ESPN Networks To Offer Extensive NBA Finals Coverage

Posted on May 28, 2017 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

ABC will have full coverage of this year’s NBA Finals.

The stage is set for this year’s clash of the champions as LeBron James and the defending NBA Champion Cavaliers facing Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors for this year’s title. ABC, which is part of the ESPN family of networks, will carry full coverage of this year’s championship series between the teams starting Thursday, June 1 at 9 p.m.

The full schedule for this year’s NBA Finals is noted below.

NBA Finals on ABC, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes & ESPN App:

Date	Time (ET)	Game
Thu, June 1	9 p.m.	Game 1: Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors
Sun, June 4	8 p.m.	Game 2: Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors
Wed, June 7	9 p.m.	Game 3: Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers
Fri, June 9	9 p.m.	Game 4: Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers
Mon, June 12	9 p.m.	*Game 5: Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors
Thu, June 15	9 p.m.	*Game 6: Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers
Sun, June 18	8 p.m.	*Game 7: Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors

*if necessary

Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson and Doris Burke will call the series for its eighth consecutive year together. Steve Javie will also be on hand offering analysis on the game’s officiating.

This year’s NBA Finals marks the third straight year that the Cavs and Warriors have vied for the league’s top spot. It marks the 15^th consecutive year that ESPN has produced the NBA Finals on ABC. The series will be simulcast on ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes and online via the ESPN app.

Marc Kestecher will anchor ESPN Radio’s broadcast of the series alongside Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and analyst Hubie Brown and reporter Marc Stein. This year is ESPN Radio’s 22^nd consecutive year covering the NBA Finals. Kevin Winter and analyst Jon Barry will provide pre-game coverage live on-site leading up to each game.

ESPN’s The Jump and NBA Countdown will provide additional NBA Finals coverage throughout the series. The Jump will air on-site throughout the series from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. while NBA Countdown will air before each game and during halftime. The pre-game show will be evenly split between ESPN and ABC.

As if that is not enough coverage, ESPN’s First Take will also offer its own special coverage with several special prime-time broadcasts. ESPN3 will also offer a second-screen digital look at pre-game warm-ups, post-game press conferences and much more.

ESPN International will broadcast each game internationally in Latin America, Brazil, the Caribbean and Pacific Rim region.

More information on ESPN and ABC’s coverage of the NBA Finals is available online now at:

Website: http://www.espn.com/nba

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NBAonESPN

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Bucks, Raptors Go To Game 5 Live Monday Night On NBA TV

Posted on April 23, 2017 by philspicks

Courtesy: Turner Sports

The NBA Playoffs are in full swing, and NBA TV’s coverage of the playoffs continues April 24.

NBA TV will have coverage of Game 5 between the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET with Spero Dedes, Grant Hill and Richard “Rip” Hamilton on the call. Reporter Jen Hale will be courtside for all of the latest in-game interviews and news.

NBA TV will offer extensive pre-game, halftime and post-game coverage of the game as well as live coverage of the game.

The Bucks and Raptors are currently tied at two games each coming into Monday’s game. The winner of this series will go on to face Cleveland, who swept Indiana in four games in the first round of the playoffs, in the quarterfinals.

More information on NBA TV’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs is available online now along with all of the latest NBA headlines at:

Website: http://www.nba.com/nbatv

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nbatv

Bucks, Bulls Lead TNT’s NBA Broadcast Schedule Thursday Night

Posted on December 13, 2016 by philspicks

Courtesy: TNT/Turner Sports/NBA

TNT has announced its broadcast schedule for this week’s Thursday NBA double header slate.

Up first on the night is an Eastern Conference showdown between the Bucks and Bulls. Thursday’s game is a big one for both teams. Chicago currently sits second in the Central Division, 4.5 games back from the division-leading Cleveland Cavaliers.

Milwaukee on the other hand sits in the basement in the Central Division at 11 – 12 so far on the season, 6.5 games back from the Cavs. Each team is 5 – 5 in its last 10 games, but Chicago is more primed for a win, having won its last two games. The Bucks meanwhile have lost three straight. So both teams will be playing hard Thursday night, one to get out of a slump and the other to extend its streak.

Brian Anderson and Reggie Miller will have the call for Thursday’s Eastern Conference, Central Division matchup between the Bucks and Bulls. Special guest Chris Webber will also be on hand for additional commentary live from Area 21.

Next up on the night is a cross-conference matchup between the Knicks and Warriors. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. EST. The Lakers have picked up the 2016 – ’17 season right where they left off last season. The team is in the midst of a 7-game skid, 12 games back from the Western Conference, Pacific Division-leading Warriors.

