December 12, 2011; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) types on the computer for Twitter during media day at the Golden State Warriors Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Of the four major sports leagues, the NBA has embraced has embraced social media the most tightly.  In that spirit, it seems fair to evaluate the influence each team’s social media holds over its audience.  Klout, while not perfect, is the most well known method for measuring such social media impact.

Klout scours social media accounts, such as Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, and measures their data to create a “Klout Score.” Klout scores range from 1 to 100, with higher scores corresponding to a broader online social influence. The data below are broken up by NBA division, with measurements taken in June 2011 and May 2013.

A few notes:  Klout has reformulated its algorithms and measurement scales since 2011, so the scores of 2011 are not directly comparable with the scores of 2013.  Also, the scales aren’t linear — in fact, they’re probably closer to something logarithmic — so a score of 89 is actually better than a score of 88 by a good bit more than 1%.

Atlantic Division

Central Division

Southeast Division

Pacific Division

Northwest Division

Southwest Division 

Other team-based notes and trends:

• There is likely a fair bit of playoff bias in measurements taken in June and May; for example, in 2011, the Mavericks and Heat topped the league during their respective runs to the NBA Finals.  Out of the playoffs in 2013, Dallas finished with a score much closer to the league average.
• With a score of 95, Chicago finished with the highest 2013 score; Portland finished last with a mark of 84.
• Milwaukee, Phoenix, and Utah finished in a surprising tie for the sixth-highest score, following five teams from bigger markets with more television exposure: the Bulls, Lakers, Celtics, Knicks, and Heat.

Apr 25, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA;Miami Heat forward LeBron James gets pressure from Milwaukee Bucks guard Monta Ellis (left) and center Larry Sanders during game three of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

According to a report by Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, Monta Ellis and Larry Sanders nearly came to blows in the locker room following their home playoff loss in Game 3 against Miami.  From Berger’s story:

Though the players had to be separated, the dust-up didn’t get serious enough to trigger disciplinary action for either player. One source described the confrontation as “just words between teammates in the locker room.” 

…

Ellis “took umbrage,” according to another person with knowledge of the situation. Correctly assuming that Sanders’ comments were directed primarily at him and backcourt mate Brandon Jennings, who both are prospective free agents, Ellis approached Sanders and squared off with him, sources said. A teammate got between the two players and separated them before the conflict became physical.

Huh.

Given that Ellis is the Bucks’ best offensive weapon and that Sanders is their best defender and most valuable asset, Milwaukee may have a problem.  Complicating matters is the fact that Sanders is under contract for next season and that Ellis has a player option for 2013-14.  Monta may put feelers out over the next month and decide that staying put for $11 million next season is his best financial option.  A pairing of the two next season is a real possibility.

In the larger scope of things, though, one dustup doesn’t mean much.  If there is evidence of a larger trend of animus between the two, then the Bucks have something to worry about.

There were definite chemistry issues on the Bucks following the J.J. Redick trade.  Brandon Jennings pouted when Jim Boylan shorted his minutes.  Rumors of Redick’s unhappiness abounded.  Mike Dunleavy took to vacant glazes and frustrated quotes.  Monta almost deliberately seemed to pick up his game when he took the court without Jennings.

But the fact that tempers flared following the most disappointing loss of the season?  That’s not really a surprise at all.

One last part of the Berger story merits a mention:

Oddly, a member of the proposed ownership group trying to keep the Kings in Sacramento has done some background checking on Ellis as a possibility for the Kings if the team decides to part ways with restricted free agent Tyreke Evans this summer, a league source involved in the discussions said.

So the new Sacramento ownership group 1) kept Seattle hungry for a team by holding onto the Kings, 2) surrendered a huge chunk of future cash from luxury tax payouts, and 3) snooped around one of Milwaukee’s three-best players, one who is still under contract with the Bucks.  It’s like these guys have it out for Milwaukee.  Yikes.