NBA fans seek sports bars

BANGKOK—There was mild disappointment Monday among NBA die-hards, mostly Caucasians billeted at the Narai Hotel on Silom Road here.

The hotel’s ground floor lounge and bar did not schedule an early morning big screen TV viewing party for Game 2 of the league’s best-of-seven Finals, sparking the obvious.

The fanatics holed up in their rooms, cheering sedately as the Golden State Warriors held off the Toronto Raptors, 109-104, on Andre Iguodala’s three point-dagger with seven ticks remaining.

Since the in-house watering hole is again not expected to open in time when Game 3 tips off Thursday, the fans will likely descend on Silom. The district is Bangkok’s version of Wall Street by day and a shopping and entertainment hub at night.

One or two sports bars are open in the area at the unholy hour of 7 a.m. to serve as a venue for controlled chaos for the NBA marquee TV attraction as well as for English premiere soccer league games.

As the sports world turns, soccer, called football in Asia, has become the most dominant game in this metropolis and the rest of the Thai kingdom.

There will be coffee or Singha beer at the pub when Dub Nation and the North tangle again, said Malcolm from Australia during breakfast at the hotel’s international buffet hall.

“Exploring Silom Road is an option for Game 3,” said Bill from California at the Silom village trade center where haggling is an acquired talent.

“The NBA is popular in Thailand, particularly the finals,” said Wanchai Rujiwongsanti, sports editor of the English-language daily Bangkok Post.

But obviously not popular enough to entice locals to catch the games live.

“You may be at bars in the evening, but you don’t see NBA games on TV,” Rujiwongsanti told me. “NBA games are played in the morning Bangkok time, and I think not many people want to watch taped games.”

Warriors Coach Steve Kerr started DeMarcus Cousins at center, and the adjustment paid off for Game 2.

By the time the game ended, the Warriors were headed back home to Oakland, with the NBA Finals tied at 1-1.

Cousins played almost 28 minutes, his most in two months, and notched 11 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and two blocks.

Kerr told sportswriters he needed Cousins’ toughness, rebounding and physical presence while Kevin Durant, his top scorer and performer, is out with an injury.