When the NBA released its national TV schedule this fall, the Houston Rockets joined four other teams deemed not worthy of an appearance on ESPN, ABC, or TNT.
The Toronto Raptors and Oklahoma City were each slated for one national TV appearance.
The omission was understandable at the time. The NBA and its partnering networks still sell stars, and with Yao Ming out for the season and Tracy McGrady's return uncertain, the Rockets presumably employed none.
Of the four other teams shafted, the Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings played their way onto ESPN. The 2-29 New Jersey Nets and road-challenged Charlotte Bobcats have done nothing to help their cases for a country-wide showing.
The four-letter network decided to pick up a Friday Bucks-Thunder match-up in Oklahoma City.
Brandon Jennings, Kevin Durant, and Tyreke Evans undoubtedly played a large role in swaying network execs to show their teams.
Jennings threw up 55 points in the Bucks home win over the Golden State Warriors. Performances like that tend to grab attention.
Durant ranked in the top five in scoring when ESPN a ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Robert Kleeman
Will The Houston Rockets Land On National Television?
December 27th, 2009 by Robert Kleeman Leave a reply »
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