NBC Sports Washington's Justin Kutcher, Glenn Consor and Chris Miller "spent much of the first half" of last week's Wizards-Nuggets scrimmage "talking about social justice issues instead of basketball," according to Ava Wallace of the WASHINGTON POST. As the Wizards take the court for the first time in months, Kutcher, Consor and Miller face a "delicate task," having to "decide just how much social justice and coronavirus talk to let bleed into the basketball." It is an "uneasy balance, but the NBA is taking some pressure off the broadcasters." Many players during the restart will be wearing jerseys with social justice phrases on their backs in lieu of last names, and "those built-in opportunities are welcome pathways" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/30).
CLOSE TO HOME: In Memphis, Evan Barnes notes the Grizzlies' announcing crew "didn't travel to Florida" with the team and "will call the games from FedExForum" starting tomorrow against the Trail Blazers. Staying home "keeps things normal for preparation and gives viewers the same quality program as usual." During the Grizzlies' final scrimmage on Tuesday, FS Southeast analyst Brevin Knight and play-by-play man Pete Pranica "called the action from the baseline as they watched the main feed from Florida on a wide monitor." Nearby, there was a smaller monitor so they "could see views from the sideline and around the court."At halftime, sideline reporter Rob Fischer "called one of the Grizzlies' assistants for information he relayed during his report." During the game, Pranica and Knight "traded analysis like normal" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 7/30).
NEW ANGLES: SBJ's Austin Karp noted without courtside fans in the Orlando bubble, Turner Sports and ESPN will use that front-row space for a new angle called "rail cam." ESPN, which will share the cameras on site with Turner, will use rail cam to deliver a look and feel similar to how NBC has produced shots for Olympic swimming and track & field events. ESPN/VP Production Michael Shiffman said the trick is in figuring out when to use the rail cam. Sometimes a ref will run in front of the camera, obstructing the shot. Shiffman said other times, "If Russell Westbrook has the ball, who often times darts to the hoop, you probably don't want to go to rail cam because his speed, you may miss it" (SBJ Media).
