TV ratings are sinking, and let’s be honest, those endless fourth quarters with timeouts, replays, and stoppages are dragging down the vibe. Blowouts have been all too common, leaving fans checked out way too early. The rivals week has had so many blowouts. It’s tough to watch when the excitement seems to be slipping, right? The NBA’s facing some serious issues, and it’s hard not to notice.

In a clash that felt like the ultimate showdown, Steph Curry and LeBron James squared off once again, with both legends giving it their all. But it was LeBron and the Lakers who walked away victorious, taking a 2-0 season series lead with a 118-108 win. Anthony Davis was unstoppable, pouring in 36 points, while LeBron added 25 points and 12 assists, guiding Los Angeles to a commanding finish.

But there was a glaring problem. Not with the match but with the broadcast. The company with a market cap of $203 billion Walt Disney, having ESPN and ABC network under it’s umbrella could not uphold quality. Nothing ruins a game like a streaming glitch at the worst possible moment. And in the Warriors vs. Lakers game during an embarrassing moment for the referee the feed glitched. Talk about a strange way to hit pause on an intense game! It definitely wasn’t the kind of break fans were hoping for.

Fans had to raise their voice against this poor quality of streaming by broadcasters.

NBA Fans left to wonder if it’s the problem’s from their end or not

One fan couldn’t help but point out, “Anybody else catch this amazing glitch in the matrix while watching the @Lakers v @warriors ???”. Just when the action was heating up, we all got a front-row seat to the most random glitch. It’s as if the universe itself was playing a trick on us. Fans were left wondering if they’d accidentally tuned into a bizarre alternate reality or if their stream was just messing with them.

One fan chimed in with, “DID ANYONE ELSE JUST GET THAT LAG / GLITCH ON THE ABC BROADCAST OF THE LAKER GAME?”. In a world where high-definition broadcasts are the norm, even the smallest disruption feels like a major letdown. Fans were left scrambling, some even questioning their internet connection, only to realize the glitch was on ABC’s end.

“ESPN production has been absolutely awful, multiple Lakers buckets missed because they are showing replays on the whole screen. Just straight up bad.” wrote another frustrated fan. Missing key plays, especially when the Lakers were putting together a strong offensive push, is a huge letdown for viewers. We all know how important every bucket is, and having the broadcast focus more on replays than the live game can be pretty maddening.

“Why is the Laker & Warriors skipping frames on never seen an NBA game lag like this 🤦🏻‍♂️” — This fan reaction hits home for so many of us who are just trying to catch the action.

You can’t just buy one subscription and call it a day anymore.National networks air some games, while others hide behind league passes or exclusive platforms. Fans already stretch themselves thin, juggling multiple subscriptions to catch every game — and on top of that, they face the added frustration of skipping frames during crucial moments.

Another netizen had one of the most relatable reactions. “When there is a glitch in streaming at the most inopportune time.” they wrote. We’ve all been there, just as the poor referee had an embarrassing moment the stream decides to glitch. Sports fans, especially those following a game as high-stakes as a Lakers-Warriors matchup, don’t want to miss a single second of the action.

Fans pay for access to these broadcasts, so when glitches like this pop up, it feels like a missed opportunity for both the network and the viewer.