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Maybe it’s because the Spurs are always derided as a ratings nightmare, but I think a little too much about what is best for the league in terms of viewership. David Stern doesn’t need an excuse. It’s part of his job to think about ratings. He couldn’t exhaust the subject. He once quipped that his dream Finals was LA vs. LA, and we all assume he’s currently “rooting” for a Kobe vs. LeBron Finals. And he probably is. Dollars signs are persuasive that way. They’re bigger and more brightly lit in large markets. They’re the luminous halo that flashes white behind the Cleveland cash cow.

But dollar signs are a universal language of sorts. They can persuade in more than one way, and in more than one tongue. So if David Stern’s two favorite teams of this postseason are the Cavs and Lakers, his third favorite must be Houston. I have to imagine that a China vs. LeBron Finals would represent a tremendous boon for the league. Think about it. It’s good business.