Article: NBA playoffs hit high note

The rising TV audience last weekend for the NBA playoffs -- only the semifinals -- is in direct conflict with the tendency of other sports on television.

It is tempting, this week at least, to explain the rise (30 to 45 percent, depending on how the numbers are juggled) in two words: Michael Jordan. He is a genius playing in the most visible of all team sports on television. But the Phoenix-Seattle audience also is up sharply. NBA regular-season audiences also rose on both NBC and TNT.

And to think, there was a quiet fear last November in league offices and on Madison Avenue about the departure of Larry Bird one year after the loss of Magic Johnson. Along came Shaquille O'Neal. Not to ...

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