Poll: Is the Media treating LeBron's loss as if the NBA Playoffs are over?

[fairweatherfan]

They're playing to their audience...and the truth is, most of the country stops paying attention once they see it's not going to be a Kobe vs. LeBron finals.

Bingo, NBA wanted Kobe vs. LeBron this year (and last year).  Kobe vs. Dwight is their consolation prize.  LA vs. BOS can be trumped up as a re-match for the ages.  Their worst nightmare at this point is PHO vs. BOS.

But it's a rematch of the Greatest Game Ever Played!  I think Phoenix-Orlando is the worst-case for the league though - Howard is a popular player but the Magic just don't have the fanbase the Celtics do.

[Onslaught]

The Playoffs aren't over? 

[Birdbrain]

It is pathetic.  And almost had me feeling bad that Boston literally killed the city of Cleveland.  But then I started to think about this with regards to the media view point and thought about all the story lines of LJ in finals or Will he Won't he leave stories they probably had planned all the way through the playoffs now destroyed and cheered back up again.  So no this is going to brief and come Sunday the story will die down when the real games start.

[ibby]

I think part of it is only four fan bases are left in the NBA (Boston, Orlando, LA, and Phoenix).  Now LA and Boston's fan bases are huge.  Orlando's is relatively young and had its most success ever last year.  I have no idea what type of fans Phoenix has.

But with LeBron you affect the entire league.  Especially Chicago, NY, LA (Clippers), Miami which are five of the top 10 media markets.  Let's also not forget that Atlanta could offer him a deal which is another top 10 market.  

Boston and LA are top 10 markets, Phoenix is not, I don't think Orlando even cracks the top 20.  But, between Chicago, NY, part of LA, Miami, Atlanta, and Cleveland, that's a lot more fans interested in LeBron than the NBA Playoffs.

[fairweatherfan]

I understand the significance of LeBron possibly leaving, and the shock of Cleveland collapsing in the playoffs again, but it seems like the hypotheticals have become more important than the actual results.  Whatever he does, we won't know til July, and we won't know if it worked until next May at the very earliest. 

Meanwhile, Game 6 got ESPN its highest NBA ratings ever - you'd think they'd want to build some ratings momentum for the ECF rather than continue to focus on the guy who's done playing.

[ibby]

I would bet that a lot of those ratings came from Chicago, NY, Miami, et al..  There were stories about Spike Lee routing for Boston (which I believe is a sign of the apocalypse) so that the Knicks would have a better shot at getting LeBron.

I don't pretend to be an expert on media analysis, but from the little I do know, I would bet LeBron speculation holds more interest than Conference Finals, or even NBA Finals as it has a lot to do with the overall fate of the league.  I'm not even sure if I'm using hyperbole there.

[Birdbrain]

I would bet that a lot of those ratings came from Chicago, NY, Miami, et al..  There were stories about Spike Lee routing for Boston (which I believe is a sign of the apocalypse) so that the Knicks would have a better shot at getting LeBron.

I don't pretend to be an expert on media analysis, but from the little I do know, I would bet LeBron speculation holds more interest than Conference Finals, or even NBA Finals as it has a lot to do with the overall fate of the league.  I'm not even sure if I'm using hyperbole there.

You are underestimating how many Laker fans there are.  Also I doubt very seriously a Boston LA finals won't be the biggest story line.  It would basically be both teams trying to repeat (KG).

[ibby]

I would bet that a lot of those ratings came from Chicago, NY, Miami, et al..  There were stories about Spike Lee routing for Boston (which I believe is a sign of the apocalypse) so that the Knicks would have a better shot at getting LeBron.

I don't pretend to be an expert on media analysis, but from the little I do know, I would bet LeBron speculation holds more interest than Conference Finals, or even NBA Finals as it has a lot to do with the overall fate of the league.  I'm not even sure if I'm using hyperbole there.

You are underestimating how many Laker fans there are.  Also I doubt very seriously a Boston LA finals won't be the biggest story line.  It would basically be both teams trying to repeat (KG).

No question an LA-Boston Final would be huge, so would an LA-Orlando final (rematch from last year with a healthy Nelson), but imagine if it was Phoenix-Orlando.  I think LeBron carries more weight than that series.  I think LeBron carries more weight than a Suns-Celtics series as well.

And there is no question that Lakers fans outweigh Clippers fans 1231 to 1, but some Lakers fans would jump ship (no pun intended) to the Clippers if LeBron signed with them (which he won't).