Game Day: Spurs (35-23) @ Suns (31-28), Sat 2/28/15

[Cap]

You fall behind by 20 in the first quarter and never compete, the fans are going to be quiet.

[Indy]

I think it's poor form to criticize the fans after that kind of showing. It'd be one thing if the team had won by 20 or was winning 50 games every year (the Malaise Era) and the fans weren't cheering. I don't doubt the fans sucked, but to speak out after a loss like that just seems petty.

And to add to it, it isn't like the place was full and people sat there quietly. The arena was damn near empty, for a weekend game, against the Spurs! Well, except for the Spurs fans.

That said, if you are a die hard fan, and want to buy a decent set of tickets for your family, it runs about $16,000 for the year. If you want to get really good seats (center court, about 10 rows up), you are going to pay over 20k. And that doesn't count parking, concessions, etc.

It is easy for a multi-millionaire to complain that there aren't enough paying customers...

[1tinsoldier]

the over priced seats, corporate seats, etc.. is a significant problem
but these days it is a constant one
as i said, focused on the sound via radio
this game was particularly annoying,
not because fans were booing the suns or not cheering loud enough.
as many have said,
the fans are entitled to express their opinions on the suns performance
and the players need to suck it up
but when the suns home court can be mistaken for a spurs home court
that's a different pill to swallow

the rich folks in LA have been known to sit on their hands in LA
or boo, especially now that they're the 4th worst in the league.
or like Jack Nicholson they may even sell their tickets
but cheering baskets by the spurs?
no so much

[Uncle_Gene]

I was recording the game on DVR, then I saw the 2nd quarter score and stopped.

[Indy]

the over priced seats, corporate seats, etc.. is a significant problem
but these days it is a constant one
as i said, focused on the sound via radio
this game was particularly annoying,
not because fans were booing the suns or not cheering loud enough.
as many have said,
the fans are entitled to express their opinions on the suns performance
and the players need to suck it up
but when the suns home court can be mistaken for a spurs home court
that's a different pill to swallow

the rich folks in LA have been known to sit on their hands in LA
or boo, especially now that they're the 4th worst in the league.
or like Jack Nicholson they may even sell their tickets
but cheering baskets by the spurs?
no so much

There are Spurs fans in Phoenix. Big surprise. There are fans from all over the place in Phoenix, because everyone here is from somewhere else. They save up and buy 1 or 2 games a year. You can spend a few hundred bucks, and root on your team like crazy for the TWO times they come to town. Try doing that 41 times. Well, actually 44 times because you have to buy preseason too (and there isn't a discount for it).

[Indy]

I was recording the game on DVR, then I saw the 2nd quarter score and stopped.

Similar. I was watching the game on delay via my DVR and then got a notification on my phone from Twitter saying Markeiff was going off. I was between the 1st and 2nd quarter when I saw it... it was clear they lost from the response. The first one I read was something about "maybe if you would score more than 24 points in a half more people would pay hundreds of dollars to watch you..." That pretty much ruined it for me.

[Mori Chu]

I agree pretty strongly with Markieff: The Suns home crowd sucks. Yes, he picked just about the worst time to say it, but he's still right. Even on a night of a big game against a tough opponent when we're in a playoff race, the crowd doesn't show up and doesn't make any noise. I've been to Golden State games, and even when the team is not a contender, those fans show up and scream and yell.

The NBA needs to figure out how to make the in-arena experience more enjoyable for fans at these games. Why would anybody pay $100+ per seat to go to a game, fight traffic and parking, buy overpriced hot dogs, etc. when you can watch it for free on your huge HDTV, record it on DVR, pause the game anytime you want to take a pee, and skip the commercials?

I think the league should consider a model where the tickets are sold at an extremely low price ($6-10 or something) and just get the arena packed with ravenous fans. If a ticket hasn't been claimed by the time of tipoff, sell the seat for $1 or free. Just get people in the building. They'll be loud and excited.

[Cap]

we're in a playoff race

You're delusional.

[OE32]

I agree pretty strongly with Markieff: The Suns home crowd sucks. Yes, he picked just about the worst time to say it, but he's still right. Even on a night of a big game against a tough opponent when we're in a playoff race, the crowd doesn't show up and doesn't make any noise. I've been to Golden State games, and even when the team is not a contender, those fans show up and scream and yell.

