Ratings Predictions: NBA Playoffs, Stanley Cup & More

NBA ratings rebounded during the regular season and it seems likely that will continue into the playoffs. The grim inevitability of another Cavs-Warriors finals sapped interest in last year’s postseason — the least-watched entering the finals since at least 2010. This year’s playoffs is more unpredictable. Cleveland is a #4 seed and Golden State a #2, the latter missing its primary star Stephen Curry for at least the first round. While it would surprise no one to see another Cavs-Warriors rematch in the finals, the possibility of new blood should sustain the early rounds.

This weekend, ABC has both Cleveland and Golden State facing familiar playoff foes. On Saturday, Golden State hosts San Antonio in a rematch of last year’s conference finals. Any intrigue from Curry’s absence is cancelled out by the continued absence of Kawhi Leonard. Even so, expect a big increase in ratings over last year’s comparable Pacers-Cavs game (2.5). Prediction: 3.0.

On Sunday, LeBron James begins his quest for an eighth consecutive finals in unusually vulnerable position — the #4 seed. Cleveland swept Indiana last season, but all four games were close. With the Pacers much improved after trading Paul George, and the Cavaliers taking a step back after trading Kyrie Irving, an upset is not completely out of the question. Game 1 will almost certainly decline from last year’s 3.7 for Blazers-Warriors, but the numbers should be on par with Pistons-Cavs in the same window two years ago (3.4). Prediction: 3.5.