Let’s talk a little bit about the NBA action with a Game 7 that took place on a Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. ET, which drew massive numbers. It’s great to see big games played earlier in the day, particularly with great teams. The ratings were off the charts! Can we see more of this in the future instead of burying some of these games at nine or ten o’clock at night? As long as you’re not competing against the USFL or XFL, you’ll do fine.

The Playoffs: Great Teams Rising to the Occasion

During the regular season, we see teams not performing well, but when it comes to the playoffs, they come back with a vengeance. Take, for example, the Sacramento Kings, who were America’s darling. Great teams like the Warriors and Heat become part of a great series. These NBA and NHL series are all about great stories.

The Warriors and Lakers Showdown

Tonight’s NBA slate features the Warriors and Lakers, which begins at 9 PM. It’s a standalone game that I imagine the league would prefer to start at 8 o’clock, especially since it’s a standalone game. It’s the same debate we had with Monday Night Football when we talked about starting games closer to 9 to appeal to the west coast audience.

East Coast vs. West Coast Tension

The Stars are playing tonight in Dallas, which is in the middle part of the country. It’s the second game of an NHL doubleheader, and the Panthers are up early. The start time for this game is 8:30 Central, 9:30 Eastern. It’s a day-by-day decision, but there’s always tension between the east coast and west coast audience.

Final Thoughts

Whether it’s the NBA or NHL, it’s all about great storylines that you didn’t expect. So, let’s have more big games during the day, especially with great teams, to draw in more viewers. The tension between the East Coast and West Coast audience will always be there, but it’s important to remember that it’s about the love of the game and great sportsmanship.