, does it really matter? Seems strange to waste calories on an opinion so seemingly inconsequential held by another. On the other hand, I suppose we all have our pet peeves.

 

[ecasadoSBU]

entertainment-wise I enjoy Connecticut, Stony Brook, and NCAA basketball much more. That's cuz I feel more attached to the teams and I feel like the kids work their ass off with the dream of making it to the Bigs...

But the NBA is the NBA. It's as good as basketball talent gets and I can't deny that I enjoy watching the Heat squash the competition for the past couple of years. The talent level is amazing to watch, and the crazy plays guys like LeBron make its beyond basketball

Nonetheless, nothing fills me joy and excitement like NCAA basketball does. Seeing the students jump all over their section, the constant never-ending "Ooooo", the atmosphere, and the great players that leave it all in the court is something that the NBA can't top in my eyes...

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Nantz isn't the best but he's far better than most anyone who calls NBA games.

Everyone's entitled to an opinion, even one as absurd as this.

 

[champs99and04]

Dude, relax. NBA 1st round isn't interesting because there's only ever 3-4 teams max that could win the title.

3-4 teams? Maybe in the late 90's/early 2000's.

Even if the NBA will never resonate with the American public the same way the NFL does for obvious reasons, they've grown much closer over the last decade to replicating the general model. In a sport so dependent on stars and markets, there will never be as much parity as there is in the NFL. But, for all you can criticize Stern for, you better believe he had an enormous impact on growing the game globally, and, long-term, strengthening the talent pool to unprecedented levels.

If you don't like the NBA, that's understandable. I just can't quite grasp how one could watch the playoffs thus far - the Bobcats/Heat series notwithstanding - and conclude that the level of parity in the sport today isn't at an all-time high. I mean, there are plenty of stats that bare this out. We're a week and a half in and road teams are winning at a +.500 clip. The eighth seeded Atlanta Hawks just drubbed the Pacers in their own building to take a 3-2 series lead. The San Antonio Spurs - who just capped a dominant regular season - are knotted up at two with a team that had to play their way into the postseason in game 81. Not to mention, the Oklahoma City Thunder were about one minute away from trailing the Grizzlies 3-1. Conceivably, we could have a Memphis-Golden State/Dallas-Portland semi-final and nobody would be surprised. And when the bracket opens up like that, anything can happen - we, as UConn fans, should know better than anyone.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

3-4 teams? Maybe in the late 90's/early 2000's.

Even if the NBA will never resonate with the American public the same way the NFL does for obvious reasons, they've grown much closer over the last decade to replicating the general model. In a sport so dependent on stars and markets, there will never be as much parity as there is in the NFL. But, for all you can criticize Stern for, you better believe he had an enormous impact on growing the game globally, and, long-term, strengthening the talent pool to unprecedented levels.

If you don't like the NBA, that's understandable. I just can't quite grasp how one could watch the playoffs thus far - the Bobcats/Heat series notwithstanding - and conclude that the level of parity in the sport today isn't at an all-time high. I mean, there are plenty of stats that bare this out. We're a week and a half in and road teams are winning at a +.500 clip. The eighth seeded Atlanta Hawks just drubbed the Pacers in their own building to take a 3-2 series lead. The San Antonio Spurs - who just capped a dominant regular season - are knotted up at two with a team that had to play their way into the postseason in game 81. Not to mention, the Oklahoma City Thunder were about one minute away from trailing the Grizzlies 3-1. Conceivably, we could have a Memphis-Golden State/Dallas-Portland semi-final and nobody would be surprised. And when the bracket opens up like that, anything can happen - we, as UConn fans, should know better than anyone.

Entirely too logical. I feel like a lot of these anti-NBA positions are just things that used to be conventional wisdom: too much iso, no defense, no intensity, no parity . . . . and they just get repeated reflexively even though they're not really true at all. Someone refutes one and the next talking point gets brought up.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

Entirely too logical. I feel like a lot of these anti-NBA positions are just things that used to be conventional wisdom: too much iso, no defense, no intensity, no parity . . . . and they just get repeated reflexively even though they're not really true at all. Someone refutes one and the next talking point gets brought up.

There is no parity lol. Basically Kobe/Duncan/LeBron tossing titles around with brief cameos by Dirk and the Pistons team who only won because the Lakers fell apart.

You're ignorant to think otherwise.