Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla might be part of the problem when it comes to the NBA's viewership numbers. With numbers down across the league this season, there has been tons of debate among the NBA community as to what is wrong and what can be done to help the league recover.
While some believe the decline in ratings has to do with the number of 3-pointers being taken every game, others believe that late start times and a schedule that competes with the NFL for viewers aren't doing the league any favors.
When media members asked Joe Mazzulla about the situation this week, according to SBNation's Noa Dalzell, he said he's part of the problem because he doesn't watch NBA games on TV, either.
"I add to that. I don’t watch NBA games," Mazzulla said (Timestamp: 3:45). "So, I’m just as much the problem as anyone else is. ... I don’t like watching the games."
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"I’m around it all the time so I would rather watch something else.”
Fans reacted to the comments on Reddit.
"It's Joe Mazzulla guys... he probably watches Georgian death wrestling in his free time or smth," one wrote.
"There’s a section of people who like the drama surrounding the nba but not the actual games," another added.
"Why would he watch games though? I imagine it would get super tiring to watch games all day for work, come home and watch a game," one wrote.
Others also weighed in with their thoughts.
"I mean watching actual games is incredibly rough. the amount of stoppages and the pace is excruciating. I wont lie, i might watch like one game per week during regular season. 95% of my regular season intake is through highlights," one wrote.
"People want dunks, not 3’s," another suggested.
"This whole ratings discourse is exhausting," one added.
While Joe Mazzulla doesn't sit down to watch games on TV, he is still likely spending time studying film on opposing teams while preparing gameplans throughout the season.
In addition, during the Celtics' championship run last season, Mazzulla said that he watched a lot of EuroLeague basketball games. At the time, he said in an interview with GIVEMESPORT that the way the game is played and managed is something that he thinks coaches can learn from.
Looking at ways that the NBA can combat declining ratings following Joe Mazzulla's comments
With the NBA ratings being down in a number of different categories, there's been plenty of debate about what can be done to help turn things around. Fans, NBA vets, analysts and TV personalities have all shared their thoughts, citing a wide range of reasons for the dip in ratings.
For example, Shaquille O'Neal suggested during "The Big Podcast" that there isn't enough variety in offensive schemes, that every team is trying to play the same way.
On an episode of "The Dan Patrick Show" this week, the longtime sports anchor threw out the idea of limiting the number of 3-pointers a team can take, an idea that's generated fierce debates online.
Meanwhile, Hall of Famer Charles Barkley suggested on "The Dan Patrick Show" this week that the league should consider pushing back its schedule:
"I think we need to seriously consider starting on Christmas because, listen, you're wasting your time going up against the NFL and college football. They own the weekends now. ... We'd have the entire calendar to ourself."
Others have thrown out less disruptive ideas, such as Underdog Fantasy's Coley Mick & Trill Withers, who suggested on the "Third Time's the Charm" podcast that the league should consider playing all NBA Cup games in December and NBA Cup semifinal games on Christmas Day.
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