This week’s SB Nation Reacts polls reveals how NBA fans are experiencing this year’s Finals—and the results suggest a divided audience when it comes to the feel and presentation of the league’s biggest stage.
According to the first poll, only 47 percent of NBA fans believe the Finals “feel big” this year. That means a slight majority—53 percent—don’t view the championship round as delivering the gravitas and spectacle that typically define it. Whether that’s due to market size, lack of superstar narratives, or fan fatigue, the result underscores a potential branding issue for the league’s showcase event.
Interestingly, this lukewarm sentiment also appears in how fans perceive the aesthetics of the Finals.