ESPN Networks Highlight Western Conference In This Week’s NBA Coverage

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN has announced its NBA coverage schedule for this week. And in this week’s schedule of games the Thunder and Clippers will be highlighted.

This week’s NBA broadcast schedule kicks off tonight with a double header schedule on ESPN. First up on the night is a cross-conference matchup between Memphis and Boston. While the showdown pits teams from opposite conferences against one another it still will have its own playoff implications. Boston currently sits third overall in the East, seven games back from Cleveland while Memphis currently sits 5^th in the West, eighteen and a half games back from the Warriors. Neither team has yet clinched a playoff berth. So win or lose tonight’s game between the Celtics and Grizzles will play a big part in the teams’ playoff fates. Tipoff for tonight’s game is scheduled for 7pm ET. Mark Jones will have the call for the game. He will be joined by Tim Legler for additional commentary.

Second up on the night is a Western Conference matchup between Oklahoma City and the Los Angeles Clippers. The Thunder welcome the Clippers into the Chesapeake Arena in a game that will also determine both teams’ playoff fates. That is because neither team yet has clinched its berth in the post season. Oklahoma City currently sits third in the west with the Clippers not too far behind in fourth. Neither team has a chance of catching the Warriors or Spurs. But both teams can potentially set their place in the playoffs. Tipoff for the game is set for 9:30pm ET. The game will be simulcast on ESPN and ESPN Radio. Dave Pasch will have the call for the game on ESPN. He will be joined by Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, and Chris Broussard for additional commentary. On the radio side, Marc Kestecher will have the call for the game. He will be joined by P.J. Carlesimo for additional commentary.

Ahead of Wednesday night’s double header schedule Rachel Nichols, Tracy McGrady, and Brian WIndhorst will have a preview of the night’s games and will look ahead to the rest of the week’s schedule in The Jump beginning at 1pm ET on ESPN2.

After Wednesday night’s double header ESPN will shift its attention to college basketball. It will be carrying coverage of the ACC Tournament and Big Ten Tournament Thursday and Friday. The NBA action picks back up on Saturday night at 8:30 pm ET with a Western Conference matchup between Oklahoma City and San Antonio. The Spurs will play host to the Thunder on NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC presented by La Quinta beginning at 8:30pm ET on ABC. Mike Tirico will have the call for Saturday’s game. He will be joined by analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson for additional commentary. Sage Steele, Jalen Rose, and Doug Collins will preview the night’s matchup and look back on the week’s other games ahead of Saturday’s showdown between the Western Conference opponents. San Antonio has already clinched its spot in the post season. But Oklahoma City has not yet solidified its spot in the playoffs. If it doesn’t clinch Wednesday night, a win Saturday could set its spot in that race.

Cleveland and the Clippers round out the week’s NBA coverage on ESPN and the ESPN networks Sunday afternoon on NBA Sunday Showcase presented by BBVA. Cleveland sits atop the Eastern Conference but has yet to clinch its spot in the playoffs. So the team will be looking to punch its post season ticket in the game. That is because the Raptors, who currently sit second in the East, are currently only two games back from Cleveland. So they are making things very interesting for Cleveland heading into the regular season’s final stretch. Win or lose Wednesday Sunday’s game will still have its own implications for the Clippers, too. That is because the Clippers sit fourth in the West. The fifth-place Grizzlies don’t have a chance of catching the Clippers and the Clippers likely won’t catch the Thunder either. So L.A. will be looking to solidify its place in the post season once and for all Sunday against the Cavs. Mike Breen will have the call for the game. He will be joined by analyst and Hall of Famer Hubie Brown for additional commentary. Reporter Lisa Salters will also be courtside throughout the game for all of the latest updates and more. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30pm ET. The game will be simulcast on ABC, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN Radio. Kevin Calabro will have the call on ESPN Radio. He will be joined by P.J. Carlesimo for additional commentary. The full schedule for this week’s NBA coverage across the ESPN networks is noted below.

