As the NBA Finals captivate basketball enthusiasts around the globe, the quality of coverage provided by broadcasters is under intense scrutiny. This year, ABC and ESPN’s handling of the NBA Finals has sparked a wave of criticism from fans, who have expressed their dissatisfaction with what they perceive as lackluster coverage.
The collaboration between ABC and ESPN during Game 2 of the NBA Finals left fans wanting more. The broadcast, which was supposed to be a highlight of the season, was met with frustration and disappointment. Fans took to social media to voice their opinions, lamenting the absence of the engaging analysis and vibrant energy they had come to expect from such a significant event.
The backlash was not limited to a few isolated comments; it was a widespread sentiment shared across various platforms. Fans compared the coverage unfavorably to TNT’s ‘Inside the NBA,’ praising the latter for its depth and entertainment value. The criticism ranged from the lack of detailed analysis to the overall presentation, which some described as having the “aura of a regular season matinee” rather than the grandeur of the NBA Finals.
Specific points of contention included the failure to display timeout counts and the perceived poor quality of the halftime show that mostly consisted of ads. Fans missed the comprehensive breakdowns and expert insights that were a staple of TNT’s coverage. The ESPN studio show, in particular, was singled out for not living up to expectations, with fans longing for the days when the NBA was covered by TNT.
Part 2/4: Host Malika Andrews notes “No time for introductions.”
Stephen A. Smith, Michael Wilbon, Bob Myers and Josh Hart spend less than 2 minutes breaking down the first half. pic.twitter.com/VMwfHDIiix
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 10, 2024
Part 4/4: Mic’d up (Jaylen Brown), first half stats and JJ Redick and Doris Burke offering their brief commentary on the first half as the third quarter begins.
All told, about four minutes broken up into four sections. pic.twitter.com/L96IlEQO9E
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 10, 2024
This ABC broadcast for the #nbafinals is awful. Adam Silver doesn’t care about basketball.
— Kym (@kaywhyem) June 9, 2024
This ABC broadcast has the…aura…of a regular season matinee in February with a 3:30 tip, not Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
— Cousin Grizz (@AndrewDoxy) June 10, 2024
idk if it’s just me, but this #NBAFinals has ZERO aura. The ESPN broadcast has been awful. JJ and Doris make me want to turn off the game. So many ads on the court. Only one superstar with charisma (Luka)
Lol idk
— Lee (@leeavenir) June 10, 2024
ABC broadcast keeps talking about Celtics woes from 3 …
But Dallas is 1-14 besides Doncic, and most of the misses haven’t been close.
— Mark Stopa (@MarkStopa) June 10, 2024
Halftimes are better on @NBAonTNT! #justsayin @NBA #NBA #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/cc9XGAYWXg
— Matt Harris (@Harris_MatthewJ) June 10, 2024
Bruh why doesn’t ESPN show the timeout count ? Trash broadcast man.
— sensei donny (@_donnydomino) June 10, 2024
If you thought game 1 was bad game 2 was worse. I didn’t feel like I was watching a NBA FINALS game through the majority of that broadcast. ESPN is a joke. There regular season SEC football games carry more weight. https://t.co/gWcEpVuSyA
— Niku Mistry (@MistryNBA) June 10, 2024
@NBA ESPN is nothing close to TNT broadcast. Then you put out on ABC and it’s streamed on 720p. The quality is horrible!
— JCOP (@tobuk_ak) June 10, 2024
@NBATV with the amazing post game analysis team. People actually talking basketball who are knowledgeable. @espn take notes@NBA you guys should have final veto for the broadcast & halftime team for the finals.
— Himothy Chalamet (@TheyGotELROY) June 10, 2024
