evidently, news to me too

There are those that will never like the NBA....fine. But I'd be curious to hear from those that were once NBA fans -- what's different about the league today than when you were a fan?

I believe the NBA is/was moving into a really exciting phase, with great teams, great players who do things the right way, and bad guys (Miami Heat) to play the villain role.

I miss it, but I'm a basketball junkie and enjoy watching the best players in the world.

The biggest problem is the length of the season. Players just can't give max effort for that many games. That isn't new, though.

The newer problem is that there are SO many teams that just can't compete. All of the stars go to one of a handful of markets. People bitch about that in baseball, but there are too many players on a baseball team for it to matter as much. When there are only 8 players that matter, 1 or 2 players can really shift the balance.

This just in; 76% of Americans don't give a crap about anything.

FAX

meh

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/G69nsT_WaIo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Your just one person in that area. The Suns are a pretty decent team or have been for years. They probably have no problems filling that place up nearly every game right?

I was a huge NBA fan as a kid in the 80s through the MJ era. Used to sneak downstairs after bedtime at night to be able to watch the playoffs between the Showtime Lakers and the Bird Celtics. Before that I rooted for Dr. J and his 6ers to get a ring for the Doc. Moses Malone, Cheeks, Toney, Jones and Jones along with Julius were great to watch play. Bad Boy Celtics, Malone & Stock in Utah were great to watch. Clyde and the Nigerian in Houston, even the Cavs were all part of a great time in the NBA.

Michael came just in time to take over for Magic and Larry. Fantastic ball, great rivalries, team play and hard D.

The minute MJ left was the day the music died and the song hasn't been close to the same since.

This.

It's hard to watch the bad games that get broadcasted, but I will watch some of the juicier regular season match ups. And of course I watch as many playoff games as I possibly can.

I couldn't care less.

Also, I ****ing hate MLB. Baseball itself can go die in a fire. It's the most boring piece of shit ever.

But once the NBA/NHL playoffs are over, there's a lull in the summer with no sports. And I need SOMETHING to fill that vacuum.

That is, until NFL training camps start to get going. Then I'm cool with not paying attention to baseball again.

I'll admit there was a lull after MJ for a good number of years but I don't know, 5-8 years ago the league really started to be infused with some special players.

I'd argue the talent is far better today than vs the Jordan era.

When I think of the Jordan era and great players, I think...

Jordan, Barkley, Drexler, Ewing, Malone, Shawn Kemp for a short period.... Starting to run out already.

Shoot now in the league you have a few guys with Jordan like skills. Obviously not Jordan but amazing game.

Bryant, James, Wade, Durant, Rose, Nowitzki, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Tim Duncan (although getting up there).

I don't know what's not to like.

There is no parity in the league. Only a handful of markets have any hope to win a title.

The game is boring to watch. The games are too long and riddled with fouls and free throws. About 75% of a broadcast is players standing around or walking around. It's less engaging than televised baseball even is.

The league has been turned into being about individuals and egos. Watch highlights - all about facial expressions, gestures, emoting, fouls, crying to referees, who disrespected who... It's a soap opera. There are not really any compelling stories about the sport. It's just a cartoonish drama. Sports-entertainment..

Watching the NBA is not at all like it was 20 years ago even if you take out the fact that the league's stars used to be likeable players and seemed like good guys. It's not at all entertaining.

On and off. They sold out for like 150+ games in a row when they were good then that streak ended in like 2009.
PHX is the fair-weather fan capital of the country. Most, like me, have loyalties that lie elsewhere and will go see a local team if they are winning.

Honestly the league has always been about individuals and star players. The NBA wasn't nearly what it was popularity wise before Bird & Magic. They took it to another level. Then the Jordan era.

Nothing wrong with how they market the sport IMO.

Nailed it.