Turner Sports came in to grab the NBA cable package from ESPN and USA in 1984-85 and ever since, it has been a major part of the league’s growth and popularity. It’s to the point where TNT is now the Network of Record for the NBA over any of the current TV partners. The games used to be on TBS, then switched to TNT starting in 1988-89 and for a while in the 1990’s, both TBS and TNT were the cable homes of the NBA before ESPN came back in 2002. Turner Sports’ 1,000 NBA Playoff game will air on Wednesday as the Memphis Grizzlies take on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Dick Stockton and the Czar of the Telestrator, Mike Fratello will team up to call the game. Although you would think Turner would send either Marv Albert or Kevin Harlan for this milestone, but they’ve been assigned to other games as you’ll see.
Turner Broadcasting to Telecast 1000th NBA Playoff Game on Wednesday, May 11 with Memphis Grizzlies @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Coverage of the Second Round of the NBA Playoffs on TNT and NBA TV Continues
Turner Broadcasting will televise its 1000th NBA Playoff Game in the company’s 27-year history with the league on Wednesday, May 10 when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Memphis Grizzlies on TNT at 9:30 p.m. (ET) in Game 5 of their best-of-seven series. Dick Stockton (play-by-play) and Mike Fratello (analyst) will call the game with Marty Snider reporting from the sidelines. Turner has telecast NBA Playoff games since they acquired the NBA cable package for the 1984-85 season.
TNT’s coverage of the Second Round of the NBA Playoffs continues Tuesday, May 8 at 8 p.m. (ET) with NBA Tip-Off with Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), and Kenny Smith (analyst) previewing the night’s action. Following the pre-game show, Derrick Rose and Chicago Bulls will host Joe Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks in Game 5 of their best-of-seven Second Round series. Marv Albert (play-by-play) and Steve Kerr (analyst) will call the game with David Aldridge reporting. The night will conclude with the Emmy® award-winning studio show Inside the NBA with Johnson, Barkley and Smith recapping the game.
The NBA on TNT resumes on Wednesday, May 10 with a Second Round exclusive doubleheader. The first game will get underway at 7 p.m. (ET) featuring Rajon Rondo and the Boston Celtics visiting LeBron James and the Miami Heat in Game 5 of their series. Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Reggie Miller (analyst) will call the game with Craig Sager reporting. The second game will see Kevin Durant and the Thunder taking on Zach Randolph and the Grizzlies at 9:30 p.m. (ET). To finish the evening’s coverage, Johnson, Barkley and Smith will be joined by NBA TV/TNT analyst Kevin McHale to break down the action on Inside the NBA.
NBA TV also will continue to provide extensive coverage of the Playoffs beginning Monday, May 9 with host Marc Fein and analysts Brent Barry and Steve Smith previewing the night’s action beginning at 6:30 p.m. (ET). NBA TV’s 1,500 hours of wall-to-wall coverage over approximately 65 days will include live first round action, 195 hours of live studio coverage, pre and postgame analysis, press conferences, complete game playbacks of every playoff game, and encore presentations of NBA GameTime.
2011 NBA PLAYOFFS ON TNT (all times ET)
TIME/DATE GAME
Tuesday, May 10 8 p.m. (ET) NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Atlanta Hawks @ Chicago Bulls (Game 5)
Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and David Aldridge (reporter)Postgame Inside the NBA
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)Wednesday, May 11 7 p.m. (ET) NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Kevin McHale (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst). Boston Celtics @ Miami Heat (Game 5)
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)9:30 p.m. Memphis Grizzlies @ Oklahoma City Thunder (Game 5)
Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Marty Snider (reporter)Postgame Inside the NBA
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Kevin McHale (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)2011 NBA PLAYOFFS ON NBA TV (all times ET)
TIME/DATE GAME
Monday, May 9
6:30 – 7 p.m. (ET) NBA GameTime Marc Fein (host), Brent Barry (analyst) and Steve Smith (analyst) 9:30 – 12 a.m. NBA GameTime (Heat / Celtics Game 4 postgame) Marc Fein (host), Brent Barry (analyst) and Steve Smith (analyst) 12 – 1 a.m. NBA GameTime (Thunder / Grizzlies Game 4 postgame) Marc Fein (host), Brent Barry (analyst) and Steve Smith (analyst) Tuesday, May 10
7:30 – 8 p.m. (ET) NBA GameTime Matt Winer (host), Greg Anthony (analyst) and Brent Barry (analyst) 10:30 – 11:30 p.m. NBA GameTime (Hawks / Bulls Game 6 postgame) Matt Winer (host), Greg Anthony (analyst) and Brent Barry (analyst) Wednesday, May 11
6:30 – 7 p.m. (ET) NBA GameTime Matt Winer (host), Greg Anthony (analyst) and Chris Webber (analyst) 9:30 p.m. – 12 a.m. NBA GameTime (Celtics / Heat Game 5 postgame) Matt Winer (host), Greg Anthony (analyst) and Chris Webber (analyst) 12 – 1 a.m. NBA GameTime (Grizzlies / Thunder Game 5 postgame) Matt Winer (host), Greg Anthony (analyst) and Chris Webber (analyst)
That’s it.