New York meanwhile sits second in the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division, three games back from the division-leading Toronto Raptors, who surprised everybody last season. New York has won two straight and is looking to keep the numbers coming in the “W” column.

Marv Albert will have the call for the game. He will be joined by analyst Kevin McHale for additional commentary. Reporter Lewis Johnson will also be on hand for all of the latest in-game news and interviews.

More information on TNT’s NBA coverage is available online now along with all of the latest NBA headlines at:

Website: http://www.nba.com/tntovertime

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NBAONTNT

Twitter: http://twitter.com/NBAonTNT

Cavs, Bulls Lead Off ESPN’s Special Friday Double Header NBA Schedule

Posted on November 30, 2016 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls will face off Friday and ESPN will have full coverage of the game including exclusive broadcasts of NBA Countdown, The Jump and SportsCenter. It all leads up to the 1-2 showdown in the Eastern Conference’s Central Division.

The Jump will air at a special time of 3 p.m. EST on ESPN2 live inside the United Center. Rachel Nichols will anchor the broadcast. She will be joined by analayst Tracy McGrady and Brian Windhorst for additional commentary on the one-hour edition of the program.

NBA Countdown begins at 7 p.m. EST and will also broadcast live from the United Center. Michelle Beadle will anchor the hour-long broadcast as it leads up to the 8 p.m. tip-off for the Cavaliers – Bulls matchup at 8p.m. EST. Beadle will be joined by analysts Jalen Rose, Chauncey Billups and Tracy McGrady for additional commentary.

Mike Breen will have the call for Friday night’s game between the Eastern Division-leading Cavaliers and the Bulls, who are right behind them. Breen will be joined by analyst Mark Jackson for additional commentary. Reporter and Chicago native Cassidy Hubbarth will be on hand for all of the latest in-game news and interviews.

As an additional bonus for fans, ESPN3 will carry a live stream of the teams’ pre-game, on-court workouts and drills beginning at 7:15 p.m. EST. SportsCenter will be live on site throughout the day for even more coverage. That coverage includes live updates and post-game updates.

The Cavs and Bulls are just first game scheduled for the night. The Nuggets will host the Rockets at 10:30 p.m. EST in an inter-divisional matchup in the Western Conference. Ryan Ruocco will anchor the broadcast. He will be joined by analyst Doug Collins for additional commentary.

Both games and additional coverage is available online via WatchESPN and the ESPN app. More information on ESPN’s NBA coverage is available online now along with all of the latest NBA headlines at:

Website: http://espn.go.com/nba

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NBAonESPN

Twitter: http://twitter.com/espnnba

TNT To Launch Its NBA 2016-’17 Season Coverage Tuesday Night

Posted on October 24, 2016 by philspicks

Courtesy: TNT/Turner Sports/NBA

TNT will kick off its coverage of the NBA’s 2016-2017 season Tuesday night with a double header matchup.

Opening Night presented by Autotrader opens Tuesday night at 7pm with live coverage of the Cleveland Cavaliers receiving their championship rings. Following the ceremony, Cleveland will play host to the New York Knicks at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game was originally scheduled to air at 8 p.m. ET.

The second game on the night will see the Golden State Warriors–on the heels of an historic 73-win season—hosting the San Antonio Spurs at 10:30 p.m. ET.

The 2016-’17 season marks the 21^st season that TNT has launched its NBA season coverage with a double header schedule. Marv Albert will have the call for the Cavs/Knicks game. He will be joined by analyst Chris Webber for additional commentary. Reporter Kristen Ledlow will be on hand for all of the latest in-game news and interviews.

Kevin Harlan will have the call for TNT’s coverage of the Warriors and Spurs. He will be joined by analyst Reggie Miller for additional commentary. Reporter David Aldridge will be on hand for all of the latest in-game news and interviews.

Tuesday night’s double-header schedule will be preceded by TNT’s pre-game coverage beginning at 5 p.m. ET. Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal will be live for the network’s pre-game coverage and for the network’s American Express Halftime Report.

The trio will also wrap up the night’s action on the network’s post-game show, Inside the NBA presented by Kia.

TNT’s NBA coverage continues Thursday night with another double-header beginning at 8pm ET as the Bulls host the Celtics. Marv Albert will have the call for the game. He will be joined by analyst Mike Fratello for additional commentary. Reporter Kristen Ledlow will have all of the latest in-game news and interviews.

Portland hosts the Clippers in the second of the night’s games beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET. Kevin Harlan will have the call for the game. He will be joined by analyst Reggie Miller for additional commentary. Reporter David Aldridge will have all of the latest in-game news and interviews.

