By Patrick Avenell
SYDNEY, NSW: The NBA, ESPN and Foxtel today announced that selected games from the 2011 NBA Playoffs would be broadcast in 3D for the first time. Up to 13 games will be shown in 3D, including all matches in the championship final series.
This year’s NBA Playoffs are generating more interest than normal in Australia, with LeBron James’ Miami Heat looking to go all the way in the King’s first season with his new franchise. James joined Miami from Cleveland, who plummeted from a playoffs position last year to a woeful 17-63 record this year.
Also in the Playoffs are defending champs LA Lakers, the team led by all round basketball genius Kobe Bryant. Other fan favourites include the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls. Unfortunately, the Milwaukee Bucks, home of Australia’s best player, Andrew Bogut, just missed out on a Playoffs position.
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ESPN will broadcast the 3D games on Foxtel channel 201. To view the matches, users will need a Foxtel iQHD set top box and a compatible 3D TV.
Here is a complete list of the games to be shown in 3D:
17 April: First Round – Game 1
24 April: First Round – Game 4
6 May: Second Round – Game 2
18 May: Western Conference Finals – Game 1
20 May: Western Conference Finals – Game 2
26 May: Western Conference Finals – Game 4
3 June: Finals – Game 1
6 June: Finals – Game 2
8 June: Finals – Game 3
10 June: Finals – Game 4
13 June: Finals – Game 5 (if necessary)
15 June: Finals – Game 6 (if necessary)
17 June: Finals – Game 7 (if necessary)
All games will also be shown in 2D for both SD and HD subscribers.