Bryce Rudd

January 29, 2006: This LeBron James blocked shot-slam dunk sequence during Cleveland's 113-106 victory over Phoenix. James finished with 44 PTS/11 REB/7 AST and Sasha Pavlović added 15 PTS for the Cavaliers. For the Suns, Steve Nash scored 24 PTS and Shawn Marion scored 22 PTS.

With all due respect, this isn't Inside the NBA anymore. That was their first episode back after an eternity off the air, and it was ~28 minutes long. Some basic banter in the A-block, followed by highlights, and a quick Neat-O Stat of the Night before signing off. That episode tonight felt like a movie sequel only made because the original was so popular. It does fine at the box office, a couple cheap laughs hitting on the nostalgia of the characters, but has no cultural relevance/staying-power once the marketing campaign ends. I understand the why, being broadcast on ABC and needing to get to local news for the affiliates because the game ran late, but what made this program so successful for so long was their ability to improv a basketball variety show. That requires time. They would do a 15-minute segment of Kenny and Shaq arguing about filling up a gas tank when it hits half-full ($20) is cheaper than filling it from empty ($80), and when they come back from commercial: tap in to their experience and have a legitimate hoops convo, before Shaq decides to eat the world's hottest chip. It was a beautiful mess, which somehow intertwined heavily-produced segments with the hosts' unique ability to make any random conversation topic entertaining. On TNT, once they got done with the highlights, they'd shoot the shit for another 30 minutes. It appears they don't have that luxury anymore, and we're lucky to get just one rushed version of Shaqtin', Neat-O, Audio Toons, (Remember Area 21?), etc. thus far this season. It doesn't help either that nobody has any clue when the guys are on. ESPN made available a schedule of Inside the NBA broadcasts well before the season started, and not a soul cares or is scheduling their days around its randomness. They have had two shows in the last 2+ months. That calendar might as well be Apple's Terms & Conditions at the bottom of every iOS update. Just my personal opinion here: but the consistency of the show always being on late night ~every Thursday held a ton of equity in its sustained success. The sports media consumer has proven for decades that they are creatures of habit. The rhythm and expectation of content delivery matters. Super Bowl is in February, World Series is in October, Masters is the weekend after Match Madness ends, you can plan ahead knowing these events, amongst many more, are written in stone. This is more an airing of grievances by a lifelong fan than a critique from someone looking to indulge in schadenfreude. One of the NBA's most cherished properties feels like its being diluted with every episode that airs, and it's only a matter of time until the talent realize it too.