In averaging 1.5% of cable TV households per game, TNT's 27th season of NBA coverage is on track to be its highest rated ever, beating the 1995-96 season as the top-drawing season.

Topping Michael Jordan's appeal in his heyday is saying something, and both TNT and ESPN are on track to turn in cable's TV most-watched NBA seasons.

TNT's Marv Albert said Tuesday during an online chat at USATODAY.com the boost isn't so much because the NBA has more marquee teams this season — "there are five teams that can win the championship, and that's usually what it is" — but because it has a new villain. "Miami is the major factor that TV ratings are sky high. And as bad as (ESPN's) The Decision show was ... you need a team you don't like."

And some sideshows. Like Albert, Steve Kerr and Reggie Miller calling TNT's Los Angeles Lakers-Boston Celtics game Thursday (8 p.m. ET). The Celtics' Ray Allen needs two three-pointers to pass Miller's NBA career record of 2,560. Albert says he and Kerr, the NBA's career three-point percentage leader (.454) will remind Miller all game about how he's being displaced. "All that's missing is Spike Lee being there to taunt him."

Says Miller, noting the long odds against him calling the game when the record was broken: "To me, there is such a thing as a 'basketball god.' ... I'm excited."

As long as the basketball god never demands human sacrifices.