2008 NBA Playoffs schedule.
Tentative schedule for the 2008 NBA Playoffs. First round games on NBA TV are not listed.
ABC will air up to 11 playoff games, including Games 3 and 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. For the second straight year, the Memorial Day Conference Finals game will be relegated to cable.
Saturday, April 19
3:00 PM: First round Game 1 (ABC)
5:30 PM: First round Game 1 (ESPN)
8:00 PM: First round Game 1 (ESPN)
10:30 PM: First round Game 1 (ESPN)
Sunday, April 20
3:00 PM: First round Game 1 (ABC)
5:30 PM: First round Game 1 (TNT)
8:00 PM: First round Game 1 (TNT)
10:30 PM: First round Game 1 (TNT)
Monday, April 21
7/8:00 PM: First round Game 2 (TNT)
9/10:30 PM: First round Game 2 (TNT)
Tuesday, April 22
7/8:00 PM: First round Game 2 (TNT)
9/10:30 PM: First round Game 2 (TNT)
Wednesday, April 23
7/8:00 PM: First round Game 2 (TNT)
9/10:30 PM: First round Game 2 (TNT)
Thursday, April 24
7/8:00 PM: First round Game 3 (TNT)
9/10:30 PM: First round Game 3 (TNT)
Friday, April 25
7:00 PM: First round Game 3 (ESPN2)
8:00 PM: First round Game 3 (ESPN)
10:30 PM: First round Game 3 (ESPN)
Saturday, April 26
3:00 PM: First round Game 3 or 4 (TNT)
5:30 PM: First round Game 3 or 4 (TNT)
8:00 PM: First round Game 3 or 4 (ESPN)
10:30 PM: First round Game 3 or 4 (ESPN)
Sunday, April 27
1:00 PM: First round Game 4 (ABC)
3:30 PM: First round Game 4 (ABC)
7/7:30 PM: First round Game 4 (TNT)
9:30/10 PM: First round Game 4 (TNT)
Monday, April 28
7/8:00 PM: First round Game 4 or 5 (TNT)
9/10:30 PM: First round Game 4 or 5 (TNT)
Tuesday, April 29
7/8:00 PM: First round Game 5 (TNT)
9/10:30 PM: First round Game 5 (TNT)
Wednesday, April 30
7/8:00 PM: First round Game 5 (TNT)
9/10:30 PM: First round Game 5 (TNT)
Thursday, May 1
7/8:00 PM: First round Game 6* (TNT)
9/10:30 PM: First round Game 6* (TNT)
Friday, May 2
TBA: First round Game 6* (ESPN)
TBA: First round Game 6* (ESPN2)
TBA: First round Game 6* (ESPN)
TBA: First round Game 6* (ESPN2)
Saturday, May 3
TBA: First round Game 7* (TNT)
TBA: First round Game 7* (TNT)
TBA: First round Game 7* (TNT)
TBA: First round Game 7* (TNT)
* or Semifinals, Game 1
Sunday, May 4
1:00 PM: First round Game 7* or Semifinals Game 1 (ABC)
3:30 PM: First round Game 7* or Semifinals Game 1 (ABC)
TBA: First round Game 7* (TNT)
TBA: First round Game 7* (TNT)
Monday, May 5
7/8:00 PM: Semifinals Game 1 (TNT)
9/10:30 PM: Semifinals Game 1 (TNT)
Tuesday, May 6
7/8:00 PM: Semifinals Game 1 (TNT)
9/10:30 PM: Semifinals Game 1 (TNT)
Wednesday, May 7
7/8:00 PM: Semifinals Game 2 (TNT)
9/10:30 PM: Semifinals Game 2 (TNT)
Thursday, May 8
TBA: Semifinals Game 2 (ESPN)
TBA: Semifinals Game 2 (ESPN)
Friday, May 9
TBA: Semifinals Game 3 (ESPN)
TBA: Semifinals Game 3 (ESPN)
Saturday, May 10
8:15 PM: Semifinals Game 3 (ABC)
5:00/10:30 PM: Semifinals Game 3 (ESPN)
Sunday, May 11
3:30 PM: Semifinals Game 4 (ABC)
8:30 PM: Semifinals Game 4 (TNT)
Monday, May 12
7/8:00 PM: Semifinals Game 4 (TNT)
9/10:30 PM: Semifinals Game 4 (TNT)
Tuesday, May 13
7/8:00 PM: Semifinals Game 5* (TNT)
9/10:30 PM: Semifinals Game 5* (TNT)
Wednesday, May 14
7/8:00 PM: Semifinals Game 5* (TNT)
9/10:30 PM: Semifinals Game 5* (TNT)
Thursday, May 15
TBA: Semifinals Game 6* (ESPN)
TBA: Semifinals Game 6* (ESPN)
Friday, May 16
