NBA fans around the region are ready for the playoffs to begin, and they will be happy to know that all of the games — from this weekend’s start until the last game of the finals — will air on one of four networks.
ESPN, ABC, TNT and NBA TV will offer coverage for the first two rounds of the playoffs. All of the networks saw an increase in their regular-season ratings this year of at least 20 percent.
Sunday’s playoff schedule starts at 1 p.m. on TNT with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs hosting the Memphis Grizzlies. Then the action switches over to ABC at 3 p.m. with the New Orleans Hornets visiting Staples Center to face the defending NBA champion L.A. Lakers.
TNT takes back over to finish the night with a doubleheader, leading off at 7 p.m. with Baltimore’s Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks (making their first playoff appearance since 2004) visiting the Boston Celtics. The final game tips off at 9:30 p.m. and will feature Prince George’s County’s own Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Denver Nuggets.
TNT and NBA TV will handle Monday through Thursday broadcasts. Friday nights will belong to ESPN, and the two networks will share the weekends with ABC airing Sunday afternoon games.
ESPN will also handle all the radio and broadband — if the game is on either ESPN or ABC then you can also see it on ESPN3 as well as on ESPN Mobile.
The pregame shows should be entertaining. ABC will feature host Stuart Scott with analysts Magic Johnson, Jon Barry and Michael Wilbon while the primary ESPN crew will be Hannah Storm with analysts Chris Mullin and Jalen Rose — but expect a number of guest analysts to show up on both shows.
TNT will feature its popular “Inside the NBA” show trio of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith — and there will be added special guests along the way as the playoffs progress.
Examiner columnist Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!