More information on TNT’s upcoming NBA coverage is available online now along with all of the latest NBA headlines at:

Website: http://www.nba.com/tntovertime

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NBAONTNT

Cavs, Warriors Take The Spotlight In ESPN Networks’ NBA Coverage This Week

Posted on March 29, 2016 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN and the ESPN networks have another busy week of basketball ahead of them this week.

Officials with ESPN announced today the networks’ NBA broadcast schedule. This week’s schedule kicks off tonight with a cross conference showdown between the Rockets and the Cavaliers. LeBron James and the Cavaliers play host tonight to James Harden and the Houston Rockets in the Quicken Loans Arena. The game will air live on ESPN Radio with Marc Kestecher on the call. He will be joined by Jon Barry for additional commentary. Tipoff is scheduled for 7pm ET. Cleveland has already clinched the Central Division in the East, and also sits atop the conference, three games ahead of second place Toronto. A win tonight for Cleveland will hold that lead while a loss will allow the Raptors to close that gap just a little bit more. Tonight’s game means just as much for Houston. That is because the Rockets currently sit at the bottom of the Western Conference’s playoff ladder. A win could potentially keep them in the hunt for the seventh spot on the ladder. That spot is currently held by the Jazz.

After taking a couple of days off, the action picks back up Friday with a double-header. Up first Friday night is yet another matchup with huge playoff implications as the Cavs are on the road against the Hawks. Atlanta currently sits third in the East eight games back from Cleveland. It is sure to be an even matchup for both teams. Atlanta is 24 – 13 at home so far this season while Cleveland is 22 – 15 on the road. Mark Jones will have the call for the game. He will be joined by Hall of Famer and analyst Hubie Brown for additional commentary. Reporter Chris Broussard will be courtside for all of the game’s latest headlines interviews, and more. The game will air live at 8pm ET on ESPN.

Friday’s second game will see Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors host Isiah Thomas and the Boston Celtics as the Warriors’ quest for history continues. Boston currently sits fifth in the East while Golden State leads the West. The Warriors have also already clinched the Pacific division in the West. Mike Tirico will have the call for the game, which is scheduled for a 10:30pm ET tipoff on ESPN. He will be joined by Jon Barry for additional commentary. Reporter J.A. Adande will be courtside throughout the game for all of the game’s latest headlines and interviews.

Before the first ball goes in the air Friday night Sage Steel, Jalen Rose, and Chauncey Billups will have a preview of the night’s games on NBA Countdown charged by Mountain Dew at 7:30pm ET on ESPN.

Oklahoma City and Houston round out the week’s NBA coverage across the ESPN networks. The Thunder and Rockets will face off live Sunday afternoon on NBA Sunday Showcase presented by BBVA. The game will air live on ABC and ESPN Radio beginning at 3:30pm ET. Mike Breen will have the call for Sunday afternoon’s game. He will be joined by Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson for additional commentary. Reporter Lisa Salters will be courtside for al of the latest in-game news and interviews. Kevin Calabro and Jon Barry will cover the game for ESPN Radio. Sage Steel, Jalen Rose, and Chauncey Billups will preview Sunday’s game on NBA Countdown presented by Straight Talk Wireless.

More information on the ESPN networks’ coverage of the NBA is available online along with all of the latest NBA headlines at:

Website: http://espn.go.com/nba

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NBAonESPN

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN Opens Its 2015 NBA Regular Season Coverage Wednesday Night

Posted on October 27, 2015 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

The day is officially here. The 2015 – 2016 NBA regular season gets under way tonight. And beginning Wednesday, October 28th, ESPN joins in with full coverage that will take audiences straight through this weekend.

ESPN begins its coverage of the 2015 – 2016 NBA regular season Wednesday night with a Western Conference double-header. First up for the night is a matchup between the Thunder and Spurs live from Oklahoma City beginning at 8pm ET. Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers follow at 10pm ET as they host Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Coverage of that game begins at 10pm ET. Mike Tirico will have the call for that game. He will be joined in the booth by analyst Mark Jackson and reporter J.A. Adande. the T-Wolves will be playing with heavy hearts but a real purpose Wednesday night following the death of coach Flip Saunders Sunday at the age of 60. Over the course of seventeen seasons in the NBA, Saunders accrued a record of 654 – 592. This includes his time coaching in Detroit and Washington.

Ahead of Wednesday night’s double-header, ESPN will air a special one-hour edition of NBA Countdown beginning at 7pm ET. Sage Steele will anchor the broadcast and will be joined at the desk by analysts Jalen Rose and Doug Collins. As an added bonus, ESPN will broadcast rapper Missy Elliot’s new single ‘WTF (Where They From)’ during its broadcast of NBA Countdown. The song features famed performer/producer Pharrell Williams.

