As the 2017 NBA Playoffs unfold, a large topic of conversation among the league’s most ardent fans has been the sheer predictability. There is very little chance that anyone usurps the Golden State Warriors or the Cleveland Cavaliers before the Finals. Even the Finals seem like a formality with Golden State’s dominance, although the possibility of LeBron James things happening adds some intrigue.
It’s an interesting topic of debate: is predictability on that large scale a bad thing for the NBA? According to Cavs’ coach Tyronn Lue, it’s not and he gave a historical example as to why.
Following via Dave McMenamin of ESPN:
“Is it a problem? I don’t think so,” Lue said Wednesday, with Cleveland holding its first practice since sweeping Toronto on Sunday to advance to the conference finals for the third straight year. “I think a lot of people wanted to see Boston and the Lakers back in the day. I think nowadays, a lot of people want to see Golden State-Cavs. And it’s not a problem. Right now, it’s two of the teams playing some of the best basketball right now.
“So two of the teams that have been in back-to-back Finals — so, why not? Why not want to see it again?” Lue said. “I don’t see why it would be a problem. I think last year had some of the best ratings, I think, in NBA history. I think now with them adding [Kevin] Durant and the way they’re playing, the way we’re playing, it can be even higher.”
Lue definitely has a point. The NBA has never been about parity; the Celtics and Lakers are a prime example on an even larger scale than the current run shared by the Cavs and Warriors.
Nevertheless, we’re headed for the first ever three-time rematch of an NBA Finals. In some ways, that’s really cool and adds intrigue as a grudge match of sorts between the two squads. On the other hand, it lowers a lot of the entertainment value of the rest of the playoffs due to the predictability.