The NBA needs to figure out how to make the in-arena experience more enjoyable for fans at these games. Why would anybody pay $100+ per seat to go to a game, fight traffic and parking, buy overpriced hot dogs, etc. when you can watch it for free on your huge HDTV, record it on DVR, pause the game anytime you want to take a pee, and skip the commercials?

I think the league should consider a model where the tickets are sold at an extremely low price ($6-10 or something) and just get the arena packed with ravenous fans. If a ticket hasn't been claimed by the time of tipoff, sell the seat for $1 or free. Just get people in the building. They'll be loud and excited.

Solid idea. Some innovation is certainly in order. It's not a good strategy to send your President of Basketball Operations to complain on the radio. That simply won't get it done.

... One idea I've had for a while, but haven't really talked a lot about - teams should have nets installed all around their cities with the team colors on them. Most outdoor rims don't have nets - and certainly here in Brooklyn, none of them do. As a favor to the kids, hire a guy to go around town installing nets. Yeah, people will remove them, but how much could such a thing possibly cost to maintain over the long-term? I think it would instill a lot of goodwill in the community.

But yeah, cheap tickets would probably be a better fix to this particular problem.

[1tinsoldier]

There are fans from all over the place in Phoenix, because everyone here is from somewhere else.

indeed, no "big surprise". that's always been the case here.
but that is the case in LA as well (i lived there for 5 years)
and what i heard on radio was a record low for suns support/disrespect
and i've been a fan through the real losing years over the past 25 years
(along with the spurs fans living in PHX)
so, i'm just saying it's probably also no surprise they hit a first half low

my partial explanation for both record lows
is the still relatively new damage done by the dragic debacle
it's nothing a decent playoff run can't partially turn around
or more long term
a barkley, kidd, nash, or other dynamic leader on the floor
but the real game changer will have to ultimately be the suns losing their championship virginity

[da_suns_fan]

Comparing the Warriors (even when they werent competing for a title) to the one-on-one play we've seen THIS season isnt a fair comparison. Since the beginning, they've been a team with no chemistry that wasnt very fun to watch.

Then they trade their most likeable player away.

I wasnt a big fan of the Morrii before and after the technicals, screaming at coaches and last night's incredibly stupid comments I could care less If I ever see them in a Suns uniform again.

You guys got blown out at home at you criticize the fans? Give us something to cheer for instead of falling behind early in almost every game.

For my birthday, I went with my buddies to see them lose to the orlando magic. You gonna blame that on the fans too?

[da_suns_fan]

The only player left on the team I really like cheering for is PJ Tucker.

Compare that to the 2010 team of Nash, Hill, Amare, Dudley, LB, Dragic, Frye etc.

[Indy]

we're in a playoff race

You're delusional.

"Fighting" to be a team that isn't in the bottom half of your division isn't something to get excited about, much less spend a few hundred bucks three times a week.

[Superbone]

I was recording the game on DVR, then I saw the 2nd quarter score and stopped.

Similar. I was watching the game on delay via my DVR and then got a notification on my phone from Twitter saying Markeiff was going off. I was between the 1st and 2nd quarter when I saw it... it was clear they lost from the response. The first one I read was something about "maybe if you would score more than 24 points in a half more people would pay hundreds of dollars to watch you..." That pretty much ruined it for me.

I avoid any news during the game. It was a frustrating 4 quarters but I stuck through it.

[Indy]

Are you better for it?

[Superbone]

Are you better for it?

Yep, builds character.

[Indy]

Are you better for it?

Yep, builds character.

I feel much worse off having to watch that first 20 minutes.

[SDC]

That's strange. If you play Markieff's comments backwards it says, "Trade-me-to-Phil-a-del-phi-a."

rats jumping off mcdo's titanic...

[Mori Chu]

The thing I want to know is: Can you even recover from a loss this bad? I really feel like this Spurs blowout was the death of our season. A game like that sticks with you a while as a player. I don't know how you just shake it off and go out and give it 100% against the Heat in the next game.

[LazarusLong]

Good point. The Suns post the worst first half EVER in the franchise. Think about some of the really bad teams the franchise has had, and these guys eclipse them in futility for one half.

And so, after the game, one of the team's best players BLAMES IT ON LACK OF FAN SUPPORT.

Yeah, this could get ugly...