 

 

Date	Time (ET)	Telecast/Commentators	Network (s)
Tues, Mar 8	3:30 p.m.	The Jump presented by State Farm Rachel Nichols, Tracy McGrady, Brian Windhorst	ESPN
Wed, Mar 9	1 a.m.	NBA Tonight Cassidy Hubbarth, Tim Legler	ESPN2
	1 p.m.	The Jump presented by State Farm* Rachel Nichols, Tracy McGrady, Brian Windhorst	ESPN2
	7 p.m.	Memphis Grizzlies at Boston Celtics Mark Jones, Jon Barry	ESPN
	9:30 p.m.	Los Angeles Clippers at Oklahoma City Thunder Dave Pasch, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Chris Broussard Radio: Marc Kestecher, P.J. Carlesimo	ESPN, ESPN Radio
Thu, Mar 10	1 a.m.	NBA Tonight Cassidy Hubbarth, Brad Daugherty	ESPN2
	3:30 p.m.	The Jump presented by State Farm Rachel Nichols,	ESPN
Fri, Mar 11	1 a.m.	NBA Tonight Cassidy Hubbarth, Brad Daugherty	ESPN2
	3:30 p.m.	The Jump presented by State Farm Rachel Nichols	ESPN
Sat, Mar 12	1 a.m.	NBA Tonight Cassidy Hubbarth, Amin Elhassan	ESPN2
	8 p.m.	NBA Countdown Sage Steele, Jalen Rose, Doug Collins	ABC
	8:30 p.m.	Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs  presented by La Quinta Mike Tirico, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Lisa Salters	ABC
Sun, Mar 13	1:30 a.m.	NBA Tonight Cassidy Hubbarth, Amin Elhassan	ESPN2
	3 p.m.	NBA Countdown presented by Straight Talk Wireless Sage Steele, Jalen Rose, Doug Collins	ABC
	3:30 p.m.	Cleveland Cavaliers  at Los Angeles Clippers presented by BBVA Mike Breen, Hubie Brown, Heather Cox Radio: Kevin Calabro, P.J. Carlesimo	ABC, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio

 

 

More information on the ESPN networks’ NBA coverage 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 go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. 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 Announces Coverage Details For 2014 MLB All-Star Game, Gillette Home Run Derby

Courtesy: ESPN

Good news for baseball fans. Fans that won’t be able to catch next week’s MLB All-Star Game on television will still be able to catch the game on the radio thanks to ESPN.

ESPN Radio will carry this year’s MLB All-Star Game live next Tuesday, July 15^th. This year’s broadcast marks the network’s seventeenth consecutive year of broadcasting Major League Baseball’s “Mid-Summer Classic.” ESPN Radio’s coverage of this year’s All-Star game begins Tuesday evening at 7pm ET. ESPN Radio’s Sunday Night Baseball duo of Jon Sciambi and analyst Chris Singleton will have the call. They will be joined by on-site studio host Marc Kestecher and reporters Peter Pascarelli and Tim Kurkjian.

Along with its broadcast on ESPN Radio, the MLB All-Star Game will also be broadcast live on ESPN Deportes Radio. Jose Francisco Rivera, Renato Bermudez, Armando Talavera, Marly Rivera, and Eduardo Ortega will be on hand for ESPN Deportes Radio’s coverage of the game.

ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes Radio will simulcast the 2014 Gillette Home Run Derby Monday, July 14^th at 8pm ET. The Home Run Derby will be broadcast live from Target Field in Minneapolis. ESPN’s Chris Berman will anchor the broadcast. He will be joined by ESPN MLB analyst Jon Kruk, and reporters Buster Olney and Pedro Gomez. This year marks the twenty-second consecutive year that ESPN will have carried the MLB Home Run Derby.

ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes Radio’s coverage of this year’s All-Star game festivities is just part of the networks’ coverage this year. ESPN recently announced that along with its networks’ coverage of the 2014 Gillette Home Run Derby and the 2014 All-Star Game, the Worldwide Leader in Sports will also televise the 2014 Taco Bell All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game on Monday, July 14^th immediately after the 2014 Gillette Home Run Derby. Commentary for the game will be provided by SportsCenter’s John Anderson, analyst Aaron Boone, and reporter Tim Kurkjian. The full roster for both the Legends and Celebrities is available online now at http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2014/sunday_legends.jsp.

