ESPN’s coverage of the Stephen A. Smith Show, aka the NBA Playoffs, got off to a rough start last week with a case of laryngitis figuratively throwing water on SAS’ big audio dynamite.

Just the thought of Smith, 55, losing his voice during the playoffs must scare the hell out of the Bristol Faculty. They have a lot invested in him. SAS is “the logo.” Clearly, when it comes to Mr. Smith, the Bristol Factory is not concerned with overexposure during the NBA playoffs. The only thing left for him to do is work courtside as a game analyst.

Still, going into the postseason the suits added five alternative playoff game telecasts from his “living room” (“NBA in Stephen A’s World”) to Smith’s current Diner-sized menu, which includes the daily “First Take” show, “NBA Countdown” pregame program, appearances on “SportsCenter” and (separate from ESPN) his “Know Mercy” podcast on Audacy.

For years, ESPN’s “NBA Countdown” has aspired to match, in eyeballs, stature and quality, TNT’s superior NBA studio product, featuring Charles Barkley, widely recognized as the NBA’s premier studio personality/analyst.

While this edition of ESPN’s “NBA Countdown” is a compelling watch (across the season it averaged 561,000 viewers, up 3% from last season) it, perception-wise, has not planted its flag alongside TNT’s on the NBA’s studio mountain top.

Yet a case can be made, in terms of the sheer amount of buzz SAS generates, that he has surpassed Barkley in marquee value. And that as things stand now, Smith is a bigger star than Barkley.

Much of this has to do with Smith, through his sheer number of assignments (and his ubiquitous presence on social media), having more opportunities than Barkley (who eschews social media) to stir the pot — more time to opine on issues, or spark a “feud” with a current player.

Much of this has to do with SAS’s theatrical style, which is bombastic and entertaining. He often plays the role of villain. Smith also gives fans a reporters-eye view of a team, player or front office, which is different, and at least as compelling, than the player-centric view Barkley provides.

And much of this has to do with Barkley, 60, leaving us with the perception, through frequent reports, of his desire to retire — sooner rather than later. Is his heart still into the TNT NBA gig?

Even with this star power, Smith’s playoff road is pitted with potholes. All the gigs could lead to a lack of consistency. He could wind up contradicting himself on national television.

And any SAS-generated controversy could lead to accusations of him taking the focus off the games and putting it on himself.

Stephen A. Smith wouldn’t do this, would he?

On the flip side, if anyone wants to avoid SAS and ESPN/ABC’s coverage of Knicks-Cleveland in the first round, the games, with a more home-cooked flavor, will also be available on MSG Network.

MSG’s Knicks voice Mike Breen (also the voice of ESPN/ABC’s NBA coverage) is scheduled to work for MSG on Games 1 and 2 of the Cavs series with Walt (Clyde) Frazier. Clyde will work the entire first-round matchup on MSG.

Breen’s MSG broadcast status after games 1 and 2 is still to be determined.

Had trouble digesting the goo surrounding Michael Kay dropping dime on a batboy who probably knew nothing about the Yankees “hair policy” initiated by the deceased George Steinbrenner way back when.

If anything, this rekindled memories of the irrational ravings of Steinbrenner and his uncompromising persona. Kay’s voice and YES’ cameras instigated this moment of bullying, which served as a tribute to the heavy-handed ways of “The Boss.”

Kay even said Steinbrenner would’ve “flown another batboy in from New York” to take the other kid’s place.

The suits at YES should think about turning this episode into a Yankeeography. After all, the video went viral. That’s all that matters.

And the result wasn’t all that bad, was it? After all, what could be more heartwarming than Kay, on Al Yankzeera, ultimately spinning this into a feel-good story of the batboy (Nate Rosenhaus), his band named The Open Doors and Anthony Rizzo.

George Steinbrenner would’ve been proud.

As long as he was educating, Rick Wolff didn’t mind swimming upstream.

For in an era when sportsmanship finishes miles behind greed, power seekers and bad behavior, Wolff, 71, who died Monday after a brief battle with brain cancer, never gave up hope that honesty and civility in sports would someday make a comeback.

That was only part of the sermon he delivered every Sunday morning since 1998 on his WFAN “The Sports Edge” show. He also covered a multitude of issues, like recruiting and what to do when parents try getting too involved with the inner workings of their kid’s team.

What stood out was the loyalty Wolff’s callers displayed. Every Sunday, some of the same high school/college coaches would call him to offer their thoughts. Wolff would listen. He gave them time to speak. He wanted his audience to learn.

Rick Wolff practiced what he preached.

The local football media is not taking sides on Saquon Barkley’s contract situation. Kind of surprising considering Barkley has made all the right PR moves during his Giants tenure. But so have Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll. Their media honeymoon is still in progress. …

Rajon Rondo did not display his fiery side during his Tuesday appearance on “First Take.” Let’s hope Rondo wasn’t being paid by the word. Yet, Rondo’s minimalist approach didn’t hinder him from making some attention-grabbing points. Rondo said only a trip to the NBA Finals would satisfy the legions of Celtics fans. Rondo: “We don’t hang Eastern Conference banners in Boston.” …

To hear VOS Gasbags, and other pontificators, going gaga over all five local “winter teams” making the playoffs you would think world peace suddenly broke out. …

Paul O’Neill returned to the YES booth Thursday night and did a good job filling time during the Bombers’ 11-2 loss. …

Same game on the radio. John (Pa Pinstripe) Sterling said the Stadium was crowded “for a Monday night game in April.” When he made the same “Monday” statement an inning later, Suzyn (Ma Pinstripe) Waldman said: “It’s Thursday!” We don’t attribute Pa’s slip-up to age. It was more about him being stunned after watching Minny score 9 in the first. …

As he discussed the Ravens signing Odell Beckham Jr., WFAN’s Evan Roberts asked a compelling question not often raised. Roberts: “What has he [Beckham] done [during his career]?

DUDE OF THE WEEK: EDWIN DIAZ

For his optimism. The injured (torn patellar tendon) Mets’ closer recently held out hope he could return by the end of the season, saying: “I might throw this year….The doctors say I’m doing great.” Diaz upbeat tone can only hasten his recovery.

DWEEB OF THE WEEK: RUDY GOBERT

If this NBA thing doesn’t work out for the Timberwolves center, he has all the tools to go into combat sports where slapping and punching are acceptable.

DOUBLE TALK

What Buck Showalter said: “[Justin Verlander is] Very close to putting his foot on the pedal a little bit.”

What Buck Showalter meant to say: “I don’t know when Verlander will be ready to pitch again.”

()