I Love NY, not!

On July 19, the NBA released their 2011-12 schedule. Even in the midst of a brutal lockout, the league must carry out this task. A casual observer can get so much from scoping out the NBA calendar. One can see which franchises and players the league wants to showcase the most.

Generally, they look to show successful teams like the Lakers, Spurs, and Celtics. Other times they lean towards displaying a popular individual player (think Kobe, Lebron, Wade, Rose, Dirk, Durant, etc.). Rarely do teams earn a large number of nationally televised games without having one of those two things, if not both.

'Melo is happy with the new schedule.

My pop has always had the feeling that the media and the league have a bias in favor of New York teams (Yankees, Jets, Knicks). As the Knicks put together a decent stretch last season they received tons of love from ESPN. It showed that the network was almost waiting for the team to be relevant again.

Once they received Carmelo Anthony during a midseason trade, every game was covered with more intrigue and analysis. This was a .500 team, struggling to make ground in their own division and narrowly pulling away from injury-riddled teams to earn a 6th seed playoff spot.

So I was shocked to see this New York Knicks team, earn the most nationally televised playoff games in the league. That means more than the reigning champion Mavericks, the melodramatic Lakers, the front-running Heat, even the aging Celtics that didn't allow them a single win in their first round triumph last season.

I understand the league's sentiment that this could be a good team, but there are other teams that deserve the TV time a bit more. The schedule makes that "New York" bias almost look true, they just haven't earned this level of exposure yet. Although if there is a season, and the Knicks really do come on so frequently, I will only be happy if they continue to do this and this.