Mike & Mike in the Morning will carry bonus coverage of this year’s MLB All-Star festivities both Monday and Tuesday, July 14^th and 15^th live from Kieran’s in Minneapolis. “Greeny” and Golic will also call all of the action over the Target PA system for those in attendance Monday at the Gillette Home Run Derby.

More information on the ESPN family of networks’ of this year’s All-Star Game and Home Run Derby is available online at http://espn.go.com/mlb. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. 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 To Broadcast NBA Draft For 12th Consecutive Year This Thursday

Courtesy: ESPN

The NBA season is over. But that doesn’t mean that the NBA is completely done for the season. Officials with ESPN have announced that the Worldwide Leader in Sports will have exclusive coverage of the league’s annual draft this year.

The 2014 NBA Draft presented by State Farm will be broadcast live this Thursday, June 26^th on ESPN. It marks the twelfth consecutive year that ESPN has broadcasted the annual draft event. It also marks the second consecutive year that the draft has come live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Rece Davis will anchor the broadcast from ESPN’s main set. Davis will be joined by ESPN college basketball inside Jay Bilas and ESPN NBA analysts Jalen Rose and Bill Simmons.

Thursday’s live broadcast from the Barclays center will be preceded by ESPN’s NBA Draft Preview Show Wednesday, June 25^th at 7pm on ESPN2. ESPNU will also broadcast the ESPNU Draft Special each day this week from 4 – 5 and the ESPNU Draft Recap at midnight Thursday after the draft.

Throughout Thursday’s broadcast of the 2014 NBA Draft presented by State Farm, audiences will get extra in-depth analysis from ESPN basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla and ESPN NBA analyst Tom Penn. Fran Fraschilla will offer insights on international prospects. Jeff Goodman, Heather Cox, Chris Broussard, Andy Katz and Jay Williams will each have reports and interviews. Marc Kestecher will anchor ESPN Radio’s simulcast of the 2014 NBA Draft presented by State Farm. Analysts P.J. Carlesimo and Ryen Rusillo will offer extra commentary for the broadcast.

More information on Thursday’s coverage of the 2014 NBA Draft presented by State Farm is available online at http://espn.go.com/nba and http://www.facebook.com/NBAonESPN. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. 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.

NBA Finals Game Three Tips Off AT 9pm Tonight On ABC

Courtesy: ESPN

The 2014 NBA Finals are “heating up” after Miami evened its series against the San Antonio Spurs Sunday. The Heat defeated the Spurs Sunday 98-96, tying the series at one game each. Game three will be broadcast exclusively on ABC tonight at 9pm ET. Mike Breen will have the call for tonight’s game. He will be joined by analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson. Reporter Doris Burke and officiating analyst Steve Javie will also be on hand for commentary.

Broadcast of tonight’s Game Three will be preceded by NBA Countdown live from the American Airlines Arena in Miami at 8:30pm ET. Sage Steel will anchor the broadcast and will be joined by analysts Bill Simmons, Jalen Rose, and Doug Collins.

Along with its broadcast on ABC, tonight’s broadcast of Game Three will be simulcast on ESPN Radio affiliates nationwide. Kevin Calabro will have the call. He will be joined by analyst Hubie Brown and reporter Marc Stein for additional insight throughout the game. ESPN Radio’s pre-game coverage begins at 8pm ET. Marc Kestecher and analyst Jon Barry will contribute to that broadcast. ESPN Deportes will carry tonight’s broadcast of Game Three as well. Alvaro Martin and Carlos Morales will have commentary for ESPN Deportes. .

Game Four of the 2014 NBA finals will be simulcast on ABC, ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes Thursday, June 12^th at 9pm ET. Game Five is scheduled for Sunday, June 15^th at 8pm ET. Both games will be preceded by NBA Countdown half an hour before tipoff.

