As the 2014 NBA Playoffs get set to begin this weekend, TNT prepares once again to be the league’s Network of Record as it airs more than 40 playoff games from the first round all the way to the Western Conference Finals.
TNT begins with three games this Sunday with Dallas at San Antonio at 1 p.m. ET, then a primetime doubleheader featuring Washington at Chicago at 7 p.m. and Portland at Houston at 9:30 p.m.
TNT will utilize four announcing teams for the first round:
- Marv Albert/Steve Kerr
- Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller
- Brian Anderson/Greg Anthony
- Joel Meyers/Chris Webber
For the first time in years, Turner will not be utilizing Dick Stockton on the playoffs.
The reporters for the playoffs will be as follows:
- David Aldridge
- Lewis Johnson
- Jaime Maggio
- Rachel Nichols
- Marty Snider
- Molly Sullivan
- Tracy Wolfson
You notice that Craig Sager is not there and according to his son, Sager is suffering from acute leukemia and will miss the playoffs. We will miss having Craig and his loud suits on the sidelines and we hope that he will return to work very soon.
In the meantime, here’s the NBA on TNT’s schedule for the first week of the playoffs and beyond.
TNT’s Extensive Coverage of the 2014 NBA Playoffs Begins Sunday, April 20
More Than 40 NBA Playoff Games on TNT;
Exclusive Home of the Western Conference FinalsTNT, in its 30th consecutive year of NBA coverage, will televise more than 40 NBA Playoff games – the most of any network – including first and second round action and the exclusive presentation of the 2014 NBA Western Conference Finals. The network’s playoff coverage will tip off Sunday, April 20, with a tripleheader – Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs at 1 p.m. ET; Washington Wizards vs. Chicago Bulls at 7 p.m. and Portland Trail Blazers vs. Houston Rockets at 9:30 p.m.
TNT’s NBA Playoff coverage will feature the Sports Emmy Award-winning studio team of host Ernie Johnson alongside Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, four-time NBA Champion Shaquille O’Neal and two-time NBA Champion Kenny Smith providing pregame analysis, halftime updates and extensive postgame coverage on Inside the NBA.
The network will feature the state-of-the-art technological enhancements during the playoffs including a super-slow-motion camera that will provide viewers with gripping replays at key moments of the games. Each first round telecast will utilize one super-slow-motion camera and then increase to two cameras per game during the second round.
The network’s Sports Emmy Award-winning playoff coverage will include four commentator teams during the first round:
- Marv Albert with Steve Kerr
- Kevin Harlan with Reggie Miller
- Brian Anderson with Greg Anthony
- Joel Meyers with Chris Webber
Reporters will include: David Aldridge, Lewis Johnson, Jaime Maggio, Rachel Nichols, Marty Snider, Molly Sullivan and Tracy Wolfson.
Additionally, TNT Overtime on NBA.com will provide a unique companion experience allowing fans to watch the games via four alternate camera angles, along with real-time stats, enhanced video replays, player and fan voting elements, and the ability to interact with fans via Twitter while watching the game.
2014 NBA Playoffs on TNT (All Times ET)
DATE/TIME GAME Sunday, April 20 1 p.m. ET NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs, Game 1
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Jaime Maggio (reporter)7 p.m. Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls, Game 1
Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson (reporter)9:30 p.m. Portland Trail Blazers at Houston Rockets, Game 1
Joel Meyers (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst) and Marty Snider (reporter)Postgame Inside the NBA
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Monday, April 21 8 p.m. NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder, Game 2
Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Greg Anthony (analyst) and Lewis Johnson (reporter)
10:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers, Game 2
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and David Aldridge (reporter)Postgame Inside the NBA
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Tuesday, April 22 7 p.m. NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Atlanta Hawks at Indiana Pacers, Game 2
Joel Meyers (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst) and Molly Sullivan (reporter)
9:30 p.m. Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls, Game 2
Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson (reporter)Postgame Inside the NBA
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Wednesday, April 23 7 p.m. NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Charlotte Bobcats at Miami Heat, Game 2
Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Greg Anthony (analyst) and Rachel Nichols (reporter)9:30 p.m. Portland Trail Blazers at Houston Rockets, Game 2
Joel Meyers (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst) and Marty Snider (reporter)Postgame Inside the NBA
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Thursday, April 24 8 p.m. NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies, Game 3
Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and Lewis Johnson (reporter)10:30 p.m. Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors, Game 3
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and David Aldridge (reporter)Post-game Inside the NBA
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Saturday, April 26 1:30 p.m. NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)2 p.m. Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks, Game 4
Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Greg Anthony (analyst) and Rachel Nichols (reporter)4:30 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks, Game 3
Joel Meyers (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst) and Jaime Maggio (reporter)Sunday, April 27 6:30 p.m. NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)7 p.m. Toronto Raptors at Brooklyn Nets, Game 4
Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson (reporter)
9:30 p.m. Houston Rockets at Portland Trail Blazers, Game 4
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Marty Snider (reporter)Postgame Inside the NBA
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Monday, April 28 7 p.m. NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Miami Heat at Charlotte Bobcats, Game 4
TBA
9:30 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks, Game 4
TBAPostgame Inside the NBA
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Additional games TBA
That is it. NBA TV’s playoff schedule is next.
