The NBA Needs The Lakers

I like the Lakers - I just hate Kobe for bringing Shaq's business out in the open when he (Kobe) got caught doing what he wasn't supposed to be doing.
And since the Lakers are now Shaqless and Kobe is the jewel of the crown - I hate the Lakers (for now).
But in looking at the television ratings over the past three decades - (Absent Michael Jordan) the Lakers are the team the NBA would most like to have in the NBA finals.

Highest Rated NBA Finals
18.7 Bulls/Jazz '98
17.9 Bulls/Trail Blazers '93
16.8 Bulls/Jazz '97
16.7 Bulls/Sonics '96
15.9 Lakers/Celtics '87
15.8 Bulls/Lakers '91
15.4 Lakers/Pistons '88
15.1 Pistons/Lakers '89
14.2 Bulls/Trail Blazers '92
14.1 Celtics/Rockets '86

Lowest Rated NBA Finals
6.2 Spurs/Cavs '07
6.5 Spurs/Nets '03
6.7 Celtics/Rockets '81
7.2 Spurs/Bullets '79
8.2 Spurs/Pistons '05

Love them or hate them - the Lakers are the only current NBA team capable of pulling in double-digit ratings.
The NBA should just be happy that the Spurs didn't advance.