On Thursday, June 12, 2008, the "fun" of the NBA Finals continued to expand, and despite the series having lost its suspense, viewership actually increased!
When ESPN/ABC announced that the peak viewership for Game 3 exceeded 11.6, many industry insiders exclaimed how absurd it was—how could a game with no suspense be so entertaining?
Facts proved that many casual fans only paid attention to the Finals once a year and didn't care about the championship's outcome.
They just wanted to participate in the conversation and not seem out of touch.
If there was even more fun during the viewing, giving spectators something to talk about, then the series would directly break out of its niche!
Pure sports fans always talked about the past "Magic vs. Bird rivalry," always reminiscing about Michael Jordan defeating the Bad Boy Pistons.
The past was always good, while the present was always disappointing.
But ultimately, all these experiences were essentially "exciting stories."
The NBA is for entertaining the public.
Competitiveness only accounts for a small part.
To attract more attention, it needs to "tell good stories."
Ever since the Los Angeles Lakers' "Elderly F4" disbanded and the New York Knicks constantly crushed their opponents, the entire NBA went downhill.
Changing broadcasters, declining viewership, and advertisers leaving led some practitioners to exclaim, "New York has ruined the NBA! No one wants to see them keep winning!"
As a result, this year proved them wrong.
Fans weren't buying in because the games were "boring."
When excellent supporting characters appeared on the Finals stage, the storytelling returned, and even casual spectators who didn't follow basketball would join the excitement.
David Stern, while preparing for the awards ceremony rehearsal this morning, spoke with a smile to reporters about the success of this year's Finals:
"Our brand once faced a crisis, but now I can confidently say that the NBA will get better and better in the future, and more teams will succeed like the New York Knicks!"
"Like the fans, I really enjoyed this year's matchup between Kobe Bryant and Clay Lee. It was a basketball feast, and I thank both teams for bringing us such wonderful games."
"..."
During the Finals, David Stern actually participated in many charity events in New York, though most of the time he acted alongside the New York Knicks.
There weren't many related reports, but it still drew complaints from Los Angeles Lakers fans.
However, after three brutal beatings, the fans who were shouting "fix" disappeared.
Anyone with a basic understanding of basketball could easily see the gap between the two teams.
A group of basketball commentators also found their "traffic code" through this year's experience.
Through data analysis, it was not difficult to find that "criticizing and praising" articles were more popular and caused more controversy.
Professional basketball commentary articles were difficult to gain favor with more fans.
Emotional output was the right way!
Under such circumstances, on the second day after Game 3, basketball commentators split into two factions: one continued to support the "hardworking Kobe," while the other heavily praised the "true GOAT Lee."
Both sides declared that their supported star had won.
If one didn't frequently surf the internet, seeing these news items would be confusing:
"When did the NBA Finals start awarding two O'Brien Cups?"
Such abstract news made fans "fiercely tear into each other."
Lee's die-hard fans were also confused.
The Los Angeles Lakers lost so badly and could still be praised.
If they had won, wouldn't New York's championship have been revoked!
New York fans stormed the Los Angeles Lakers' section of Reddit on the night Game 3 ended, with the entire screen filled with "Mr. Best" related posts.
The fierce online confrontation between the two sides had already made it to USA Today.
Facts once again proved that men also idolize, and those who used to mock "American silly girls" were now hit with a boomerang...
Whenever there was news about Kobe on ESPN, Lee's fans and New York fans would always appear below.
Additionally, with more and more bandwagon fans, Kobe's die-hard fans were formidable in battle, otherwise the situation would have been a one-sided mockery.
TNT, which didn't have the Finals broadcasting rights, also didn't expect this year's viewership to be so excellent.
Seeing that all the "buzz" was being absorbed by their competitors, the pre-game show's trio had no choice but to "strike hard."
ESPN has studios in Connecticut and Los Angeles, while TNT is currently still in Atlanta.
The original plan was just to talk about the game, but only saying that wouldn't interest most fans.
To make the show more exciting, live commentator Reggie Miller appeared in the studio this time.
As soon as the show began, the director played an interesting highlight reel.
Few sports media outlets edited the performance of role players, but TNT specifically edited Sasha Vujacic's poor performance in Game 3: 1-for-9 from the field, 0-for-5 from three-point range, and 2-for-4 from the free-throw line, contributing 4 points to the team.
