Per the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn, ESPN has decided to broadcast the Boston Celtics game against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 27, moving gametime to 8 P.M., as is typical of primetime games played on the East Coast. The Blazers will travel to TD Garden to take on the Celtics on the 27th and it’ll be Boston’s first game at home following the All-Star Break.
In a pair of subsequent moves, ESPN decided not to air the game between the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs on the 27th or the game between the Celtics and Washington Wizards on March 1. However, the Blazers — who have gotten the league’s attention by being fourth-place in the Western Conference standings and signing center Enes Kanter — will have another game aired by ESPN, when they face the Toronto Raptors on the 1st.
As previously mentioned, the Blazers have become one of the league’s must-see teams and the tough attitude that they bring to the court only enhances their watchability. Their matchup against the Celtics — who they defeated 100-94 in their previous matchup this season — will bring plenty of fireworks, especially as Boston and Portland employ two of the most explosive scorers at the point guard position.
Conversely, the Celtics matchup against the Wizards will have far less fanfare than usual. All-Star point guard John Wall will miss the rest of the season while rehabbing from surgeries on his foot and Achilles and forward Markieff Morris, the twin brother of Celtics forward Marcus Morris, has been traded by Washington.
Suffice it to say, ESPN made a couple of sensible decisions with the alterations to their broadcasting schedule.
