NBA Markets Competition

   It was an ordinary evening watching the NBA playoffs accompanied by the usual banter concerning who the best basketball player is and whether they will make it to the finals or not. The conversation shifted as someone mentioned the full partnership between the NBA and ESPN as the reason that the networks have control over what days the playoffs take place. Questions of whether or not the playoffs are altogether set-up filled the room changing the atmosphere from calm to edgy and showed the energy many students have invested in this sport.

   Many of these questions included the marketing strategy that appears to be used by the NBA in many advertisements in order to capitalize on the competition of Kobe Bryant of the Las Angeles Lakers against LeBron James of the Cleveland Caviliers.

   “You hear people talking about it all over the media,” said Mark C. Guzman, a WSU student and NBA fan. “It’s almost like the WWE because they are trying to set up the most marketable match-up.”

   Advertisements by Vitamin Water and Nike have also been focused on Kobe and LeBron using their pseudo-rivalry as the focal point.

   Dream Season: 23 & 24, a film that dictates the possible contact of Kobe and LeBron in a future championship, has been consistently promoted by the NBA. Even Dwight Howard explained on his blog the frustration he has with referees and constant publicity for Kobe and LeBron.     

   “Every time I look at TV, it seems like that’s all anybody is talking about,” said Howard. “I’m not going to lie – I’m frustrated with the calls that we’ve gotten in this series, but I can’t let it take me away from my focus.”

   Though the possibility of a Kobe-LeBron final series magically disappeared on Saturday night, bad calls throughout the playoffs have become even more of a signal that things are skewed in the NBA.     

   Anthony M. Balingit, a WSU student and NBA fan, finds it hard to believe that the playoffs are rigged, but noted that the officials have been making some very controversial calls lately.

   “The refs are trying to protect LeBron,” Balingit said. “It’s ridiculous when he only gets one or two fouls a game when he is the second best defensive player this year. That just doesn’t add up in my mind.”

   Ex-referee Tim Donaghy, who claimed that the 2002 and 2005 playoffs were rigged and that the NBA encourages bogus fouls, brought forth statements that caused questions to be raised about the association. Though Donaghy was allegedly at the center of a gambling scandal his testimony on the issue makes people wonder whether more NBA officials are setting up teams for a full seven game series and a close game. 

   Andrew A. Donabauer, a WSU student and NBA fan, believes that there is no way that the playoffs or finals were set-up.

   “There are too many eyes on the NBA for a conspiracy like that to take place,” said Donabauer. “It’s also hard to believe every referee out there is purposely giving bad calls.” 

   Stiff competition between Kobe and LeBron however may be the reason that the media is trying to capitalize on such a relationship as what was done at the 2009 NBA Dunk Contest.

   The contest is another event that many fans have also had suspicions about as even the costume designs with Superman for Dwight Howard and a green New York Knicks outfit for Nate Robinson thus making “Krypto-Nate” symbolizing superman’s weakness. Not only were there two other, almost unknown, participants in the contest, but no publicity was given to their actions as compared to the competition that was played up between the superhero and his nemesis.