COVID wreaks havoc on ESPN’s broadcasting team during Game 1 of the NBA Finals
COVID is making it difficult for ESPN to broadcast Game 1 of the NBA Finals in 2022.
Before Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night, ESPN will be short-handed in the broadcast booth.
According to the New York Post, broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy and insider Adrian Wojnarowski both tested positive for COVID on Thursday and will miss Game 1. Play-by-play announcer Due to a positive test, Mike Breen was unable to call Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat. Mark Jones may fill in for Breen once more, and he’d collaborate with Mark Jackson.
Breen and Van Gundy are expected to clear COVID protocols in time to call Game 2 in San Francisco on Sunday evening, according to ESPN.
In terms of Wojnarowski, he primarily contributes to NBA Countdown.
He might return to ESPN in Boston for Game 3 or work from home for the time being.
The ESPN broadcast team is dealing with a COVID epidemic before Game 1 of the NBA Finals
The good news is that ESPN has contingency procedures in place to deal with a COVID outbreak within their broadcasting staff. Keep in mind that this is the final playoff series for everyone, not just ESPN.
Regardless of who is in the booth or on the sidelines, the NBA Finals will go on. ESPN paid a lot of money for the broadcast rights to the NBA Finals. It might be a fantastic series.
Despite winning the Western Conference Finals six times in the last eight years, the Warriors missed the playoffs the previous two seasons.
While Boston has been a regular in the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Celtics have not won their conference since 2010. Despite the fact that these franchises have a lot of titles, this is still a really interesting battle.
The Warriors would win their fourth title under Steve Kerr if they won another. It would only strengthen his position in Springfield, which he shares with Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson.
For Boston, it would be the franchise’s 18th championship. For Jayson Tatum, a title would be a game-changer. By winning the NBA Finals in 2022, he stands to benefit the most.
I wish Breen, Van Gundy, and Wojnarowski, as well as everybody associated with ESPN, a swift recovery.
