Basketball legend Magic Johnson says NBA television ratings have declined steadily because rivalries aren’t as strong as they were when the Lakers and Celtics battled fiercely in the 1980s. Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson disagrees with that premise. He says the NBA is in a great place. “They (current players) don’t hate each other,” Johnson said recently, according to an outkick.com story. “I hated Larry and every Celtic. I really don’t like you (Paul Pierce) but you’re my little brother. Now I love you because you’re out of that green & white. That’s what it was. The Celtics and Lakers hated each other. It made for great TV and people tuned in.” Pierce, who spent 15 seasons of his 19-year career with the Celtics, retired from the Los Angeles Clippers after the 2016-17 season. Players from opposite teams hug each other before and after games now. Whether that has anything to do with it can be debated, but NBA viewership has declined 48 percent since 2012, according to the story on outkick.com. Furthermore, four of the five least-viewed NBA Finals over the last 30 years occurred over the last four seasons. Coaches resting stars because of load management and too much wide open three-point shooting have been offered as other reasons for viewer decline. Atkinson began his Dec. 20 news conference before the Cavs hosted the Milwaukee Bucks by saying that on Dec. 19 (a night off for the Cavs) he watched every game on NBA Pass that was available. “I love it,” he said. “I’m so passionate about it. I love the games. I love watching other teams. “The players are so skilled today. I think we confuse style of play with skill. I think the game’s evolving. In my opinion, we’re in a great place. Just because our players have improved skill-wise, I think that should be a super positive.” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla spends his free time differently, as he revealed when reporters asked him about the decline in viewership. “I would rather watch something else,” Mazzulla said. “I don’t watch NBA games. So I’m just as much the problem as anyone else is. I don’t like watching the games.” Players from former eras in any sport are convinced things were not only different but better when they played. Pro football players from the 1970s and 80s believe players were tougher when they played. Atkinson says current friendships opposing NBA players have are suspended when games begin. “What I see is there’s a line, and when these guys enter the court, they’re competing like crazy,” he said. “The competition level is super high. “This old-school thing, like off the court I can’t talk to him either, I don’t get that. That’s how we are as coaches. I’m friends with a lot of guys in the league, but as soon as we get on the court. We dislike each other. That’s just how it is.”