A B’KLYN BOOST?
Nets need Harden to pump up YES ratings
No matter how you cut it, the Nets will either become a twisted reality show, appealing to those who cherish chaos, or a legitimate title contender attracting eyeballs and high TV ratings.
In case you had not figured it out, there’s a big gap between the two.
The arrival of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant were supposed to produce the later and then some. That has not exactly happened. The Nets ratings are up, but not nearly as much as expected.
Through 11 games on YES, the Nets are averaging 72,000 total viewers, up 18% from the 61,000 total viewers averaged through the same number of games last season. It’s not a reach to suggest YES suits had visions of much higher numbers with two of the game’s marquee superstars on the Brooklyn roster. In fairness, the Nets played three of those games (Dec. 27, Jan. 3 and Jan. 10) on Sunday evening up against the NFL’s product. And both Durant and Irving were out for a few of those games.
No more excuses. For now, along comes James Harden ,a scoring machine who claims he’s just looking to win an NBA title. He should be an eyeball magnet, a guy who along with Durant and Irving, could really juice YES’s Nets ratings, right? You think maybe they could at least squeeze out an average of 100,000 viewers?
Not so fast. Again, is this going to be a circus or must-see basketball? If viewers are turned off by any antics, like Irving pulling an extended Houdini (he was expected to be in the lineup on Saturday), this will make it harder for eyeballs to relate to and watch the Nets.
The once highly likeable team made up of young over-achieving players acquired by the Mastermind, Sean Marks, is gonzo. Now the Nets are known for their high-ticket mercenaries. Reminds us of another YES product, the big-ticket Yankees. Their loyalists cherish the mega contract, win at all cost acquisitions. Will Nets fans feel the same?
It appears there is already more sadness over the loss of Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince and Rodions Kurucs than there is over the arrival of Harden.
That sentimentality won’t stop YES and the Nets from trying to further cash in on its trio of stars. In a couple of weeks, according to a report in Sportico, YES’ telecasts will have virtual advertisements on the court during home and road games. The decision to clutter the court with ads was made shortly after the Harden deal went down. Will the ratings justify whatever the ads are selling for?
Don’t look now but the Nets have a big problem — an image problem. One of their stars, Irving, is totally unpredictable. Harden is a villain for the way he oozed himself out of Houston and disappearing, on the court, during playoff games. And the sensitive Durant (at least in some media precincts), is characterized as the guy who really is running the Nets. Not a great combination or mix. And the perception will get worse if they underachieve on the court.
Or under perform in the TV ratings department.
KNICK GAINS
While the Nets have an image problem, the Knicks, under the guidance of Tom Thibodeau, may be in the process of turning their rancid one around.
Or maybe it’s just the fact Knicks viewers on MSG, because of COVID-19 protocols, don’t see James (Guitar Jimmy) Dolan sulking in his traditional end-court seat.
Seriously though, when the Knicks went on their early run of wins, those media types who usually deal in the whimsical, went totally gaga, wondering what the Garden would sound like if fans were allowed in, while realists in the crowd knew the other shoe would soon drop.
Yet when it did, when the losses came, the response, from friend and foe alike, was measured, mostly because the Knicks are perceived to be conducting their business the right way — building from the bottom up.
Thibodeau, for now, has convinced the cynics he knows what he is doing.
Oh yeah, and maybe all the attention Nets current state of dysfunction is receiving is providing media cover for the Knickerbockers.
THE SALEH HYPE
Never underestimate the power of the sports TV director, the person calling the camera shots — especially in the NFL.
In the run-up to the Jets hiring Robert Saleh as their head coach, the first-time-long-time crowd sounded like they actually knew the former 49ers defensive coordinator, applauding him for his energy. Their familiarity came from seeing him, many, many times on TV running down the sidelines, animated and energetic.
It was those NFL TV directors, whether they work for Fox, CBS, ESPN or NBC, who decided to put Saleh on camera so often. They have the power to hype or not to hype. It’s those same directors who decide not to give another coach or coordinator much air time.
Going into the Jets search, Saleh already had a well-established personality and image with Jets fans. It will be interesting to see how much time this photogenic coach will have for any outside media endeavors.
THE REAL MIKE
Whether you agree with NBC Sports for dumping Mike Milbury or not, over what the suits deemed a sexist comment, it’s hard to argue that his departure drills a hole in the soul of the Peacock’s NHL coverage.
Like him, love him or loath him, Milbury was all about delivering unvarnished opinions. He was a truth teller. No matter who he worked with in NBC’s NHL studio, Milbury was not shy about engaging in give-and-take. And that’s putting it mildly.
Unlike, other analysts in all sports, Milbury was himself — real.
Controversial? Yes. Phony? Never. He was the most entertaining of all of NBC’s NHL voices. Milbury could make you angry. He also could make you laugh. And think too. In his own way, Milbury transcended the game.
So what if he rarely smiled or wasn’t Mister Congeniality. He was on that set to take care of business.
And he always did.