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08:09 AM ET 09.29 | Jeff Van Gundy sounded the alarm that might keep both players and owners up at night. [The] ABC analyst has some advice for the custodians of the pro game: Don't be surprised if the fans aren't there when you get back. "What's interesting to me is, when you're in professional sports sometimes, you get the impression that more people care than really do," Van Gundy, the former Knicks coach, said. "And you better be careful, because there are other things people can do with their income." All work stoppages result in some degree of market alienation, that's hardly a bulletin. But there was something about this message worth heeding. ... "[Right] now, I don't hear anyone talking about the NBA at all, except for the diehards," Van Gundy said.

David Stern, Getty Images

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September 29, 2011 08:45 AM ET

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You aren't the NFL. Listen to the man.

TxHeat

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September 29, 2011 08:45 AM ET

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How soon will you forget, Bros?

I Love LA

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September 29, 2011 08:46 AM ET

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Except the die hards .... Jeff Van Gundy .... who needs the NBA to have a JOB! ...

... Nova

~ Brown Deer ~, WI

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September 29, 2011 09:03 AM ET

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QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 08:45 AM ET 09.29 by TxHeat

You aren't the NFL. Listen to the man.

I approve this message!

ClevelandGuy

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September 29, 2011 09:06 AM ET

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most people already dont care...the longer this goes on the more difficult it will be for he nba to recover.

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September 29, 2011 09:06 AM ET

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The NBA has dropped their ticket prices the previous 2 years. Maybe Jeff is right!

Onion

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September 29, 2011 09:07 AM ET

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The NBA is not the NFL. That's the biggest difference between the work stoppages of the two leagues. Fans were irritated with the NFL, yes... but they didn't lose any games in the end. The NBA and say what you want about the owners, but there are a lot of people like myself that can't stand the way the league is today. And I'm a fan. I hate the fact that guys who can barely dribble a ball and spend more time in street clothes than on the court are paid $7/million a year. The system is broken. Fix it. And if the players need a serious reality check if they don't think it needs to change. Because Van Gundy is right. Some of us won't be back if there's a shortened season, let alone no season.

wend28

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September 29, 2011 10:38 AM ET

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QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 08:50 AM ET 09.29 by G-B

Fans will still be there. If you love the game, then you will go back. It's the non-NBA fans that might not come back.

That's true but teams need more than just the season ticketholders. Those "casual fans" take up a lot of seats.