Thought I'd resurrect this thread since Colangelo has been busy, adding Jarrett Jack, Marco Belinelli and Rasho Nesterovic (welcome back Rasho!!) over the past few weeks. Nice to see a couple more Europeans on board, we were starting to lose our international feel.



In all, I'm feeling fairly upbeat about the new season. At least the Raps GM knows how to make a trade.

Belinelli is a great pick up, you have quite alot of depth at the minute and seem to be signing a host of european players. Do you like your chances of keeping Bosh?

I'd like to say stick to english sports but you fck all about them either.

THE NBA AND ESPN AGREE TO MULTICHANNEL DEAL

Multi-year agreement provides close to 100 live NBA games, original programming and classic content to UK and Irish sports fans each season on ESPN, ESPN America and ESPN Classic


LONDON - 30 SEPTEMBER 2009 - ESPN and the NBA today announced a multi-year agreement to add close to 100 live NBA games to ESPN in the UK and Ireland. In addition to the live games, ESPN networks will air the studio show NBA Fastbreak, the original series NBA Action and all-time great NBA games.

ESPN will tip off its NBA coverage on 6 October at 19h30 BST, live from The O2 arena in London, where the Utah Jazz will take on the Chicago Bulls as part of NBA Europe Live 2009 presented by EA SPORTS. In addition to the game in London, viewers will see the second NBA Europe Live game when the Utah Jazz take on Euroleague Basketball's Real Madrid on 8 October at 19h45 BST in Madrid. *

ESPN's full NBA games package has up to three games a week, including a weekly game on Sunday in primetime, the NBA All-Star Game, the Playoffs and The Finals in standard and high definition. The ESPN produced studio show, NBA Fastbreak, will air on both ESPN and ESPN America. NBA Action - the award-winning, original series that gives an inside look at gameday preparation of the league's star athletes - will also be aired on ESPN. ESPN is available on Sky, Virgin Media, BT Vision, Top Up TV, Tiscali and UPC (in Ireland).

"We are thrilled to be expanding our global relationship with ESPN and bringing fans increased coverage of the NBA," said Sophie Goldschmidt, NBA EMEA Managing Director. "Through ESPN's multiple channels, NBA games and highlights will now be available to a broader audience in the UK and Ireland."

Jeroen Oerlemans, Vice President, TV Channels Europe, Middle East and Africa said, "The NBA is one of the world's top sports properties, with some of the greatest athletes on the planet. This agreement allows us to deliver all of the action and excitement of the NBA to sports fans in the UK and Ireland. ESPN continues to build a fantastic offering of local and international sport. "

Result....been waiting for this for ages.

So ESPN will be showing both the NBA and the NHL?

Who needs Sky?!

Might have to invest in ESPN now.

I miss watching PTI and Around The Horn but since i don't really watch Football i never bothered with it. Tempted to get it now for the NBA.

2010.....Lebron to New York.....now we may get to see it on ESPN.

Ah , if I'd have known that the Jazz were playing in London, I would have bloody gone.

Just got NBA 10 for PS3, supposed to be heaps better this year.Not long until the season now, hopefully the better coverage over here now and more starts emerging it will help it regain its popularity of the 90s..

I've watched a couple of the Raps pre season games and I hardly recognise anyone! It's going to take me a while to put faces to all of the new names that have come in. We certainly look to have strengthened our bench though. Hopefully there'll be enough pressure on the starters to keep them on their toes. Still looking a bit rough defensively, but I expect that to pick up once the season gets going.

Wonder how long it will take them to batter the excitement out of me this season.

I am a massive fan of American sports, but the NBA is the only one that I have struggled to get into. I like to watch the highlights but often lose interest when trying to watch a full game. I appreciate the athleticism of the players, but feel one of the reasons I have not really got into it is that I often see it as a “you score we score” scenario.

Another reason is that I have not adopted a team to call my own, and have had various interest in several teams over the years, unlike the NFL (dolphins), NHL (maple Leafs) and MLB (Cubs) where I have supported my chosen teams for many years.

Anyway, I decided that I am going to pick a team to root for and see how my interest pans out this season. Picking a team was not as easy as I had hoped for, but I decided to go with the Bulls. I am a huge Cubs fan and have been to the windy city to watch them play at Wrigley. I have supported them since the late 80’s and loved Chicago when I went. The first NFL game I saw was the 85 Super Bowl that the bears won, so I have always had a soft spot for them, but did not want to be a glory supporter so decided to go with the fins as my team. I also consider the blackhawks to be my second team when it comes to hockey. Throw into the mix that I have seen the united centre where the bulls play with my very own eyes from the top of the Sears tower, and my obvious affinity and I suppose that the Bulls were the only choice. So, I am pinning my flag to the Chicago Bulls mast and going to give the NBA a real chance and see if I can fall in love with it like other US sports.

I am ready and waiting for the season to tip off tonight, and hopefully I will be a fully fledged hoops fan by June 2010.

Go Bulls