The NBA released its '11-12 regular season schedule yesterday, and "rather than backloading its schedule with big draws in case early season games are lost to the ongoing lockout," the schedule emphasizes "business as usual," according to Michael Hiestand of USA TODAY. When asked if the TV schedule will be "rejiggered" if games are lost, Turner Sports Senior VP/PR Sal Petruzzi said, "We are certainly making contingency plans, but it's way too early to speculate." However, ESPN VP/Communications Mike Soltys said, "Our NBA schedule would be adjusted in the event of a lengthy lockout" (USA TODAY, 7/20).
KEEPING TABS ON THE FINALISTS: In Ft. Worth, Dwain Price notes the defending-champion Mavericks are "scheduled to be on national television 30 times this season." The Mavericks will "celebrate Christmas this year with a game against the Heat" at 2:30pm ET and "also will be part of the NBA's annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day" when they play the Lakers in a game broadcast by TNT (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 7/20). In Ft. Lauderdale, Ira Winderman notes the Heat are "scheduled for the maximum 25 appearances on the major national networks, with the maximum six on ABC, the maximum 10 on ESPN and the maximum nine on TNT." Three Heat games are currently scheduled for NBA TV, but the "maximum limit of nine is expected to be reached via fan voting for the network's Tuesday showcases" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 7/20). ESPN.com's Tom Haberstroh wrote the NBA is "leveraging the Miami Heat into their biggest time slots" (ESPN.com, 7/19).
INCREASED INTEREST: In N.Y., Howard Beck notes the Knicks "will play 29 nationally televised games -- their most in at least 11 seasons." The networks "anticipated great things" from the team, scheduling the Knicks for 10 games on ESPN, eight on TNT, seven on NBA TV and four on ABC. Beck notes only the Celtics and Mavs "have more national games, with 30 each." The Knicks "will open at the newly renovated Madison Square Garden against the Heat," and they "will again be featured on Christmas, with a home game against the Celtics" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/20). In L.A., Broderick Turner notes the Clippers are "scheduled to be on national television a franchise-record 20 times, five on TNT, eight on ESPN and seven on NBA TV." Turner: "The new schedule, however provisional, indicates that Blake Griffin and the Clippers have joined Kobe Bryant and the Lakers as must-see TV" (L.A. TIMES, 7/20). In Memphis, Marlon Morgan writes the Grizzlies' "miraculous run" during the playoffs has the team "featured on national television a franchise-record 13 times" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 7/20).
DIMINISHING PROFILE: In Orlando, Josh Robbins notes the Magic are "scheduled to play only 14 times on national television -- a sharp drop from 22 last season and a franchise-record 24" during the '09-10 season (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/20). In Houston, Jonathan Feigen notes the Rockets "will be on national television only twice" in the wake of the "retirement of Yao Ming and the Rockets' absence from the postseason the last two seasons" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/20).
