The 2011 NBA playoffs are about to tip off, and now more than ever, your iPhone will make sure you don’t miss any of the action.
ESPN has jumped into the mobile media craze with the newly released WatchESPN. The free download, just in time for playoff coverage, lets users stream live video from ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U and ESPN3.com, including games and original programming. The only drawback: the live stream is determined by your TV provider and currently only Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Verizon FiOS.
If you’re one of the unlucky who can’t stream video from WatchESPN, there are still other ways to get your playoff fix. NBA Game Time is a free app providing basic news, team/player stats, schedule and scores. For $9.99, you can upgrade to Game Time Plus, which adds video highlights, home and away radio feeds, team video and alerts. If that’s still not enough, League Pass Mobile lets you stream up to 40 games a week, for a one-time $29.99. iPad users also have the option of downloading NBA Game Time Courtside.
Eastern Conference Team apps
Even more talked about than the playoffs themselves is the dominance of Derrick Rose, who fans and media alike have already crowned the MVP. For 99-cents you can follow his team with Chicago Hoops Zone. The Bulls-centric app gives you real-time scores, up-to-the-minutes news from national and local outlets and an in-app Twitter feed.
The No. 2-seed Miami offers Heat Basketball, which features the Miami Herald’s “On the Beat” blog, commentary, photos and an exclusive fan chatroom. The first 30 days are free, then you can sign up for a one, three, six or 12-month subscription.
And you can’t forget about the guys in green with the 24-7 Celtics app. The free download (with an all-green design, of course) gives you news, scores and alerts when it’s game time.
Western Conference Team apps
On the Western side of the conference, Mavs Friends is the official social network app of the Dallas team. It’s highly interactive, with fan profiles, video, Facebook and Foursquare check-ins and AirPlay… not to mention it’s free.
For fans of the LA Lakers, check out Lake Show. The 99-cent app offers news, views and tweets from, and about, the reigning champs. A lite version is also available.
There’s no shortage of apps available for all 16 playoff-bound teams. The Portland Trail Blazers, Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic and New York Knicks all have free downloads available.
