The Pistons Are Back, But the NBA Isn't
Detroit is full of young talent and promise, but the league has struggled to rebuild its fan base after Covid
After clinching the top seed in the east for the first time since 2007, the Detroit Pistons have battled back to tie their first round series with the Orlando Magic, setting up for a pivotal game 7. The franchise is looking for its first playoff series win since the 2007-08 season, when they lost to the Boston Celtics in the conference finals.
While it’s great that the Pistons are succeeding, it’s unfortunate that it's coming during the NBA’s biggest downturn since the 1970s.
Although the league is bragging about raising the ceilings of viewership numbers during this year's playoffs, an Outkick article pointed out this: “the year-over-year comparisons are invalid. The distribution has changed. This year, games air on ABC, NBC, ESPN and Prime Video. Previously, they aired on TNT, ESPN and ABC. The difference between games on a cable channel like TNT and those on a broadcast network like NBC is significant.”
On top of that, the NBA finals ratings have dropped off drastically since the pandemic. The 2019 NBA finals matchup between the Raptors and Warriors had a Nielsen average of 8.7, followed by an average of 5.2 for the 2021 finals series between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns.
Before Covid hit, the Pistons were the laughing stock of the Association, making two appearances in the playoffs during the 2010s and getting swept in the first round both times. The era defined by superteams and dynasties in Miami and Golden State and sky-high TV ratings had Tom Gores 10 years a failure.
Now with a roster that includes one of the best guards, Cade Cunningham, the Pistons are sitting at the top of a league in decline. The first 60-win team since the Bad Boys won’t get anywhere close to the same level of notoriety, in a world where word travels faster than it ever has.
Major League Baseball’s numbers have made a resurgence with the younger generation. If the NBA can’t find a way to make a comeback, having an NBA championship in this city will mean little compared to the old days.