In this highlight reel, Sasha Vujacic missed open shots on offense, drove into crowds and lost the ball, and made errant lob passes;
On Defense, he was very impetuous.
Sasha Vujacic was faked out by Raja Bell, committed a blocking foul, and made a mindless defensive switch that left a three-point shooter open.
When the camera returned to the studio, Reggie Miller, wearing a black suit, spread his hands towards the camera, a helpless expression on his face, and then said with a hint of meaning:
"I respect every player, but this is the Finals. Kobe Bryant shouldn't have a backcourt partner like that."
"Look at Clay Lee's partners and bench players. Raja Bell should have been selected to the All-Defense team this season. JR Smith's performance in Game 3 was a bit poor, but he is still a Sixth Man-level player."
"Rajon Rondo has technical flaws, but he plays very smartly. Considering this is only his second season, he has a chance to grow into an All-Star in the future."
"Note, this is just the backcourt in terms of the lineup! Tayshaun Prince can swing from point guard to power forward, and Boris Diaw can even play from point guard to center."
When Charles Barkley heard this, he tilted his head and interrupted Reggie Miller's lengthy speech, asking gruffly:
"So what are you trying to prove? That Kobe Bryant lacks help?"
"Come on! He's playing with an MVP, and Clay Lee hasn't had an MVP teammate in his career so far!"
"The NBA won't allow two MVPs to play on the same team! We all know this. Kobe Bryant just lost because of the lineup. New York spent nearly $100 million this season. That's the difference!"
Presenting the data, Reggie Miller also turned his head and retorted loudly.
The two began a fierce "confrontation" from the start, declaring which player they supported.
"Kobe Bryant has been on our show. We talked face-to-face, and I questioned his shot selection, but I also respect his way of playing."
"I'm not interested in talking about role players. I watched the game, and I believe my own eyes. Lee completely dominated Kobe, he dominated him in every aspect. During the game, Kobe couldn't even dribble steadily!"
"Get 40 points, then blame others! Kobe is the reason the Los Angeles Lakers lost. The best player? He looks like a joke!"
Charles Barkley also began to loudly express his opinion, blaming Kobe for the loss and even stripping him of his "Best Player Award."
As if to add credibility, the director cooperatively displayed the two players' statistics, which made Kenny Smith, who was standing by, shake his head repeatedly.
"8-for-26 from the field, 1-for-5 from three-point range, 9-for-14 from the free-throw line, 26 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers."
"16-for-22 from the field, 5-for-9 from three-point range, 9-for-9 from the free-throw line, 46 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, 1 turnover."
ABC chose photos of the two celebrating with clenched fists in their broadcast, while TNT chose a comparative shot of Kobe's frustrated hands and Lee shaking his head while retreating on Defense.
"No matter how many times I watch it, I find it unbelievable! Facing the Los Angeles Lakers' double-teams and help Defense, Clay Lee's true shooting percentage reached 88.6%!"
"This isn't the best stat of the series, but it also means that every time Lee shot, he scored. Most of the New York Knicks' points were related to him."
"Keep in mind that Clay Lee only played 34 minutes, while Kobe played 41 minutes. The difference between them is too great!"
Kenny Smith usually doesn't have a strong stance, but this time he also believed that Lee completely dominated Kobe.
Seeing Reggie Miller shaking his head helplessly, Ernie Johnson also didn't want the topic to stop there and fanned the flames again:
"It seems we haven't reached an agreement, Reggie. We all know about your conflict with Kobe. Why do you still call him the best player?"
Towards the end of his career, Old Miller and Kobe had exchanged blows, and their relationship had always been strained, but after retiring, Old Miller always liked to praise Kobe's performance.
"I don't think championships are the only measure of everything! Lee is a born winner. God has bestowed upon him unparalleled talent."
"But for ordinary basketball players, Kobe is an excellent role model! He trains hard, is very dedicated to basketball, loyal to his family, and loyal to his city!"
"In Game 3, almost half of the Los Angeles fans left, but Kobe still insisted on playing in the fourth quarter. We all know how difficult that is. He has given everything."
"Hard work, loyalty, plus Kobe has also won championships. In my opinion, he is the best player! He makes young people understand that hard work can also lead to the highest stage of basketball!"
As he spoke, Reggie Miller involuntarily raised his voice.
He himself believed it.
The TNT script was well-designed.
