While the first round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs has given us some exciting matchups, and even some early upsets in the first couple of games, fans just don’t seem to be watching them as much as they did last year:

This 18% dip encompasses all of the broadcasting options for the playoffs, including TNT, ABC, ESPN, and NBA TV.

Of course, the reason that many are pointing to for this sudden drop in ratings is LeBron James missing out on the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Thanks to the Los Angeles Lakers' terrible season and lack of a playoff appearance, James isn’t on anybody's television, which could certainly explain the drop, although 18% is a fairly large number, and an easier explanation may be the number of unattractive matchups in the first round.

Despite some competitive first games, the first round of the NBA Playoffs has gone pretty much how everyone expected. Outside of the Portland Trail Blazers, every favored team has either advanced to the next round or is on the verge of doing so, so it’s possible that fans just aren’t too interested yet.

Thankfully, better matchups await in the second round. With the Boston Celtics set to take on the Milwaukee Bucks, and teams like the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets looking destined to meet each other, the opportunity for growth in ratings is there. If viewership numbers continue to drop in the second round, then it may be time to credit “The LeBron Effect” as the main culprit.