ESPN, TNT tip off NBA Playoffs plans

The NBA postseason is upon us, with ESPN and TNT announcing first round programming starting tomorrow. ESPN tips off the playoffs on Saturday at 12:30p with Nets/Raptors, along with a primetime doubleheader beginning at 7p with Hawks/Pacers, followed by Grizzlies/Thunder at 9:30p. On ABC, the network carries Warriors/Clippers at 3:30p with Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Lisa Salters calling the action before the trio fly to Miami to handle the Bobcats/Heat game less than 24 hours later at 3:30p on Sunday. The company also announced that Pitbull will star in ESPN’s new NBA Playoffs broadcast open and joined by NBA players that include LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Paul George, Chris Paul, Joakim Noah and Stephen Curry.

Around the dial, TNT, in its 30th consecutive year of NBA coverage, begins its broadcasts of more than 40 NBA Playoff games on Sunday with a tripleheader featuring Mavericks/Spurs at 1p, Wizards/Bulls at 7p and Trail Blazers/Rockets at 9:30p. Overall, there will be four commentator teams during the first round: Marv Albert/Steve Kerr; Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller; Brian Anderson/Greg Anthony; and Joel Meyers/Chris Webber. The network also announced that it will feature the state-of-the-art technological enhancements during the playoffs including a super-slow-motion camera during each first round telecast and two each in the second.

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