At least this segment could bring tears to the eyes of Kobe's die-hard fans.
TNT's pre-game show quickly sparked heated discussion.
Not everyone liked Lee, and not everyone liked winners.
Rebellious young people sometimes prefer the niche, and the more people questioned Kobe, the more firmly they supported him.
Reggie Miller had clearly become their "spokesperson"!
Soon, fans expressed their support for Kobe on Facebook and Twitter.
In their hearts, Kobe, who played hard, was the best player in the NBA.
This year's hot Rookie, Russell Westbrook, expressed his support for his idol on his Twitter:
"Kobe Bryant taught me how to face failure! I will always support him!"
The Seattle SuperSonics were preparing to move, and Kevin Durant had already received news from management that they were interested in this Defense guard.
After the tryout, the two also exchanged contact information and social media.
Kevin Durant, who had recently been obsessed with Twitter, saw Russell Westbrook's tweet and couldn't help but show his true colors, jokingly commenting below:
"Man, I just want to be a winner like Clay Lee! He taught me how to win!"
"."
The Rookies who were expected to enter the NBA this year all joined in the fun.
NCAA players also split into two factions, but no matter how everyone debated online, the anticipation for G4 was once again at its peak.
While praising Kobe, the "marginal teammates" suffered.
TNT's editing made Sasha Vujacic "explode" in popularity, and the blame for G3 was directly placed on him.
Many casual fans did not understand the inside story.
Comparing the New York Knicks to the poor performance of the Los Angeles Lakers role players, they began to sympathize with Kobe for a time.
Before the start of G4, the public opinion about Kobe's poor performance suddenly showed a tendency to reverse.
Most players in the NBA are affected by outside public opinion.
Sometimes, locker room explosions are the fault of the team's reporters and local media.
To grab eyeballs, media professionals have very low standards.
For Rookie players in the Finals, it's naturally unpleasant to see the awards ceremony rehearsal at the home Staples Center during practice.
Coupled with many commentators assigning blame, the locker room atmosphere became even worse.
The game officially started at 6 PM.
In the afternoon, many of Kobe's die-hard fans expressed their support in front of the Staples Center, with some extreme fans even cursing Sasha Vujacic.
In the last game, everyone received attention, and the reporters' questions were all about their vision for the game.
But today, the situation was completely different.
The most frequently asked question was:
"Will you provide more help to Kobe tonight?"
Sasha Vujacic, who had prepared early for warm-ups, cursed softly as he entered the locker room, his face showing an angry expression.
In just one day, he had become the culprit for the loss.
Thinking of TNT's editing, Sasha Vujacic looked at his teammates, shaking his medium-length hair, and complained loudly:
"These people are crazy! We were so far behind in the first quarter, if I don't shoot threes, how do we catch up! Do they know this was the coach's arrangement? Fuck! They're all reporting nonsense!"
"You guys have to help me explain!Everyone is blaming me, damn it! I only played 1 minute in the first quarter."
PJ Brown can be called a true veteran.
He had some unpleasantness with the Hornets in Charlotte and was long accustomed to media fabrications.
Looking at his angry teammate, he casually joked:
"No one will listen to our explanation. This NBA has special treatment for superstars!"
"Would you buy a loser's sneakers? Get it, man! Sometimes the game is also a business. What the fans want, those reporters write. Who the hell cares about the truth!"
"How many players are abandoned by their teams when injured? White players even get preferential treatment! We are just small characters, and no one cares about our feelings."
PJ Brown, leaning back in his seat, spoke in a cynical tone like someone who had been through it all.
He was also a player under Mark Bartelstein and naturally understood some of the commercial value of superstars like Lee.
Lamar Odom, who had just taken off his shirt, also strolled out.
Seeing Sasha Vujacic's helpless rage, he laughed along and then self-deprecatingly joked:
"I bet 1000 dollars that after the Finals, there will definitely be trade rumors about me again!"
"Does anyone care about my feelings? You'll get used to it, Bro. At least now many people know your name, and you've gained attention. Maybe that's a good thing!"
Luke Walton and Ariza remained silent.
The former only played garbage time and had no chance to be blamed, while the latter was "crashed" by Lee and instead gained the sympathy of fans.
Hearing Lamar Odom eloquently recount his history of being traded by the Los Angeles Lakers, everyone gradually joined in the gallows humor, laughing and joking about their "unlucky" teammates.
