Reddit reacts as NBA Cup prices drop to $29 for Las Vegas games after Lakers', Warriors' exits - "Refs should have read the damn memo"

Saturday's Emirates NBA Cup semifinal matchups in Las Vegas are set. However, fan excitement for the in-season tournament's culmination appears to be dwindling due to a lack of marquee teams. A recent eye-opening ticket price update prompted entertaining NBA Reddit reactions, with many quipping about the event's affordability.

In the Eastern Conference's semifinal, the Milwaukee Bucks (13-11) will take on the Atlanta Hawks (14-12). Both squads are situated outside of the conference's top seeds. Meanwhile, neither the No. 1-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers (21-4) nor the No. 2-seeded Boston Celtics (20-5) made the NBA Cup quarterfinals.

Conversely, on the Western Conference side of the semifinal bracket, the first-seeded OKC Thunder (19-5) are pitted against the second-seeded Houston Rockets (17-8). OKC and Houston are two of the league's most upstart young teams and its top two defensive squads. Nevertheless, it appears the showdown lacks enough high-profile star power to command strong ticket demand.

According to The Sporting Tribune's CEO Arash Markazi, ticket prices for Saturday's and Tuesday's semifinal and championship games "have plummeted since the teams were set." He attributed the drop-off to the NBA's premier franchises, including the LA Lakers and Golden State Warriors, not making the final four.

Per Markazi, get-in ticket prices as of Thursday are as follows:

Saturday: Bucks-Hawks - $29

Saturday: Thunder-Rockets - $39

Tuesday: NBA Cup final - $79

Some fans on Reddit remarked about the NBA and its referees not favoring the most marketable teams to maximize profits.

"Refs should've read the damn memo," @__spartacus said.

"League is bummed (it) can't price gouge fans of big-market teams for the privilege of watching a regular-season game, but this time in Las Vegas," @SnakeDoctor80 wrote.

Meanwhile, others quipped about the surprisingly cheap ticket prices piquing their interest in attending the games.

"Hold up, I might go now, LOL," @Apollo611 said.

"$39 to watch the top two seeds in the West play an elimination game is a pretty sweet deal," @PonkMcSquiggles wrote.

"Just $29 to see Giannis (Antetokounmpo)? WTF," @mido0o0o said.

"Real fans of the game can now afford to go!" @RedFan47 wrote.

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NBA Cup TV ratings reportedly down from last season amid declining ticket prices

According to Nielsen, the NBA Cup's TV ratings have also taken a hit. The tournament's ESPN and TNT group-play broadcasts decreased by 10% from last season, attracting 1.33 million average viewers.

Tuesday's TNT/TRU quarterfinal matchups reportedly provided a boost, garnering 1.32 million average viewers, marking a 47% increase from last season's quarterfinal openers.

Nevertheless, the NBA Cup's overall ratings decline was still 6% following Tuesday's action, marking a seemingly concerning trend for the league.

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