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Basically what you're saying is.. they're worried about markets, which is exactly my point. Their priority is to cater to the most profitable markets over showing the best games.That really only applies to Thursdays on TNT. Every other day has multiple games, how would it have been impossible to broadcast the Memphis-OKC game instead of the Knicks? They've done it before, Washington got flexed out of an ESPN game for Pacers-Blazers earlier in the season. It should happen more often.
The goddamn Knicks are on national TV yet again on Saturday. NYK vs Chicago, that's gonna be another unwatchable game.
You're failing to account for relationships and things of that nature that are in place that ESPN, TNT, ABC, etc. would be burning by doing so. Not justifying them not flexing the schedule, just saying that it's more too it than just the better game that night. Teams have fanbases that extend far and wide, and a lot of these teams (I.E. Knicks, Lakers,) have fans that don't even live in LA and the casual fan doesn't have league pass, so they depend on National TV to watch their Lakers, or their knicks or bulls. It's very much a part of their brand.
In theory, there's no reason why the NBA can't regularly flex games like the NFL does. The league and TV networks are just afraid of losing money, which I think is a stupid excuse for not implementing flex scheduling. 30+ Knicks/Bulls/Lakers etc games don't have to automatically be set in stone every season. Cater to your major markets, sure. But at the same time make an effort to showcase the best your league has to offer. This is something I hope Silver and the league will address moving forward, they need to sit down with the networks and make this a topic of discussion.
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