Ben Zorio

Christian first and foremost, teacher/basketball coach-Bearden Middle School

[Ben Zorio @Zoriob]

@ClayTravis If this year’s NBA Finals would have gone to a 7th game, I think it would have challenged or outdrew it (based on the ratings of the series…..and ratings Game 7’s usually have compared to the rest of the series).

[Ben Zorio @Zoriob]

@ClayTravis I don’t think tons of people really care about soccer, but they care about the World Cup (similar to the way many Olympic sports used to be). Other than if this year’s NBA Finals would have gone to a 7th Game, the US games will probably out draw everything but NFL playoff games.

[Ben Zorio @Zoriob]

@ClayTravis Those people who still say or act like nobody’s watching or that the NBA was broke, done, etc, (which was never the case if you looked at overall ratings with playoffs, etc.) sound as ridiculous as ever:

https://t.co/8MbC8A1Y7y

[Sports Media Watch @paulsen_smw]

Knicks-Spurs officially ranks as most-watched NBA Finals since 1998, and one of the ten most-watched of the Nielsen people meter era (1988- ).

Game 5 most-watched NBA game in a decade (2016 Cavs-Warriors Game 7). Note the usual methodological caveats.
https://t.co/McgiL8tpwH

[Ben Zorio @Zoriob]

@QPhysics2024 @LevAkabas In the overview of the whole period of time, 99 and 14 were not some of the lowest-just much lower than ones closest to them (99 was right after record high of 98 and 14 was before those highly rated Cavs-Warriors series).

[Ben Zorio @Zoriob]

@CTR19VA @ryenarussillo It did when combined the Spanish broadcast compared to the Finals average (not Game 5 itself). Obviously though it is more about the World Cup event (similar to Olympic sports during the Olympics) rather than the sport itself.

[Ben Zorio @Zoriob]

@ryenarussillo The NBA (even before this year’s Finals) was already getting higher overall ratings in the regular season and playoffs (if not in the championship round every year)-so at the very least it is even with MLB (contrary to what some were saying in recent previous years).

[Ben Zorio @Zoriob]

@darrenrovell A more extreme example of this would be comparing MLB ratings of the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s to today. Higher than 26.1 percent were watching the World Series back then…..and much less than 9.5 percent watching it now.

[Ben Zorio @Zoriob]

@stingbee30 @mulvihill79 @ClayTravis 👍. I see that now. Those numbers are not shocking to me with Telemundo included and since WC is the biggest sporting event in the world.

[Ben Zorio @Zoriob]

@ClutchPoints @ESPNNBA Tim Duncan in 2003…..what should have been a quadruple double.

[Ben Zorio @Zoriob]

@NBACobwebs One of the most all-around dominant performances in a championship close out game in NBA history. Not talked about enough. Hakeem in 94 and Duncan in 03 carried teams throughout the seasons/playoffs to championships more than any other players I can remember.

[Ben Zorio @Zoriob]

@MarkNagi I think the reason it has stuck with the Pistons and Thomas more than other teams/players is they walked off the floor before the game actually ended. I remember Shaq and Kobe and others going to the locker room without shaking hands. Still not a good look whatsoever though.

[Ben Zorio @Zoriob]

@burackbobby_ Total credit to Knicks…..but they are younger than many college teams and Fox is playing hurt (although that does not excuse some of his decision making).

[Ben Zorio @Zoriob]

@burackbobby_ Totally agree. Never have understood how losing in the Finals is more of a blemish than losing in the earlier rounds.

[Ben Zorio @Zoriob]

@burackbobby_ I don’t think anyone will ever surpass Jordan either. However, in Jordan’s 3rd year (which Wemby is in his 3rd now), he was swept in the 1st round.

[Ben Zorio @Zoriob]

@CaddilLackey @PeterBurnsESPN Not comparing it to what Knicks’ fans have been through the years. Just that in those years (particularly in 13 when the trophy was already on the court ready to presented) the Spurs in individual games/years have experienced some of the most gut-wrenching losses in NBA history.

[Ben Zorio @Zoriob]

@ClayTravis Based on last night’s game, do not disagree. Even for as young as they are (younger than some college teams), that was horrendous-with Fox’s play being the worst. Definitely not playing with the overall basketball IQ of the Duncan, Ginobili, etc. Spurs champs of the past.

[Ben Zorio @Zoriob]

@paulsen_smw 2013 still more painful…..but this is close.