ESPN’s NBA coverage won’t be limited to just ESPN as it joins in all the basketball celebrations. Over on ESPN2 NBA Coast to Coast–ESPN’s NBA whiparound show–will have coverage of all of the action around the league from 8pm – 11pm ET. Cassidy Hubarth will anchor and will be joined by Ryen Rusillo, analysts Tim Legler and P.J. Carlesimo, and ESPN NBA Insider Chris Broussard. On Thursday morning, Cassidy Hubarth and P.J. Carlesimo will have even more coverage on NBA Tonight at 1:30am. That broadcast will be on ESPN2 as well.

After things wind down Thursday morning, ESPN will continue its NBA coverage Friday night with yet another double-header. First up Friday is an Eastern Conference matchup that sees LeBron James and the Cavs hosting James’ former teammate Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat at 7pm ET. Mike Breen will have the call for that game. He will be joined in the booth by Doris Burke for additional commentary. Stephen A. Smith will also be on hand for a special edition of SportsCenter on the Road beginning at 6pm ET. In the night’s second game, James Harden and the Houston Rockets renew their rivalry with the Golden State Warriors when the defending NBA Champions come to town. Tipoff for that game is set for 9:30pm ET. Ryan Ruocco will have the call for the game. He will be joined in the booth by Jeff Van Gundy and Chris Broussard for additional commentary. Both games will be live on ESPN. NBA Tonight will follow live at 2am ET with Cassidy Hubarth and Antonio Davis for a full wrap up of the night’s games and highlights on ESPN2. For those that prefer it, the full schedule for this week’s NBA coverage is included below.

More information on ESPN’s coverage of the NBA is available online now along with all of the latest NBA headlines at:

Website: http://espn.go.com/nba

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NBAonESPN

Dwayne Wade To Appear On Select NBA Countdown Broadcasts

Posted on June 2, 2015 by philspicks

Courtesy: ABC/ESPN/NBA

ABC has added a big name to its NBA Countdown pre-game broadcast team for this year’s playoff series between the Cavs and Warriors.

ABC announced today that it has added Dwayne Wade to its team for its NBA Countdown pre-game show. Wade, a former teammate to LeBron James, will join host Sage Steel and analysts Jalen Rose and Doug Collins on NBA Countdown ahead of Game 2 and 3 of this year’s playoff series. Should things stay tight enough, Wade will also be on hand for ABC’s pre-game broadcast ahead of Game 6 and 7. Dwayne Wade holds three NBA Championships, was the 2006 NBA Finals MVP, has made 11-appearances at the NBA All-Star Game, and helped Team USA earn gold at the 2008 Olympics.

NBA Countdown airs half an hour before each playoff game and will broadcast live before each game of the NBA Playoffs. More information on ABC’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs is available online now at:

Website: http://abcnews.go.com/sports

Twitter: http://twitter.com/abcnewsSport

Daugherty, Others Staying With ESPN After 2014 NASCAR Season Ends

Posted on October 29, 2014 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN and NASCAR are parting ways at the end of the 2014 season. Despite this change, there’s good news for audiences and ESPN’s NASCAR broadcast team. ESPN announced this week that analyst and team owner Brad Daugherty will remain with the worldwide leader in sports.

ESPN announced this week that Daugherty will join ESPN’s basketball broadcast team beginning Monday, December 1^st. Daugherty is a former five-time NBA All-Star and college basketball standout. He will serve as an analyst on ESPN’s NBA Tonight, NBA Coast to Coast, and SportsCenter regularly. He will also make appearances on ESPNU’s ACC Sunday Night package along with other other programming across the ESPN family of networks.

Before joining ESPN’s NASCAR broadcasts, Daugherty served as a reporter for ESPN and ABC’s college basketball from 1999 – 2001. Prior to joining ESPN’s ranks, he also served as a game analyst for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs local broadcasts. His playing career included eight seasons as a member of the Cavaliers after being selected in the first round of the NBA Draft in 1986. He averaged 19 points and 9.5 rebounds per game during his career. His love for NASCAR showed throughout his career as he wore the number 43 in honor of “The King” Richard Petty. The Cavs retired his number in 1997.

Daugherty is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill at the age of 16 and graduated from the university in 1986. He was named an All-ACC player twice during his college career and a first-team All-American in his senior year at the university. He averaged 20.2 points and 9 rebounds per game during his senior year at UNC.