When Derek Fisher and Kobe appeared one after another in the locker room, the cheerful atmosphere instantly vanished.
Old Fish, as the Players Union president, actually had a good relationship with everyone.
These two days, he had been responsible for communicating with Duncan, whose MVP teammate was losing his composure.
"I know it's hard right now, everyone is mocking us."
"They are mocking me, man! You should watch TNT's show!"
An agitated Sasha Vujacic interrupted Derek Fisher.
Kobe had been trying to calm his emotions for the past two days, but he still looked unhappy at this moment, glaring at everyone with a dark face.
No one met his gaze, which Kobe was very pleased with.
As a leader, he naturally had to calm the locker room:
"The Los Angeles Lakers will not reject players who work hard. As long as you give your all on the Staples Center, I promise no one will blame you. Losing is my responsibility!"
"Tonight we have to win the game. The series isn't over yet! Don't read those boring newspapers. As long as you train hard, the team won't give up on anyone."
"."
Everyone responded to Kobe's pep talk, but Sasha Vujacic was still very dissatisfied.
Kobe's extreme fans had been attacking him, and in his frustration, he muttered:
"No one cares about me. Why don't they broadcast your matchup highlights?"
The already somewhat quiet locker room suddenly fell completely silent.
Kobe, who was still bumping fists with everyone, pursed his lips, his face growing darker.
Under the "death glare," Sasha Vujacic still cowered, shrugging his shoulders somewhat dejectedly and lowering his head to apologize:
"Sorry, I'm just feeling a bit down. You know, those reporters are all mocking me. I will always support you!"
Kobe stared intensely at Sasha Vujacic for a while longer, which made the locker room atmosphere tense.
Fortunately, in the end, the Boss just calmly said:
"I hope you can perform better. Remember! We have to win tonight's game."
Chris Mihm, who had been injured, saw Kobe leave and forced a smile, spreading his hands and saying helplessly:
"I think everyone can contact their agents early. In recent years, trades are usually finalized as soon as the free market opens."
"Just wanted to remind you all, if you want to win a championship, the Los Angeles Lakers might still bring in All-Star players. A big three? Maybe someone has already made a move."
Jordan Farmar, as a mood-setter, had very little playing time.
Although he didn't have to take the blame, the terrible locker room atmosphere still made the Rookie very uncomfortable, shattering all his fantasies.
There was no "brotherhood."
For the championship, the team would only make ruthless trades.
Jordan Farmar touched his buzz cut and, not finding his "Good Brother" Duncan, immediately whispered:
"Tim was always the first to arrive at the Staples Center. What happened to him? He doesn't talk in practice and doesn't accept interviews."
Turiaf was tidying his dreadlocks.
The Rookie's question made him purse his lips.
After observing and not finding the Boss, he immediately whispered:
"Kobe was blown out by Lee! Maybe Tim had high hopes before. The San Antonio Spurs lost in the Finals because of their perimeter play. Perhaps he can't accept such a result."
"Ball distribution is also an issue. In short, losing like this, if it were me, it would also be hard to accept this result."
With the Boss not around, everyone began gossiping.
Derek Fisher also laughed and joined the conversation, and the group chattered, lamenting:
"Lee is incredibly strong, this guy is practically a Superman! Maybe he's a mutant, like an X-Men."
"God is so unfair, why don't I have that kind of talent!"
"Shaquille O'Neal is such a jerk, this guy plans to book the whole place and treat everyone."
Duncan was not in the mood to pay attention to the locker room situation.
In fact, he had arrived very early, but had been sitting in the Cadillac SUV he bought after arriving in Los Angeles, which was his wife's suggestion.
From San Antonio to Los Angeles, his living standards began to upgrade, but after losing in the Finals, Duncan found himself unhappy.
His wife's transformation even made him feel like a stranger.
He vaguely heard complaints from his other half, which completely broke down the already injured Duncan.
His career and family suddenly had problems, and the double blow made him feel extremely uncomfortable.
He pulled out a San Antonio Spurs team photo from the passenger seat storage.
It was a photo taken when they filmed a commercial, and everyone was smiling happily.
Losing in the Finals, no one texted him.
Bruce Bowen had publicly questioned him not long ago.
With friends turning against him, Duncan pulled out his phone, and Gregg Popovich also had no response, which made him reflect:
"Did I make the wrong choice?"
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)