San Antonio led all markets for the seven-game NBA Finals, but this year’s series trailed the Spurs’ previous appearances.
The Heat/Spurs NBA Finals averaged a 40.8 rating in San Antonio, the series’ highest average of any metered market. However, 40.8 rating marks an 8% decline from the four-game Spurs/Cavaliers series in 2007 (44.5*), and a 11% drop from the Spurs’ last seven-game NBA Finals — the 2005 series against the Pistons (45.8).
One could argue that the lower ratings were a product of the Spurs’ defeat. However, keep in mind that San Antonio did not trail the series until losing Game 7, and the Spurs were just seconds away from winning the championship.
In Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, the series averaged a 33.9 rating — up 2% from Heat/Thunder last year (33.1), and up 1% from Mavericks/Heat in 2011 (33.7). The series ranks as the market’s highest rated NBA Finals.
Outside of Florida and Texas, the top market for the Heat/Spurs series was Memphis (16.6). Cleveland, which was the top neutral market the past two years, ranked 12th among all markets with a 14.3.
In Seattle, where hopes of an NBA return were dashed earlier this year, Heat/Spurs averaged an 8.8 rating — down a tick from last year’s 8.9, and good for 46th place among the metered markets.
As usual, Boston hovered near the bottom of the pack. The NBA Finals averaged a mere 6.2 rating in the market, down 14% from last year (7.2), and good for 54th place. Nearby Providence was dead last among metered markets, averaging a subterranean 4.9 rating for the series. The presence of the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final likely exacerbated the poor performances in both markets.
* Spurs/Cavaliers 2007 average not official.
