Best of Enemies

What’s behind the NBA’s declining viewership, and which teams have been the biggest letdowns this season? And, of course, what’s the latest on the Celtics and Lakers? The Lakers?Are the Lakers already bouncing back from their rough patch—or is this just a mirage? Is LeBron’s slump officially over, and can Anthony Davis maintain MVP-level play? What about Coach Reddick—has his debut season proven he’s better than Coach Ham, or are their records basically the same? NBA Viewership in DeclineWhy has NBA viewership dropped 28%—is it load management, too many threes, or something deeper? Is focusing on teams, not players, the key to keeping fans engaged? Could the NBA take a page out of the NFL’s playbook, or is it too late to make that shift? And with players shooting more threes than ever, has analytics taken the soul out of basketball? DisappointmentsIs it time for Philly to blow it up, or can Embiid turn the Sixers' season around? And has their relationship with the city been permanently damaged? Did the Pacers overachieve last season—or are they proof the East is just weaker? As for the West: What’s behind the Timberwolves’ inconsistency? Are Ant’s shocking comments about his team’s mentality a wake-up call? And the Pelicans—are injuries the only excuse, or is there something deeper going wrong in New Orleans? Is Zion the next “street clothes,” and could the Pels regret the Dyson Daniels trade? CELTICSAre the Celtics the poster child for everything wrong with the modern NBA? Do they shoot too many threes at the expense of better opportunities? NBA CupIs the NBA Cup already overrated—or do fans just need time to embrace it? What game are we looking forward to and who will win it all?