Is it possible that Lakers/Cavaliers has become an even bigger marquee matchup?
The Cavaliers have acquired star center Shaquille O’Neal from the Suns, pairing two of the biggest stars in the NBA — O’Neal and LeBron James. The deal creates arguably the most marketable NBA duo since O’Neal and Kobe Bryant played together on the Lakers.
While O’Neal’s star power has diminished somewhat, he still remains one of the bigger attractions in the NBA. Last year, 5 Suns games on ABC averaged a 2.4 rating, higher than the 2.3 season average, and topping the 2.2 rating 5 Cavaliers games averaged on the network. The 2.4 average was tied as the third-best for any team on ABC last season, behind only the Celtics (2.6) and the Lakers (3.4).
The trade has added juice to some budding rivalries. The Shaq/Kobe and Kobe/LeBron matchups are highly rated affairs on their own. Combining those two battles into one game — perhaps on Christmas night — would seemingly send the ratings into the stratosphere.
Beyond the two Lakers/Cavaliers games that will more than likely air on ABC (Christmas) and TNT (January or February) next season, the trade also puts extra life into the four Cavaliers/Magic games next season.
After their battle in the highest rated Eastern Conference Finals since ’01, Cavaliers/Magic was going to be a highly sought-after affair for national television regardless. With the addition of O’Neal, who has spent months disparaging Magic coach Stan Van Gundy and star center Dwight Howard, those games should be among the highest rated of next season.
If Cavaliers/Magic and Cavaliers/Lakers draw big ratings during the regular season, imagine the numbers a Cavaliers/Magic East Finals and a Cavaliers/Lakers NBA Finals would put up next summer.
Of course, if last year was any indication, an unheralded team may spoil that party. Not to mention the injury-prone O’Neal being out of commission, or the Cavaliers underachieving. But for now, the NBA’s dashed dream matchup has been revitalized.
