I like the current NBA but no way were the 2000-today Lakers as fun to watch as the Showtime Lakers.
And the current Celts aren't the Bird Celtics.
Those are very high standards, though. If you're talking about the Showtime Lakers and Bird Celts you're talking about two teams that were among the most interesting in NBA history. I don't think there's any shame in not being their equal. The current era Celtics and Lakers have had some exciting teams and have been fun to watch.
I would say the Bad Boys=Heat is good. Although, the Bad Boys were sort of the likable villain. The Heat were sort of whiny jerk villains last year. But they are very compelling, no doubt. And I think Lebron is starting to get it. Poking fun at himself in the McDonalds ads was smart. He made himself more likable with those, in my opinion.
I think the NBA is great right now. The NHL too, by the way. Both leagues have been very entertaining the last few years.

The playoffs are worth watching, but the regular season sucks unless you attend the game.

Nah, just voicing my honest opinion. Not trying to force it on anyone else. I understand we all like what we like and there is no right or wrong about it.

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The reason why ppl don't like NBA. It's because it is now Euro Trash infested. Think about it. Ever since it went international, casual fans haven't cared as much about it. What is the most popular sport in the US? NFL, by far. And there are literally no international players. Hmm ?

I just clicked on this thread and randomly read this post.

Gotta say, that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

LOL, I mean, I'm not really serious, but it seems right as Euro Trash came to the NBA. It dropped off in popularity.

The Euro players are part of the reason it got better, I think. They run and shoot. It was Steve Francis and AI and them that did the whole dribble out the shot clock, then drive the lane with 5 seconds to go and jack up some crappy shot iso-game. Not the Euros.

It has more to do with the fact that everything is under the microscope more than it used to be because of the internet, and player's images can't hold up under the scrutiny.

Because of that, you don't have the Magic-Bird-Jordan celebrity to sell the sport.

There is some rumblings that a deal is close so hopefully we won't have to miss the NBA much longer

I don't miss the NBA now, but the other day I saw a rerun of a Bulls/Lakers game from the 88-89 season and couldn't keep my eyes off it. Nothing from the past 10-15 years matches watching Magic, Kareem and James Worthy going up against MJ, Scottie, etc.

The only thing better would be if the league dissolved and I never had to hear about it ever again.

This is a HUGE part of it. Bird and Jordan were assholes. Magic was an arrogant womanizer. Those guys would get slaughtered in today's media with the likes of Twitter and Deadspin.