Despite working the NBA Finals last year, and despite working with Michele Tafoya on ESPN/ABC coverage of the Western Conference Finals this year, Lisa Salters will be replaced during the NBA Finals on ABC by ESPN jack-of-all-trades Stuart Scott. Scott, despite not working any NBA games this year — in the studio or on the sidelines — will be the sideline reporter for the fifth straight year, along with Tafoya. One could make the point that awkwardly inserting Scott into NBA coverage essentially reduces the NBA Finals to the likes of the National Spelling Bee or a special about David Blaine attempting to hold his breath for ten minutes, but at least his presence will make for some strange and inappropriate moments for Bill Simmons to pounce on during a live-blog.
Salters, meanwhile, will work the sidelines for ESPN Radio, whose broadcast team consists of Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown and Ric Bucher. Whether or not it was ESPN’s intent to have its radio team far outclass its television team is up for debate.
In other NBA Finals news, The Pussycat Dolls will not precede actual game coverage during the NBA Finals, though it is likely that they will be involved in some way. ABC will use an “updated” version of its Emmy winning opening from last year. ABC will also use “‘The Finals in Harmony,’ a celebration of many of the players, teams and moments from The Finals history through the voice and performance of Steve Sidwell and the Hollywood Film Chorale.”
Also, the pregame show prior to each game of the Finals on ABC will be sponsored by Onstar, not by Chevrolet as in previous years.
ESPN/ABC NBA Finals team.
- Television: Mike Breen (play-by-play, second NBA Finals broadcast nationally), Mark Jackson (color commentary, first NBA Finals broadcast), Jeff Van Gundy (color commentary, first NBA Finals broadcast), Michele Tafoya (sideline reporter, fourth NBA Finals broadcast), and Stuart Scott (sideline reporter, fifth straight NBA Finals broadcast).
- Radio: Mike Tirico (play-by-play, first NBA Finals broadcast), Hubie Brown (color commentary, third straight NBA Finals broadcast), Lisa Salters (sideline reporter, second straight NBA Finals broadcast), Ric Bucher (sideline reporter).
