Playoff Power Rankings

100-through-1

100: SCORE TICKERS

Starting from the bottom, the worst thing about the 2023 NBA Playoffs is when two games are on at the same time and TNT and NBA TV paste live updates of the other game’s score in the top-right hand corner.

I like to watch contests in thirds, flip over to a brand-new game for a brand-new start, skip timeouts, ignore commercials, fast-forward past interminable referee replays, DVR it up. Constant score updates ruin action even when I’m not with a DVR, streaming upon a teetering boat, perched atop international waters.

A ticker at the bottom is different, safer, scores are avoidable. Simply avert eyes at the right time, grab the phone, check the weather, pull up Tom Segura’s Twitter to see if Tom Segura ever talks about how much Tom Segura looks like Taylor Jenkins, look back at the TV once the score passes.

Among continuous spoilers, I’m forced to bounce back and forth between games to avoid score surprises. And, yes, spoilers occur in the first quarter.

I need to dangle a curtain over the score or something. The worst thing about the 2023 NBA Playoffs is the score update.

REALLY

Yeah.

THAT’S THE WORST THING ABOUT THE PLAYOFFS?

Hate it. Super distracting: I’m watching a great game in Cleveland but bummed because I know the Hawks are already down a dozen.

COULD YOU MAKE THE SECOND-WORST RANKING A LITTLE MORE RELATEABLE TO READERS

Like whining over betting advertisements?

YES

Fine.

99: BETTING ADVERTISEMENTS EVERYWHERE