Thoughts on National Television & MLK

A running commentary between Smildress and I has been the mind-numbing decisions that the NBA makes in determining which teams to show on national television, and when to show them. For the sake of argument, let's begin with 1/22/2009, and continue through the rest of the season. The following is just a sampling of some curious decisions by the NBA, and who they've decided to put on national television:

First tier:
Cleveland - 15 games
Boston - 14 games
LA Lakers - 14 games
Phoenix - 13 games (An average team in the West)
Dallas - 13 games (An average team in the West)
San Antonio - 12 games
Detroit - 12 games (An average team in the East)

Second tier:
Houston - 8 games
Utah - 8 games
Denver - 7 games (One of the best teams in the league)
Golden State - 6 games (One of the worst teams in the league)
New Orleans - 6 games (One of the best teams in the league)
Washington - 6 games (One of the worst teams in the league)
Portland - 5 games

Zeros:
Indiana
Atlanta
Charlotte
LA Clippers
Memphis
Minnesota
New York Kicks
Oklahoma City
Sacramento
Toronto
Milwaukee (has 1 game)

Now, I understand the reasoning behind putting the best teams on national television as often as possible. They are, understandably, the league's bread and butter. However, there is simply no excuse why every team doesn't get a nationally televised game. First, there are fans of each team dispersed throughout the country who would love to get a glimpse of their team at least once. Furthermore, by placing all of their eggs in a few teams' baskets, the league runs the risk of being unable to highlight the play of any up and coming teams - instead choosing to focus on the old yellers of the league. Additionally, every owner, who is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to promote their team and participate in the NBA, should be entitled to display their investment on national television. Also, if the NBA allows a team to enter the league, they should also be willing to grant them a television slot out of fairness. Finally, every player on an active roster deserves a chance to showcase his talents (at least once) on the national stage. Putting all the teams on national TV would allow the NBA to market itself as a league of superstars. Both Smildress and I agree that Joe Johnson (and to a lesser extent Josh Smith) would be a bonefide superstar in the league if the Hawks were on national television more than once.

Last November, the Hawks had their first rematch against the Boston Celtics in Boston. It was the teams' first quarrel since their unbelievable playoff series in May of 2008. Not only was the game hyped in Atlanta as an exciting rematch between two new rivals, but it was exciting all the way down the stretch - when Paul Pierce (the biggest thug in the NBA) hit a turn-around jumper at the last second to score a 2-point victory over the Hawks. What game did the network choose to put on television? Portland @ Miami. Not only was Miami not expected to be any good, but they chose a mediocre matchup between two mediocre teams over the potential classic between the Hawks and Celts.

In the NBA, the teams play an 82 game season, many without any national television exposure at all (nearly 30% of them). Common sense would say that out of 82 games, each team could have a nationally televised game without any consequence or detriment to the NBA. Put the Boston-Charlotte game on tv. If you think that'd be boring, put Charlotte-LA Clippers on tv. That might be even more boring, but it knocks two bad teams out at once.

Don't even get me started on the Hawks. They've gotten the NBA shaft for years, and this year may be more offensive than any other. After making the playoffs for the first time this decade, exceeding everyone's expectations in their series with the Celtics, showing off talents in Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Mike Bibby, and Al Horford (many are young stars), the NBA rewards them with ONE national game this season. One. That's it. Washington has 6 left for this season, and they're the worst team in the league. Someone explain why the Hawks only have one game on national television this season. Please. Because I simply don't get it.

On television, the NFL does it right. I don't agree with all of their television policies (namely the TV announcers, blackout rules, etc.), but they do have one policy that the NBA should emulate - Flex Scheduling. The NBA should have the ability to choose great matchups later in the season to put on television instead of the teams they had picked at the beginning of the season.

The NFL does another thing right: Showing an annual Thanksgiving Day game on national television in Detroit. Whether the Lions are the best team in the league or the worst team in the league, they have still hosted a turkey day game every year since 1934 and they have been nationally televised every year since 1962. The NBA should adopt this policy for an annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day game in Atlanta. This past Monday, the Hawks hosted their 10th in a row - a 2:00pm start that wasn't even in HD in Atlanta.

The history of race and MLK in Atlanta along with King memorial being in downtown creates the perfect background for a nationally televised annual game. The broadcasters could use the airtime to focus on the accomplishments of Dr. King and the personal stories of NBA players and the effect of race in their lives. Atlanta provides the perfect backdrop for this annual tradition, and the NBA should seize the opportunity to promote the accomplishments of Dr. King in the city where he is memorialized.

Annual nationally televised MLK Day game in Atlanta in primetime...make it happen, NBA.