Question: for the basketball-centric Eers, or N. WV's, W.Pa...

[torontoeers]

I've really been wondering for years...why does Pittsburgh not have an NBA franchise?...I know they had an ABA team back in the 70's that failed but just curious...The Raptors up here are experiencing sellouts night after night (even when they were losing regularly a few years ago, although this could also be due to a hockey team's abject failure), and the NBA seems fairly popular of late...
Is it purely market size? Interest in the sport locally? Cav's, Sixers discouraging it? sPitt owns the basketball market?...And could Consol Energy be fitted to a basketball court without compromising sight lines? I would think the owners would want to maximize dates in a fairly new facility...
I know Seattle is clamoring to get a team back, and I suppose the same question could be asked about St. Lou, but just seems odd to me no team in The Burgh for so long....

 

[GetYaNumbersUp]

They aren't a big enough city to support 4 teams, they are lucky to have 3.

 

[LowFatMilk]

Originally posted by GetYaNumbersUp:


They aren't a big enough city to support 4 teams, they are lucky to have 3.

Completely true.

The Pirates were almost gone... ...along with the Pens.

The Pirates will be good to go for years to come...the Pens, well, they'll go depending on which way the winds blow.

 

[Funky Bunch]

The Pythons were a joke until Dr J got serious

 

[Darth_VadEER]

It's a small market with no interest in professional basketball. If they had an NBA team they'd be the smallest city to have all four professional sport franchises (I think).

Even if the NBA wanted a franchise in PGH, which they don't, I do not think it would be politically feasible due to the competition for dollars with the Penguins.

I lived there for awhile, there is absolutely no interest in the NBA. If you mention the NBA you'll just get a bunch of "street ball" comments.

As for the Consol, it's a great place for basketball. It's the home court of the Duquense University basketball team and just hosted the NCAA Tournament.

The NBA doesn't expand often but if they ever do it will probably be Seattle, Las Vegas, Louisville, or European cities.

The NBA is the only professional sport I watch. I loved living in Chicago and having the Bulls.

 

[LowFatMilk]

Originally posted by Darth_VadEER:


The NBA is the only professional sport I watch. I loved living in Chicago and having the Bulls.

I can understand why you became addicted (if you're of such age)..... ...but damn, the Chicago Bulls ain't what they once were (not even close)....



....the NBA ain't what it once was either.

---------------

I used the word 'ain't' twice....and I'm not actually sure why.

Regardless, the NBA is BORING. I'm not sure why....I love basketball......

 

[Darth_VadEER]

Originally posted by LowFatMilk:

Originally posted by Darth_VadEER:


The NBA is the only professional sport I watch. I loved living in Chicago and having the Bulls.

I can understand why you became addicted (if you're of such age)..... ...but damn, the Chicago Bulls ain't what they once were (not even close)....



....the NBA ain't what it once was either.

---------------

I used the word 'ain't' twice....and I'm not actually sure why.

Regardless, the NBA is BORING. I'm not sure why....I love basketball......

Well I obviously don't find it boring.

 

[LowFatMilk]

Well no...you obviously don't...

...somewhere in there I was asking a OBVIOUS question.


Did the 'old' Bulls make you love the NBA more than that professional league deserved ??

 

[GetYaNumbersUp]

As a league, the NBA is in a much better spot than it has been in a long time. Tons of star power but also great team play in places like Atlanta or Memphis. The competitive balance is good and the league isn't dominated by Boston, LA, NY, etc.

I thought this was common knowledge even to those who may not follow closely. The western conference playoffs this year are going to be fantastic.

 

[Darth_VadEER]

Originally posted by LowFatMilk:

Well no...you obviously don't...

...somewhere in there I was asking a OBVIOUS question.


Did the 'old' Bulls make you love the NBA more than that professional league deserved ??

Believe it or not that isn't something I've spent much time pondering.

I've liked the NBA my whole life.

 

[Soaring Eagle 74]

If the population had any bearing, NYC would have a professional BB team

iInstead of the Knicks.

 

[LowFatMilk]

Originally posted by GetYaNumbersUp:


I thought this was common knowledge even to those who may not follow closely. The western conference playoffs this year are going to be fantastic.

Well there you go.

Randomly ask a coworker about the NBA playoffs.....and they'll be like wtf .... ...even in cities with NBA teams.

 

[WiiWii]

No one here cares about the NBA. Too much scoring, just mind numbing boredom. College is about 1000 times better....
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[torontoeers]

I agree for the most part likely re: the scoring WiiWii...didn't know Duquesne played all or majority of their games there, and forgot about the tourney site...still a bit of decline population wise too? I guess in comparison to other major cities I've visited It does seem a bit less expansive once out of the downtown core...love what's happened with the city over the last decade however as a frequent visitor....still one of my fave's to spend some time in...

 

[79eer]

Other than the 4 years I spent in Motown, I have spent the remainder of my 58 years mostly in Pittsburgh, and can honestly tell you I think that when it comes to watching or attending an NBA game, Pitt would probably outdraw them by the number of people seated in their upper deck for a game against Youngstown St., not including the number of seats covered by tarps.

This post was edited on 3/29 8:23 PM by 79eer

 

[Winter Tim]

>>> ....the NBA ain't what it once was either.

 

[mountaineers8893]

The 80s may have been the golden age of the NBA, but it's been pretty close the last ten years.

Had Kobe or Lebron panned out to be a universal fan-favorite type, (kinda like Jordan) instead of polarizing, or if the TEAM-Style play of the Spurs was more popular (considering their 5 championships) then it probably would be considered the golden age.

With Lebron, Wade, and Kobe, along with Garnett, Steve Nash, Duncan, Durant, Chris Paul, Carmelo, Nowitzki, and more recently Harden, Griffin, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, the league isn't lacking star power, and hasn't been for a while...

I don't see the NBA hate. The league averages just less than 100 points per game.. I know the B12 averaged just less than 70 ppg for their teams, throughout the season (including nonconference).... and pros play 8 more minutes a game. 50 pts per 24 minute half means about 2 per minute... 35 points per 20 minute half is 1.75 per minute.. So, NBA teams average scoring a couple more buckets per game, and that's probably mostly "gimme" layups that for some reason college players have yet to master, but pro players hit at a much higher percentage.

I just prefer NBA when I'm not watching WVU, or ranked teams play, or the NCAA tourney as a whole. I think the NBA is generally more exciting at playoff time, but the regular season seems drawn out and a bit boring... just like any pro sport. College Football has it almost perfect - every regular season game counts - and the champion decided on the field, whether it's a 4 or 6 or 8 team playoff.