Everything You Need To Know About ESPN's 2008 NBA Draft Coverage
Monday, June 23, 2008
I'm not going to lie, ESPN's coverage of the NBA Draft has certainly gotten better over the past few years. There has been less made up words by Bilas and Mike Tirico was solid as a host. Well progress be damned! ESPN is making drastic changes to the program as I noted last week and today they addressed all of them in a nice, easy to read press release. Here are your particulars....
Main Stage: Stuart Scott, Jay Bilas, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy
Contributing Analysts: Fran Fraschilla, Dick Vitale (via satellite); on-site reporters Ric Bucher and Andy Katz
Interviewers (on-site): Stephen A. Smith and Doris Burke
Reporters (off-site): David Amber (Chicago), Colleen Dominguez (Seattle) and Wendi Nix (Tarrytown, N.Y., site of the Knicks’ training facility)
ESPN’s Draft telecast will display a constant crawl on-screen graphic at all times (including during commercial breaks), continuously providing up-to-the-minute Draft updates including picks, trades, team-by-team summaries, player stats, the results of ESPN.com’s interactive polling in real time, Bilas’ “Best Available” prospects and Fraschilla’s top international prospects. The crawl will also feature team needs, which will include perspectives from Jackson and Van Gundy.The one thing that always bugs me about ESPN's coverage is that they never go to the writers who cover the Sport all year long. I know Jay Bilas is their NBA version on Mel Kiper Jr, but what about Chad Ford, John Hollinger, and Andy Katz. I'm sure they'll get their face time, but they'd be much better talking College players than Stephen A. Smith, Dick Vitale, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy. Just doesn't make sense to me. Anywho, the draft kicks off at 7pm on ESPN this Thursday and here is your first look at the intro for the coverage....
Featured NBA Draft production elements:
-Jay Bilas’ in-depth analysis of the top prospects
-Video conferencing with 14 team headquarters providing immediate access to the key team personnel in this year’s Draft
-More than 130 player highlight packages featuring top prospects
-“Draft Cam” from the Draft rooms of multiple teams, including the Chicago Bulls with the No. 1 pick, providing a unique window to the decision makers as they make their selection
-Behind-the-scenes video of prospects as they endure testing and measurements at the Orlando Pre-Draft camp
6 Comments:
It's really a shame that Bilas has toned down the last few years, that cuts into the material for Bill Simmons' annual draft diary. Thankfully Stephen A and Isiah have done their part to fill the void, but without Isiah what will we do this year??
I'm still hoping for Bilas to use the phrase "long length" on air, as Simmons predicted he would several years ago.
I'm definitely happy Stephen A. isn't on the main stage this year. Unfortunately we still have to hear his awful takes during player interviews.
I bet he cuts off every player he interviews.
BTW, what has Stephen A. Smith ever done to get so many basketball gigs on ESPN (Besides being black and overtly racist)?
Well, everything looks solid except for the addition of David Amber. That man couldn't make a story about the Cubs winning a World Series entertaining.
Go on the internet people and go ktck's website. I may be biased down here in Dallas, but the best person to listen to for draft coverage is Norm Hitzges. He was one of the first draft gurus.
Bilas Over/Unders for the Draft broadcast:
Tremendous Length: 4 1/2
Freakish Length: 3 1/2
Great Motor: 6 1/2
Questionable Motor: 9 1/2
Over/Under on what pick we miss because ESPN is taking a commercial??? I'm thinking 16.
Chad Ford is an idiot.