TBA: Semifinals Game 6* (ESPN)
TBA: Semifinals Game 6* (ESPN)
Sunday, May 18
3:30 PM: Semifinals Game 7* (ABC)
8:30 PM: Semifinals Game 7* (TNT)
* or East Finals Game 1
Monday, May 19
TBA: Semifinals, Game 7* (TNT)
TBA: Semifinals, Game 7* (TNT)
* or West Finals, Game 1
Tuesday, May 20
TBA: East Finals, Game 1 (ESPN)
Wednesday, May 21
9:30 PM: West Finals, Game 1 (TNT)
Thursday, May 22
TBA: East Finals, Game 2 (ESPN)
Friday, May 23
9:15 PM: West Finals, Game 2 (TNT)
Saturday, May 24
8:15 PM: East Finals, Game 3 (ABC)
Sunday, May 25
TBA: West Finals, Game 3 (TNT)
Monday, May 26
TBA: East Finals, Game 4 (ESPN)
Tuesday, May 27
9:15 PM: West Finals, Game 4 (TNT)
Wednesday, May 28
TBA: East Finals, Game 5* (ESPN)
Thursday, May 29
9:15 PM: West Finals, Game 5* (TNT)
Friday, May 30
TBA: East Finals, Game 6* (ESPN)
Saturday, May 31
TBA: West Finals, Game 6* (TNT)
Sunday, June 1
8:15 PM: East Finals, Game 7* (ABC)
Monday, June 2
9:00 PM: West Finals, Game 7* (TNT)
Thursday, June 5
9:00 PM: NBA Finals, Game 1 (ABC)
* possible move to Tuesday, June 3
Sunday, June 8
9:00 PM: NBA Finals, Game 2 (ABC)
Tuesday, June 10
9:00 PM: NBA Finals, Game 3 (ABC)
Thursday, June 12
9:00 PM: NBA Finals, Game 4 (ABC)
Sunday, June 15
9:00 PM: NBA Finals, Game 5* (ABC)
Tuesday, June 17
9:00 PM: NBA Finals, Game 6* (ABC)
Thursday, June 19
9:00 PM: NBA Finals, Game 7* (ABC)
Link to TNT schedule (.pdf file).
4 comments:
Doesn't surprise me that the Memorial Day game is on cable. ABC hasn't shown a single Monday night sporting event since losing MNF. The Labor Day college football game that used to air on ABC has moved over to ESPN as well. It's still disappointing we're likely to see just one conference final game on broadcast television though.
Also, I believe this is the first time since ABC has been the broadcaster that the game 1 of the finals has a flex starting date. I like this move, though I am still not a fan of the Tuesday-Thursday-Sunday schedule (prefer W-F-Su).
Potentially a full two months of playoffs? Way too long...the NBA really needs to find a way to balance TV and ticket revenue with sanity here. How about some afternoon games in the 1st round like MLB?
Bill:
ABC went to a Tuesday-Thursday-Sunday schedule I believe on two fronts:
1. Friday, especially in June is a VERY low-rated TV night to begin with nowadays (and much lower than when NBC had the NBA), plus, there is a considerable Jewish audience (particularly in New York) that would be unable to see a Friday night game due to the Sabbath that runs from sundown Friday to sundown on Saturday (no, I'm not Jewish, but I know quite a number of people who are that observe the Sabbath).
2. Going Tuesday-Thursday-Sunday gives the NBA some weekend flexibility in case there is an arena conflict on Sunday night that were to force a game to Saturday.
ABC needs to step up its coverage. TNT is great, but it's cable, not as many people have it. ABC tries to just jump in for the Finals and it doesn't work that way for any sport except football. They need to establish that they are the main network to go to for NBA. Right now the Finals would be better of on TNT cuz people love watching TNT's coverage and TNT shows most of the big playoff games anyways
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