NBA Finals: 5 things to know before Game 5

5. ABC has embraced the gritty revolution

Like everyone else who equates edginess and grit with artistic excellence, I think we are in a golden era of television (in fact, I’m going to take a quick moment and trademark that original idea: “We are in a golden era of television.” Don’t anybody else write about that). Do you even remember how boring it was before all the most slobbered-over, thinkpieced-to-Hell-and-back television shows prominently featured disembowelment and rape as critical plot devices? God, it was so dull. Nothing was provocative, thus nothing was good, because the only art that is good and has merit is art that provokes and discomforts, as we all know to be true. Having each night of the televisual week offer an opportunity to watch someone be abducted and tortured is pretty much like living in an art museum, only much cooler and better because paintings are boring and elitist (have you ever gazed into the Mona Lisa’s eyebrow-less eyes? They’re totally judging you for not getting the hype).

Forced to keep pace with the likes of Game of Thrones and Hannibal, ABC’s coverage of Game 4 was a full-on TV-MA affair right from the tip, and I’m not just saying that because one of the cameras exposed LeBron’s King Jr. to the entire world (wait, no, yes I am). It’s was a quick flash, easy to miss, like the penis in Fight Club, but the internet is always vigilant. Nothing pushes the artistic envelope quite like nudity, so kudos to ABC, although if they really wanted to rack up the artistic style points, they should’ve gone with their planned one-take tracking shot (to be fair, rumor has it they ran out of material).

And that was just the beginning.

Game 4 also featured some serious adult language, not something that you’d normally expect from such a family-friendly network. Perhaps this is ABC’s “pivot,” as they say. And drawing attention to the curses by ineffectually bleeping them out was an interesting artistic choice. Was it a wee bit too postmodern-y? Yeah, maybe. But it was undeniably gritty and NSFW, and that’s all that f****** matters.

Of course, cursing and male nudity are one thing, but what really signifies artistic achievement is gratuitous, unquestioned violence, and boy did Game 4 ever provide some of that, with LeBron’s head wound from his baseline tumble shown multiple times in all its bloody glory. Try to keep up, Game of Thrones. You can depict all the simulated violence you want, but ABC is showing real, uncensored violence. Look at how nasty this is! That’s literal blood, yo! If this series goes to seven games, it’ll likely become something resembling a snuff film, which means that many bloggers will find it problematic but will tune in anyway, because great art is just powerful like that.

Next: 4. Lynn Merritt will hunt you down if you harm LeBron's brand