TV execs unimpressed
MIAMI — The Miami Heat’s 13-game winning streak turned into a national story. The Miami Heat have not.
The Heat’s next two road games had been scheduled for national television until the Heat’s losing record got in the way. So Monday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks was removed from TNT’s schedule, with Friday’s game against the Orlando Magic eliminated fromESPN’s schedule, the league announced Friday.
In the place of those games will be Indiana Pacers at Houston Rockets on Monday night and Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks on Friday night. The Heat’s nationally stricken games remain available in South Florida on Fox Sports Sun, as well asNBA League Pass.
The upshot is the Heat solely will remain local fare for the balance of the season barring any changes in the other direction.
“Of course I’d want fans to watch us play,” said center Hassan Whiteside, as the Heat turned their attention to Saturday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers at AmericanAirlines Arena. “But that’s a decision theNBA makes.”
With national games including additional timeouts and a longer halftime, there are those who prefer the typical timing.
“I don’t even care,” guard Goran Dragic said. “It’s nice to fly under the radar.”
But players also want to be part of meaningful moments.
“Of course everybody wants to play on national TV, but it is what it is,” Dragic said.
Whiteside said he was unaware that the league adjusts the national-television schedule based on teams’ records, but said the consolation for those who want to see him play is the games remain available nationally on paid-subscription League Pass.
“I still think the national game carries a lot of weight,” he said. “But the basketball fans, they’ve got League Pass. But the average fan and most people, they get to see the national TV games as a big deal.”
Dragic said as long as games can be found somewhere, he knows someone willbewatching back in his native Slovenia.
“For me, that’s huge,” he said, “because even back in Europe, where my parents are watching the games, they go on the League Pass.” going to rest guys and the other guys got to step up like we’ve been doing all season.
“We’ll be ready. Butwe’ll have a decent amount of cushion, I hope, when we rest those guys..”
Spoelstra