Superman may be the NBA’s newest version of ratings kryptonite.
An uncompetitive and at times unwatchable Game 1 between the Magic and Lakers drew an 8.9 overnight rating on ABC Thursday night, down 14% from a 10.4 for Lakers/Celtics Game 1 in ’08, up 13% from a 7.9 for Cavaliers/Spurs Game 1 in ’07, and the fourth-lowest overnight rating for Game 1 of the NBA Finals since ’81.
The 8.9 overnight is also off 4% from a 9.3 for Heat/Mavericks Game 1 in ’06, and is only a tick higher than the 8.8 overnight Pistons/Spurs Game 1 drew in ’05.
Since 2000, final ratings for Game 1 of the NBA Finals have fallen 18% from the overnights, putting Magic/Lakers Game 1 on pace for a 7.3 final rating.
The 8.9 overnight for Magic/Lakers Game 1 is lower than the overnights for any game of last year’s World Series, with the exception of the rain-delayed Game 3, and is also lower than the 10.2 overnight the Kentucky Derby drew in May. Still, the 8.9 tops an 8.0 overnight for the Daytona 500 and an 8.8 for the final round of The Masters.
One bright spot for ABC? In prime time (9-11 PM), Game 1 averaged an 8.8 overnight rating, helping ABC to an easy first place finish for the night, and down only 4% from the 9.2 Lakers/Celtics Game 1 averaged in prime time last year. In other words, Magic/Lakers was holding fairly steady with last year’s numbers until late in the game.
Another bright spot can be found from an unlikely source: the 2005 Spurs/Pistons series. Despite drawing a mere 7.2 for Game 1 — and averaging a 7.1 through 4 games — the series ended up going seven games and averaging a decent 8.2 rating. Unfortunately for ABC, Magic/Lakers does not appear to be a long series.
The low ratings for Game 1 can only make the lack of a Cavaliers/Lakers final sting even more for the NBA. Not only did the Magic knock out a team with far more starpower, in LeBron James‘ Cavaliers, but also a team with far more local support. Game 1 drew a 23.9 in Orlando — respectable, especially considering the Magic’s 25-point loss, but not nearly as impressive as the numbers Cavaliers games drew in Cleveland during the East Finals. Game 1 between the Cavaliers and Magic drew a 27.2 in Cleveland — on cable.
In Los Angeles, Game 1 drew a 20.9, down 8% from a 22.8 for Lakers/Celtics Game 1 in the market last year, and down 29% from a 29.3 for Pistons/Lakers Game 4 in ’04.
Lowest overnights for Game 1 of the NBA Finals since ’81.
