The NBA got a gift wrapped playoff matchup with LeBron/ Steph.
This is an awful sitaution for the banged up Lakers. Back to back to start the playoffs, then even if they do find a way to win, they play either Phoenix or Utah. The networks have to be shaking thinking of a finals of either Utah, Phoenix, or basically anyone else in the west. The NBA / ESPN has done a terrible job not protecting themselves from this. They push individual players and not teams, and they allow players to move around way too freely. The NFL has some protections because they have so much more parity and good fan bases in most cities. Utah is a great basketball town, and the Jazz are a great franchise. But the NBA and it's media partners never push them.