Basketball from a fans perspective

Published daily except Tuesdays & Thursdays

Christmas and the NBA

I explained to members of my family Christmas games don’t belong to the NBA exclusively. Despite the fact the NBA has long arranged for games to be broadcast on December 25, the NFL’s decided to horn in. I make this statement as a fan of the NFL Chiefs who played the Steelers in the early afternoon, the NFL Ravens faced the Texans afterwards. As for the NBA the number of games played on Christmas has increased over the years with the advent of cable and now streaming services. If we go back in time we discover the first Christmas game was played December 25, 1947. The Knicks defeated the Providence Steamrollers 89-75 in the old Madison Square Garden.

As mentioned earlier if we fast forward to 2024 we discover there were 5 games scheduled they were late morning, afternoon and two evening games. As you are aware the games were broadcast over both ABC and ESPN. A further note regarding the NFL and NBA vying for a viewing audience. There is no argument from me, the NFL has a greater fan base especially on television over the NBA but there is an issue which is a slight bit different this time. The NFL games will be available for viewing in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Houston… that’s it. The balance of the nation is blacked out unless you happen to be a Netflix subscriber, apparently the NFL is ignoring the fact a large percentage of fans are not subscribers this becomes a win-win for them based on what I read they paid the NFL.

I hope this was mentioned previously

A social media group exists who’s focus is the American Basketball Association (1967-1976). I became a member hoping to gain insight into the league and a number of its players. Several outstanding ABA players would conclude their careers playing in the NBA. Dr. J., George Gervin and Artis Gilmore are a few of those names. In any event a member of the group wrote, “Does anyone know why basketball hall of fame does not have any acknowledgement of the ABA. Bad enough NBA doesn’t acknowledge ABA stats.” I wasn’t there but it’s easy to respond to his statement. As far as the NBA is concerned the former league never existed at least in the form this writer would prefer.

I’d mentioned this previously, at the time the Pacers, Spurs, Nets and Nuggets came into the NBA it was termed a merger when in truth it was actually expansion. If the 1976 agreement were expansion all the ABA teams would have moved into the NBA not just the four above. As for ABA stats, why include numbers for a league that technically didn’t exist? I understand the feeling of nostalgia for some however they fail to take into consideration the ABA couldn’t sustain itself. The ABA the had been hemorrhaging money for years. The ABA had no national television contract, the NBA had an ABC contract from 1962-1973 and later with CBS beginning in 1973 through 1976 which was later extended. The ABA was a great experiment while a novel idea couldn’t have continued to operate. From what I’ve read NBA owners could have held out another 2-3 years and the ABA might have closed shop on its own.     

Bits n Pieces of information

I’ve come to this conclusion, its far easier for a sports anchor to discuss Top 25 over KenPom or NET rankings. The majority of time from me expect to hear more about KenPom or NET rankings over any Top 25 discussion. As I attempted to explain in another story it’s my belief if we delve into KenPom or NET rankings they accurately describe a team’s strength much better than the popularity contests of most Top 25 polls. This is just offered as food for thought without submitting any scientific basis for the assumption I am making.

I cannot provide you a definitive answer for the change. As you are aware it seems scores of teams have changed conferences, the Big 10, SEC and Big XII and others have increased their number. With that said it appears the strength of the landscape has changed. In the recent past basketball power was strongest in the ACC, Big East and Big 10, other than Kansas the Big XII was not in the conversation until the last several years. All that has changed now, at least for this season the SEC appears to be formidable followed by the Big XII. The once heralded ACC is no longer (in my view) the power conference it once was. Could it be portal transfers, freshman talent spread all over, I have no key for the apparent change.

I was watching the Warriors-Lakers and realized this fact…the Warriors have a Lilliputian lineup. That certainly wasn’t the reason they lost 115-113 to my Lakers but check this out. The roster list 7 foot 238 pound Quinten Post, he played his college ball at Boston College, here’s the problem. The ESPN site contained no stats so is he playing or not, I don’t know? The balance of the Warriors lineup contains three guys who stand 6 foot 9, that’s it in the height department. Will they compete with such a small lineup, only the remainder of the 2024-25 season will tell the tale.