2008 NBA PLAYOFFS TO TIP-OFF APRIL 19 WITH MORE THAN 50
INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS
NBA’s ‘Where Amazing Happens’
to Debut in Six European Countries
When the 2008 NBA Playoffs tip-off April 19, more than 50
International players from 25 countries and territories on
the 16 Playoff rosters, including 27 European players, will
compete for a coveted spot in the 2008 NBA Finals.
Following an extraordinary season that saw incredible games,
blockbuster trades, including Pau Gasol’s transfer to
the L.A. Lakers, and the emergence of teams such as the Boston
Celtics and the New Orleans Hornets, the 2008 NBA Playoffs
will not disappoint as the top 16 teams battle it out over
two dramatic months.
“The 2008 NBA Playoff race is the closest in league
history,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, NBA Europe Vice President
for Marketing Partnerships and Business Development. “We
look forward to providing unprecedented NBA Playoff coverage
to our fan base in Europe, and the opportunity to witness
the passion and dedication it takes to be crowned the NBA
Champion.”
The hardwork, commitment and excitement of the best basketball
players in the world has helped produce one of the tightest
finales to an NBA season in recent memory. With only seven
games separating the eight teams in the Western Conference,
each game takes on renewed importance as teams vie for the
final Playoff spots. Between the resurgent L.A. Lakers, the
surprising New Orleans Hornets and the ever-present Phoenix
Suns and San Antonio Spurs, the Western Conference has never
looked stronger.
In the Eastern Conference, the favoured Boston Celtics will
look to add to an already impressive trophy cabinet. The Celtics,
who began the season with training camp in Rome and London
as part of the NBA Europe Live Tour 2007, have secured home
court advantage throughout the Playoffs thanks to a league-best
60+ win tally. In pursuit of Boston’s Kevin Garnett,
Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are the youthful Cleveland Cavaliers,
led by the 2008 NBA All-Star Game MVP LeBron James. Other
Eastern Conference contenders include the 2004 NBA Champion
Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic, who are hoping to reward
their fans with a long run into the Playoffs.
During the 2008 Playoffs, the NBA will unveil its first
Euro-specific marketing campaign, ‘Where Amazing Happens’,
which is an extension of the successful U.S.-based program.
The campaign, which features prominent NBA stars including
Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker and Mehmet Okur among others, displays
the scope and breadth of the “World’s Most Dynamic
Game”. The 30-second, local-language spots will debut
in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey and the UK during
NBA broadcasts.
NBA fans in Europe will have the opportunity to connect
with the game in more ways than ever. The league’s 75
European broadcasters will air live game action and programming
in 46 countries, in 31 languages throughout the Playoffs.
NBA.com, which receives 60-percent of its traffic from fans
outside of North America, will provide exclusive Playoff coverage
including comprehensive video highlights, player blogs and
extensive photo galleries. In addition, the NBA's merchandising
business in the EMEA region has doubled in the last five years
to include over 55 licensed partners distributing NBA products
to more than 15,000 retail locations. International sales
account for more than 25-percent of the league’s overall
global merchandise business.
About the NBA
The NBA, founded in 1946, is a global sports and entertainment
brand that features 30 teams in the United States and Canada.
During the 2007-08 season, the NBA will distribute games and
programming to 215 countries and territories in 41 languages.
The league’s worldwide reach can also be seen with 76
international players from 30 countries and territories on
NBA rosters. Domestically, the NBA broadcasted 142 games on
national television last season on ABC, TNT, ESPN and ESPN2,
and eclipsed attendance records for the fourth consecutive
season
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