The AP reports: The NBA finals’ television ratings for the last eight years fall into two unmistakable categories: series with the Los Angeles Lakers, and series without them. The four times that the Lakers—with their large market, big stars and storied tradition—reached the sport’s grandest stage, the finals’ average rating was never lower than a 10.2. The four times they weren’t involved, the number was never above an 8.5. But none of the Lakers’ opponents during that span had the fan base, history and star power to rival their own. That changes this week, as ABC gets a glamour matchup overflowing with story lines when Los Angeles faces its old nemesis, the Boston Celtics.
