An NBA-centric Press Release Post

We had our MLB-centric press release post just before this one. Now it’s time for an NBA-centric press release post.

ESPN is saying Game 3 of the NBA Finals delivered good ratings for ABC.

NBA Finals Game 3 Delivers Night’s Top Broadcast

The NBA Finals continue to deliver for ABC, as Game 3 registered the most viewers of any show on television last night. All three broadcasts of The Finals have been the most-watched show on television each evening and are TV’s most-viewed programs thus far in June.

For the second straight year, Game 3 – which saw Orlando edge Los Angeles 108-104 – garnered more than 14 million viewers (14,196,000 viewers) and was the network’s second most-viewed Game 3 in the last five years (trailing only last year’s 14,512,000 viewers for Boston/Los Angeles). This year’s Game 3 was up 50 percent over 2007’s Game 3 between San Antonio and Cleveland.

Additionally, Game 3 was the top program of the night across all key male and adult demos:

• M18-34 (7.8)
• M18-49 (7.4)
• M25-54 (7.5)
• P18-34 (6.2)
• P18-49 (5.9)
• P25-54 (5.9)

Tuesday’s Game 3 averaged an 8.6 HH rating, representing 9,804,000 households and 14,196,000 viewers (P2+). In Orlando, Game 3 posted a 29.0 rating, the highest NBA rating ever locally on ABC and the network’s highest-rated show of the year in the market. In Los Angeles, the game posted a 24.7 rating, an increase over Game 1 (20.9) and Game 2 (22.5).

Through three games, The Finals are averaging 13,797,000 viewers, slightly ahead of last year (13,791,000 viewers).

The series continues in Orlando – live on ABC and ABC HD – with Game 4 Thursday, June 11, at 9 p.m. ET and Game 5 Sunday, June 14, at 8 p.m. ABC’s NBA Countdown offers a 30-minute preview in advance of each game. ESPN Radio also broadcasts The Finals.

NBA TV gives us the quotes from TNT’s Inside the NBA crew before and after last night’s Game 3.

Notes from NBA TV’s Coverage of the NBA Finals Game #3 – Tuesday, June 9, 2009

NBA TV’s coverage of the NBA Finals continues on Thursday, June 11 with pre-game coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Post-game coverage will follow Game #4 between the Los Angeles Lakers @ Orlando Magic.

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TNT NBA Tip-off

Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith

Barkley on Magic center Dwight Howard: “Dwight Howard is a terrific player, but he has a long way to go offensively. (The Finals are) going to be a learning experience for him.”

NBA TV’s Ahmad Rashad interviewed Dwight Howard

Howard’s response to an article questioning how great he could be: “I felt they were saying I am too happy to play basketball and I don’t have any dog in me. I have dog in me, but I like to have fun. There’s no need for me to try to look tough when I’m on the floor. That’s not me.”

Rashad on Dwight Howard’s performance in the Finals: “(Dwight Howard) is underachieving. He is already acting like he’s a star. When you get into a situation like this you have to overachieve.”

Smith on Dwight Howard’s performance: “(Howard) has to learn how to score in order to be a superstar. Otherwise, he’s just really good.”

Smith on the NBA Finals: “The (Finals) are a different stage, and a lot of these players get some stage fright. It takes some of them three or four games to get acclimated to being in the NBA Finals.”

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Inside the NBA

Announcers: Johnson, Barkley and Smith

Barkley on the Magic winning Game # 3: “You have to take your hat off to two guys; Rafer Alston and Mickael Pietrus. They both played fantastic. Alston gave (Magic) great spark. The Magic played a good game tonight.”

Smith on Magic guard Rafer Alston: “Rafer Alston is a very good basketball player and he has a lot of NBA skills.”

Barkley on the Magic needing to win Game #4 in the Finals: “(Magic) are not back in this series until they win game #4.”

Smith comparing 2008-09 Magic team to 1994-95 Magic team, who was the last squad to reach the NBA Finals: “I can honestly say the 1995 (Magic) team had more talent from top to bottom than this (2009) team.”

Barkley comparing 2008-09 Magic team to 1994-95 Magic team: “Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, Pietrus, and Gortat; they are better and deeper down the line.”

Barkley on Magic guard Mickael Pietrus’s defense: “Mickael Pietrus impressed me. He did a fantastic job on Lebron and he’s doing a good job on Kobe. You can’t stop guys like (Lebron and Kobe), you can just work them hard.”

Smith on the Lakers advantages heading into Game #4: “One of the things that the Lakers have an advantage on is the low-post, they always have two out of three players that have an inside presence. They can get lay-up after lay-up against this Orlando Magic team.”

And congratulations to Comcast SportsNet New England’s Tommy Heinsohn who will receive the first-ever Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to basketball.

NBA Coaches Association Presents Inaugural Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award to Hall-of-Famer Tommy Heinsohn

New York, June 10, 2009 — The NBA Coaches Association announced today that legendary Celtics player and coach Tommy Heinsohn will receive the inaugural “Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award.” The award carries on the memory of Hall of Fame coach Chuck Daly.

Daly set a standard of integrity, class and competitive excellence, and his recent passing is mourned by his fellow coaches. The award will recognize a coach who made special contributions to the sport throughout his NBA career and whose body of work had a positive, lasting impact on the NBA coaching profession. It will be presented annually to a current or former NBA head or assistant coach.

Following his Hall of Fame playing career, Tommy Heinsohn led the Celtics to two NBA championships as head coach in 1974 and 1976. During eight-plus seasons on the Celtics’ sideline, Heinsohn displayed a passion for the game and an unwavering loyalty to the Boston franchise that continues today. His love and respect for the game, along with his major contributions to the establishment of the NBA Coaches Association, make him a perfect choice for the inaugural “Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award.”

“I’m honored by this recognition,” said Heinsohn. “Chuck Daly was a man and a coach who everyone had great respect for, and to be recognized in his memory is very special. I humbly accept this honor on behalf of all those who coach and have coached in the NBA.”

Dallas Mavericks head coach and NBA Coaches Association President Rick Carlisle added: “Like Chuck, Tommy Heinsohn has shown a lifetime devotion to improving NBA basketball for all who play, coach and watch the sport. His dedication, drive and vision unified NBA coaches and helped ensure their welfare for decades to come. Tommy helped pave the way for future coaches to make meaningful contributions to the game beyond the locker room and sidelines. All NBA coaches owe Tommy a debt of gratitude for his work and his example.”

The NBA Coaches Association encompasses all current head and assistant coaches, as well as an active alumni totaling more than 225 members. The NBA Coaches Association is an integral part of the NBA family, working closely with the league on a wide variety of game-related, marketing and community service initiatives. With the “Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award” the association salutes Tommy Heinsohn for his groundbreaking efforts on behalf of our group.

In Boston, Tommy is loved for bleeding Celtics Green. To me, it’s neck and neck for the outpouring of love between Tommy and Red Sox analyst Jerry Remy. Maybe it’s more for Tommy because Jerry has been a plugwhor
e over the last few seasons.