All games of the NBA Finals broadcast on ABC are also available online through most internet and mobile internet platforms including: Xbox, Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV via WatchESPN. There are also special simulcasts on ESPN3.

More information on coverage of the 2014 NBA Finals is available online at http://www.facebook.com/NBAonESPN and http://espn.go.com/nba. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. 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.

ABC, ESPN Networks Carrying Seven Playoff Games This Weekend

Courtesy: ESPN

NBA fans have plenty of reason to be happy this weekend.  ABC and ESPN have seven games on tap this weekend.  Three of those games will air on ESPN Friday night beginning with a matchup between the Knicks and Celtics.  The Knicks will look to extend their two-game lead over Boston as the teams face off in game three of that series Friday night at 8pm.  It will air on ESPN and ESPN Radio affiliates across the country.  Fans can also catch the game online and via mobile access through WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app.  Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, and Heather Cox will have the call on ESPN.  Marc Kestecher and Dr. Jack Ramsey will call the game for ESPN Radio.  The game is scheduled to start at 8pm EST.      

The second of the night’s triple header sees the Spurs and Lakers face off in the third game of their series, too.  The Spurs are up two games to none in that best-of-seven series.  Injuries have plagued the Lakers, who are looking to get their footing again Friday night.  The game is scheduled to start at 10:30pm EST.  It will air live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.  Fans can also watch the game online and on mobile devices through WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app.  Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, and Chris Broussard will have the call on ESPN.  They will be joined by Alvaro Martin and Carlos Morales for ESPN Deportes.

Also at 10:30, the Warriors will look to break the one-game time with the Nuggets when the teams head back to Oakland.  The Warriors come into Friday’s game with some momentum.  The team as a whole shot nearly sixty-five percent and made 14 of 25 three-point shots.  Four of the team’s players scored twenty points in game two Tuesday night.  The Warriors have also outrebounded the Nuggets 91 to 71 over the course of the series’ first two games.  The Nuggets are looking to regain some footing Friday night when they are hoping to get Kenneth Faried back in the lineup after having lost him in Game 1 to a sprained ankle.  Friday’s matchup will air on ESPN2 and can be viewed online and on mobile devices through WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app.  Dave Pasch, Jon Barry, and Holly Rowe will have all the action and news throughout the game.

The weekend showcase closes out with a Sunday doubleheader pitting the Knicks and Celtics against each other again for Game Four in the teams’ best-of-seven series first.  The game will air at 1pm on ABC and on ESPN Radio affiliates across the nation.  Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Heather Cox will be back to call the action again for the game, while Marc Kestecher and Dr. Jack Ramsay will have the call for ESPN Radio. 

The day’s second game tips off at 3:30pm EST.  The Bucks are hoping to dig out of a two game hole right now with game three tonight at 7pm.  Game four will be Sunday afternoon on ABC and ESPN Deportes.  Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, and Chris Broussard will be on hand for ESPN.  Alvaro Martin and Carlos Morales will call all the action for ESPN Deportes.  It all starts with the Kia NBA Countdown at 12:30pm EST.  Hosts Magic Johnson, Bill Simmons, Jalen Rose, and Michael Wilbon will discuss the weekend’s previous games and their implications as the NBA post season rolls on, as well as Sunday’s games on tap.  Fans can catch the Countdown on ABC.

A full schedule of the weekend’s games is available below.

