Local Hoops Blackout Madness…
Hold onto your basketball caps, folks! Starting next year, the NBA is jumping superhero-style into a brand-new spidey-web of a deal with the likes of ESPN/ABC, the shopping-cart juggernaut Amazon, and ol’ dependable NBC. It’s like assembling the ultimate Avengers team to bring all the playoff pow-wow straight into your living room. But be warned! The thrill of the first-round playoff buzzer-beaters will be snatched from tight-knit local networks faster than a stealin’ swipe by the Flash himself. Only the big-time national gladiators will air these slammin’ spectacles—all to wrap more eyeballs and subscriptions tighter than a triple-team on LeBron!
Yes indeedy, the homegrown heroes on local channels will have to step aside as Amazon and NBC take the floor like a couple of showboat ringmasters, with NBC promising a minimum of 15 jaw-droppin’, popcorn-flying first-round games, while Amazon Prime jets out nine electrifying face-offs. It’s a dazzling dunk-fest exclusive, folks, and unless you’ve strapped yourself into the Prime chariot, you might just miss the action, like forgetting your jersey at home before a game! But fret not! It’s just like how the NFL pals have cozied up with these streaming goliaths for playoff drama, so buckle up for an adjustment ride!
In Lakers-ville, a couple of their own have been plucked from the purple and gold cosmos to shine in the spotlight. JJ Redick, with the coaching tricks of a wizard, and Rob Pelinka, the mastermind with a trade deal like a hot rod on wheels, both nabbed a ticket to the recognition parade, finishing spunky sixth in the Coach and Executive of the Year races. While Kenny Atkinson and Sam Presti did their victory dance with the awards, Redick and Pelinka still stood tall, basking in some well-earned hoops kudos from the land of gold-draped baskets!
