1) The spectacle of the show now resembles the SB. Everyone tunes in because something spectacular MIGHT happen, even though most of the time it doesn’t. Most casual fans watch sports in general for the spectacular “wreckage”. Very RARELY does the show live up to that promise, but people are terrified they’ll miss it when it does so it forced them to tune in all the time just for the potential. To support what I’m saying, ask yourself how many Super Bowls in your life were even HALF as good as the one you saw last year? 95% of the time they’re over by halftime. Which leads me to my second point:

2) The NBA playoff system being “Best of 7″ DRASTICALLY reduces the potential for upsets/outright flame outs from big programs. The one and done nature of March Madness, while not necissarily providing for a better product, DOES give the average fan the constant illusion that “anything can happen”. Sure people will mention Golden State’s upset of Dallas last year but the REASON that was so remarkable is BECAUSE it almost never happens. And how’d the Warriors do in the next round? They got manhandled by a Jazz team that was simply better.

Without PURPOSELY trying to create upsets, I just don’t see how the NBA can compete with MM.