BASKETBALL IS BACK!!!
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, here is some unsolicited insight to temper expectations about the upcoming NBA season. During each off-season each team attempts to do something noteworthy to convince it’s fans, the consumer, of why they should continue to buy the product or support their team through buying tickets, jerseys, watching televised games and maintaining interest in this upcoming season.
Unfortunately, most of this tends to be a lot of false hype, blue smoke, the proverbial banana in the tailpipe (see Eddie Murphy “Beverly Hills Cop”) and that’s ok, as long you don’t take the bait. Just nibble on it as most fish do my bait when my dad and I go fishing.
Teams will sell you many lines such as the “rookie sensation”, the “big trade acquisition”, the maturing young players that are about to “take their games (and subsequently their teams) to the next level” and so on. When the players hit the court what you tend to witness is little variation from the original script sold the year before.
To keep a proper perspective, LeBron James and Kevin Durant who both led their respective teams to the NBA Finals last season both missed the playoffs the first two seasons of their careers, with gradual improvements in success the following years. Considering twenty-eight of the other teams in the league who do not have one of the two arguably best players in the league we might assume that marginal improvement to be the average expected goal of each team.
So when you’re putting together your NBA Fantasy League and regurgitating new proclamations of your team’s future success (which is half the fun of being a fan) remember that the hype is just that, something to chew on, nibble, take a big whiff and a long look at, but don’t buy. As the season begins enjoy the excitement of renewed possibilities of higher success, cheer as your team gives their all and don’t stop bragging about, making excuses for and hoping from within, but temper your expectations so you enjoy the game for the game’s sake and not some business strategy to sell for the sake of increasing revenue and apparel sails.
therockneverstops 