Another year, another NBA Finals on ESPN, and fans are once again scratching their heads. What should be the crown jewel of the basketball calendar feels more like a midseason game with a better camera crew. The stakes are high, but the broadcast just doesn’t reflect that.

Viewers who tuned into Game 1 of the Thunder-Pacers series felt confused instead of excitement. The vibe felt off. The anthem didn’t play, the starting lineup intros didn’t happen, and barely anyone mentioned the Larry O’Brien trophy. Except for a tiny logo on screen, you’d think this was a random Friday night in January, not the Finals.

Broadcast That Doesn’t Feel Like The Finals

The broadcast booth is a major part of the issue. With the longtime trio of Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, and Mark Jackson broken up after

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