NBA TV’s Coverage of the NBA Finals Tips off on Thursday, June 4

TNT’s Inside the NBA crew appear on NBA TV for Games 3, 4 and 5

NBA TV’s coverage of the 2009 NBA Finals will tip off on Thursday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET with the AutoTrader.com Pre-game Show from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. The network’s Fan Night crew of Ahmad Rashad (host), Gary Payton (analyst) and Chris Webber (analyst) will preview Game #1 between the Orlando Magic @ Los Angeles Lakers.  Following the game, Rashad, Payton and Webber will recap the game with commentary and analysis on NBA GameTime presented by Hyundai post-game show. Following the 30-minute show, NBA TV’s Rick Kamla (host) and Steve Smith (analyst) will take over to further recap the game as well as air full press conferences and post-game interviews.  NBA TV reporter David Aldridge will provide interviews and highlights throughout the network’s coverage.

On Sunday, June 7, NBA TV will tip off its coverage of Game #2 between the Orlando Magic and L.A. Lakers at 7 p.m. ET as Rashad, Payton and Webber give pre-game analysis on the AutoTrader.com Pre-game Show, with the crew returning for NBA GameTime presented by Hyundai following the game.  Once again, Kamla and Smith will close out the evening with analysis, press conferences and interviews. Aldridge will make frequent contributions throughout the coverage.

For Games #3, 4, and 5* (*if necessary) of the series, NBA TV will present a special 30-minute edition of the Emmy® award-winning studio show Inside the NBA with Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst) live from Amway Arena in Orlando.  Following each game, Johnson, Barkley and Smith will break down the action during a 30-minute Inside the NBA on NBA TV, followed by Kamla and Steve Smith finishing out the coverage each night.

The network will also provide additional analysis and commentary from NBA TV announcers Andre Aldridge (host), Eric Snow (analyst), Kamla and Steve Smith on off-days, both originating on-site as well as from the NBA TV studio in Atlanta.

NBA.com will provide the most comprehensive, up-to-date information with several unique features rolling out for the NBA Finals including blogs with the latest news from pregame, after each quarter and following the game, the latest highlights and video clips, look aheads from NBA TV and TNT announcers, as well as Player of the Game as voted on by fans. NBA.com will serve as a complement to the NBA TV’s coverage of the NBA Finals.

Exclusive content, analysis from TNT announcers and replays of Inside the NBA are available on TNT OverTime on NBA.com. The broadband channel offers an all-access pass to the excitement and drama of the NBA Playoffs, with special features and reports being added throughout the postseason.

NBA FINALS COVERAGE ON NBA TV SCHEDULE

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