Date	Time (ET)	Game / Commentators	Networks
Fri, Apr 26	8 p.m.	New York Knicks at Boston Celtics (Gm. 3) ESPN: Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Heather Cox ESPN Radio: Marc Kestecher, Dr. Jack Ramsay	ESPN, ESPN Radio, WatchESPN
	10:30 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers (Gm. 3) ESPN: Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, Chris Broussard ESPN Deportes: Alvaro Martin, Carlos Morales	ESPN, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes
	10:30 p.m.	Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors (Gm. 3) ESPN: Dave Pasch, Jon Barry, Holly Rowe	ESPN2, WatchESPN
Sat, Apr 27	7 p.m.	Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks (Gm. 3) ESPN: Mark Jones, Doris Burke, Holly Rowe	ESPN, WatchESPN
	9:30 p.m.	Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets (Gm. 3) ESPN: Dave Pasch, Jon Barry, Samantha Ponder ESPN Radio: Kevin Calabro, Chris Mullin ESPN Deportes: Alvaro Martin, Carlos Morales	ESPN, ESPN Radio, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes
Sun, Apr 28	12:30 p.m.	KIA NBA Countdown Magic Johnson, Bill Simmons, Jalen Rose, Michael Wilbon	ABC
	1 p.m.	New York Knicks at Boston Celtics (Gm. 4) ESPN: Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Heather Cox ESPN Radio: Marc Kestecher, Dr. Jack Ramsay	ABC, ESPN Radio
	3:30 p.m.	Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks (Gm. 4) ESPN: Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, Chris Broussard ESPN Deportes: Alvaro Martin, Carlos Morales	ABC, ESPN Deportes

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  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 Radio Releases Schedule For NBA All-Star Game Broadcast

Courtesy: ESPN/ESPN Radio

ESPN Radio will nationally broadcast the 2013 Sprint NBA All-Star Game.  This marks the 17^th straight year that ESPN Radio will have events through the All-Star game, which lead up to the broadcast of the annual game.  The game will be broadcast this Sunday, February 17^th at 7:30pm EST.  The game will be called by Kevin Calabro.  He will be joined by analyst and NBA Hall of Famer Dr. Jack Ramsay. Marc Kestecher will join the team live from ESPN’s studios.  He will be joined by NBA Hall of Famer Chris Mullin, ESPN NBA insider Marc Stein, and reporter Shelley Smith.

Coverage of this weekend’s All-Star Game starts Friday with a broadcast of First Take live from Houston at 10am.   ESPN Radio’s SVP and Rusillo will also broadcast live.  The pair will broadcast live at 1pm this Friday.  It will also simulcast on ESPNNEWS.  Both shows will broadcast from the House of Blues in Houston.  Along with the live broadcast, Ryen Rusillo will also participate in the 2013 All-Star Celebrity Game live from the George R. Brown Convention Center.  He and ESPN commentator Bruce Bowen will be among many other celebrities taking part in the game.  Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) and James Harden (Houston Rockets) will serve as special coaches for the event.  Mark Jones will provide commentary for the game and will be joined by analyst Jon Barry and reporter Chris Broussard.  Audiences can catch the game via ESPN Mobile TV and online at WatchESPN.  Audiences with tablets and smart phones can catch the game with the WatchESPN app.

ESPN.com will have even more content through the weekend including live chats and grades for all events related to the NBA All-Star Game.  TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott will also present TrueHoop TV content all weekend.  A full schedule of events from ESPN Radio and ESPN International is available below.

ESPN Radio’s 2013 NBA All-Star schedule

 

Date	Event	Time (ET)
Fri., Feb. 15	BBVA Rising Stars Challenge	9 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 16	Meet the All-Stars	6 p.m.
	NBA All-Star Saturday Night: The Sears Shooting Stars The Taco Bell Skills Challenge The Foot Locker Three-Point Contest The Sprite Slam Dunk Contest	8:30 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 17	2013 Sprint NBA All-Star Game	7:30 p.m.

 

ESPN International All-Star coverage

NBA All-Star Celebrity Game:  Live on Pac-Rim, Brazil, Atlantic, Caribbean and UK, Friday at 7pm EST

Rising Stars Challenge:  Live on Pac-Rim, Brazil, Atlantic, Caribbean and UK, Friday at 9pm EST

NBA All-Star Saturday Night:  Live on Pac-Rim, Brazil, Atlantic, Caribbean and UK, Saturday at 8:30pm                                                               EST.

NBA All-Star Game:  Live on Pac-Rim, Brazil, Atlantic, Caribbean and UK, Sunday at 8pm EST

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.