NBA Battling Notion That It Would Prefer a Lakers-Cavs Finals
 |
Stern Downplays Idea That Not Having James
In Finals Would Be Disappointment |
The Magic and Cavaliers tonight will tip off the Eastern Conference Finals, and there is "chatter among fans" that the NBA "would much rather see" the Cavaliers make the NBA finals, according to Andrea Adelson of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. The NBA has "had to battle the perception that the league is fixed for some time," and "perhaps fans from smaller markets feel their teams feel somewhat paranoid because they are not in bigger markets." Magic blog "Third Quarter Collapse" Contributing Editor Eddy Rivera said, "Perception is reality. There's been a lot of problems with the NBA with officiating this year and in the past. The NBA has done a poor job of cleaning up that perception. Fans of any team are running with that." But ESPN NBA analyst Avery Johnson said, "There shouldn't be any preconceived notions. Nobody's going to get cheated. The referees are going to call the games fairly. There isn't going to be any bias." TNT NBA studio host Ernie Johnson adds, "The league is not trying to manufacture a final. If they were, then Boston would be playing Cleveland" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5/20). NBA Commissioner David Stern yesterday "downplayed the idea" that having Cavaliers F LeBron James in the finals "would be a windfall for the league." Stern: "You mean as opposed to Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony or Kobe Bryant. None. We have nothing but stars" (AP, 5/19). But in L.A., Mike Penner writes when it "comes to the NBA Finals matchup that would most benefit the league and ABC, there is the Big One and three other less satisfying options." Penner notes the "whole regular season felt like a long setup" to Lakers-Cavaliers, "Bryant versus James" (L.A. TIMES, 5/20).
HANDLING THE SITUATION: Stern said that he has "not personally spoken" to Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban since the team's Western Conference Semifinal series against the Nuggets, though Stern "has had someone speak to him." Cuban during the series was involved in an incident with Nuggets F Kenyon Martin’s mother, and Stern said of Cuban, "I expect him to be relatively quiescent on this subject through the conference finals and the finals and then we will talk more about it after" (AP, 5/19).
|
Related Stories By Company
|
Related Stories By Sport
|
NBPA Says Total Player Compensation Down
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
NBA Hires Mutombo As Global Ambassador
November 16, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Nets To N.Y. Not Necessity For Prokhorov
November 16, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
LeBron Says He May Switch To No. 6 Jersey
November 13, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
NBA Digital Launches NBA TV Companion
November 12, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
Ticket Package Offered For Flyers, 76ers
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
NBPA Says Total Player Compensation Down
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Magic Johnson, Cisco Team For Initiative
November 19, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Nets Finding Unique Ways To Draw Fans
November 19, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Grizzlies Optimistic Despite AI Departure
November 18, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
|
