This season, all the playoffs will be added to a nationally televised broadcast schedule.
In the past, the first round of playoffs featured the local play-by-play and color analysts that fan know and love.
As Spurs fans, it is hard to recall the playoffs without Bill Land and Sean Elliott. It was always hard to say goodbye to them as the Spurs advanced, but then again, the Spurs advancing helped to soften the blow.
This Sunday, the Spurs will enter the postseason for the first time in seven years. This could
have been the first time Jacob Tobey called playoff games for the Silver & Black alongside Spurs legend Sean Elliott.
Mike Breen, national play-by-play announcer for ABC and ESPN, spoke out against the decision.
Coincidentally, he was serving as the local broadcaster for the New York Knicks in their last game of the season.
“No longer can the home team announcers and broadcasters televise the first round. The entire playoffs exclusive to national TV partners…I personally think this is a poor decision. Fans want to hear their team’s announce, at least first round, because for so many of us and all my favorite teams growing up the home team announcers become part of the family. Such a big part of why you root for the team. I get it that networks pay a fortune to get exclusivity. Obviously I work for one of the networks, it’s important to them. But I just think the fans deserve to be thrown a bone once in a while. Let the home team have a little bit of the first round.”
Breen, in his twentieth year as a national broadcaster, understands both sides as he spends much of the season as the Knicks local play-by-play announcer while simultaneously suiting up for national games.
As the playoffs begin, they will look and sound differently than fans have come to know.
Perhaps between Breen, social media, fans, and pundits at all levels there will be enough noise for the league to reconsider after this season.
For now, check your national listings for dates and times.
Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.
Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.