Daugherty’s is not the only move that ESPN has announced in regards to the network’s NASCAR broadcast team. Veteran racer and long-time ESPN NASCAR analyst Ricky Craven recently signed a new deal with ESPN that will see him remain with the network as a NASCAR analyst for SportsCenter and other ESPN news platforms. Nicole Briscoe, it was announced last month, will serve as an anchor on SportsCenter and will also take on additional assignments. And reporter Marty Smith will stay on board with ESPN, too. He will remain with ESPN as a Bureau Reporter for ESPN. Allen Bestwick, who has led ESPN’s NASCAR coverage each week, will remain with the network, too. He will stay on to call ESPN’s IndyCar races and to cover tennis and golf coverage. He will also anchor some programming on ESPN’s new SEC Network.

More information on ESPN’s on-air staff and all of the latest sports headlines from ESPN is available online at:

Website: http://espn.go.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ESPN

Twitter: http://twitter.com/espn

ESPN.com Offers NBA Fans, Viewers Extensive Finals Coverage

Posted on June 5, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

Thursday, June 6^th 2013 is one of the year’s biggest days of the year for NBA fans across the country. That’s because tomorrow is the first game of the 2013 NBA Championship series. In celebration, ESPN and the ESPN family of networks will have complete coverage of this year’s NBA Finals. This includes coverage online via ESPN3, WatchESPN.com, and ESPNRadio.com Broadcasts on ESPNRadio.com are being made available courtesy of autotrader.com. Game One will be broadcast live Thursday evening, June 6^th at 9pm EDT on ABC. It will be simulcast on ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes.

Coverage of each game will be handled by a variety of NBA analysts, reporters and contributors. ESPN.com will have on-site coverage of the game. This includes scouting reports, a look at each game by the numbers, expert predictions, feature stories, video analysis, and some very special interactive experiences for fans and viewers. Among the reporters handling coverage will be, Marc Stein, J.A. Adande, Mike Wallace, Brian Windhorst, and Tom Haberstroh. Henry Abbott will have coverage of the finals on site for TrueHoop, TrueHoop TV, and HoopIdea. Daily Dime and Daily Dime Live interactive chats on ESPN.com will be offered for up-to-the minute conversation and reaction to each game each night.

Feature stories written by Kevin Arnovitz, Kevin Van Valkenburg, Liz Merrill, Israel Gutierrez, Ramona Shelburne, and Marc Stein will be posted on all things centered on the NBA Finals. Topics covered include: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, the San Antonio Spurs organization as a whole, and even one of the game’s biggest names, Lebron James.

Forecasts of each game will be offered by a panel of some two hundred NBA experts with extensive NBA experience, knowledge and perspectives. Richard Swarbrick will present a new animation featuring the greatest moments of the NBA Finals.

ESPN Insiders will offer premium content a thorough NBA Finals preview. It will also include daily Per Diem columns, from Kevin Pelton and Tom Haberstroh, and a ranking of the fifty greatest single playoff performances of all times. If that’s not enough, then try out David Thorpe’s post-season MVP rankings, too.

True hardcore NBA fans will appreciate the chance to take part personally in the Finals. That is thanks to “Finals 50/50 presented by Sony Electronics.” This is an NBA fantasy pick ‘em game. It allows fans to answer ten questions related to each NBA Finals game. Contestants have until tip-off of each game to enter answers for the questions. Five additional questions related to each game will be presented at half-time of each game. The questions will be presented in relation to the status of each game at that point. Those questions will be worth five additional points each. The big prize is well worth the entries. That’s because of the total contestants, that contestant that accumulates the most points by the end of the finals will win a Sony Home Entertainment System grand prize. Those that accumulate the most points per game will earn a four hundred dollar gift card. The game will be available online at ESPN.com and on mobile web for fans to play at home or on the road.

NBA fans can keep up with all of the latest news and more throughout the finals on the official ESPN Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/ESPN and on the official ESPN website, http://www.espn.com.

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Tag Archives: Cleveland Cavaliers

ESPN Networks To Offer Extensive NBA Finals Coverage

Bucks, Raptors Go To Game 5 Live Monday Night On NBA TV

Bucks, Bulls Lead TNT’s NBA Broadcast Schedule Thursday Night

Cavs, Bulls Lead Off ESPN’s Special Friday Double Header NBA Schedule

TNT To Launch Its NBA 2016-’17 Season Coverage Tuesday Night

Cavs, Warriors Take The Spotlight In ESPN Networks’ NBA Coverage This Week

ESPN Opens Its 2015 NBA Regular Season Coverage Wednesday Night

Dwayne Wade To Appear On Select NBA Countdown Broadcasts

Daugherty, Others Staying With ESPN After 2014 NASCAR Season Ends

ESPN.com Offers NBA Fans, Viewers Extensive Finals Coverage