NBA 2007 Playoffs - Part 2

Lois Gilbert · May-27th-2007, 12:09 AM

sorry I know we're in the middle of it, but had to start part 2

Gordon B · May-27th-2007, 08:05 AM

I liked Mark Jackson the announcer for the first week of his announcing career (last season with the Nets) but I"ve gotten to dread hearing his commentary. He says the same stuff over and over.

He has yet to announce a Nets game where he didn't say before the game or in the first quarter, "Vince Carter cannot settle for the jumper."

How does an inexperienced guy like Jackson, who isn't good either, get to work deep into the postseason?

I hope Doug Collins realizes his calling is in the booth, not behind the bench and that he never coaches again.

Enforcer · May-27th-2007, 08:40 AM

When it comes to analysts, my pet peeve is when they summarize what's happening in the game based almost exclusively on the score. There are more guys who do this than not. In a back and forth game where leads are changing constantly, or the difference in the score is usually no more than 5 or 6 points, all the analysis is about what the team leading is doing right or the team trailing is doing wrong. It really gets annoying when a team that's been down by 3 or 4 points for a long stretch finally gets a 1 point lead and now we hear about all the things they've been doing right while just seconds ago, it was all they were doing wrong. So silly when making a single basket changes the complexion of everything so much. Walton is by far the worst at this, and I feel dirty even including his name in a serious discussion, but he does a lot of games.

Jon Abbey · May-27th-2007, 10:33 AM

yeah, I like when they talk about how a team needs to "defend" their 2 point lead after 3 quarters.

Enforcer · May-27th-2007, 02:01 PM

The Cavs have a 100% chance of winning tonight's game. Bet your farms or what have you on it.

Squaredancecalling Steve · May-27th-2007, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

The Cavs have a 100% chance of winning tonight's game. Bet your farms or what have you on it.

Is that a wagering proposal? 100-0? I'm down for the Pistons if it is, any amount you name.

Trying to milk his perfect record as a gambler while filching Larry's closing style,

SqD

Enforcer · May-27th-2007, 02:29 PM

100-0 odds? Damn, Gordon really did teach you well, Steve!

Gordon B · May-27th-2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

100-0 odds? Damn, Gordon really did teach you well, Steve!

Maybe it's the other way around.

My rate of return on wagering is much lower than Steve's

Larry, regarding your pet announcer peeve, one of the worst offenders is Steve Kerr. I mentioned this a couple of hundred posts ago but it's apropos so I'll say it again. I was listening to a playoff game he did recently and every time one of the teams went through a three minute scoring drought he said "The blanks are out-of-sync."

Does anybody like any of the local team commentators and think they should be promoted to the national broadcasts?

Enforcer · May-27th-2007, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon B

Does anybody like any of the local team commentators and think they should be promoted to the national broadcasts?

Gordon,

I like the Pistons local crew, but I don't think they're so fantastic that they belong on a national crew. George Blaha is a local legend, broadcasting Pistons games for more than 30 years. And Greg Kelser is a solid analyst. They both have roots in Detroit, so the good stuff they bring is rooted in the history of the Pistons rather than having national appeal.

However, one surprising candidate for a national crew doesn't work as an analyst anymore: Bill Laimbeer. Laugh if you will, but Bill was a great analyst, I thought. He offered more than cliches and was the most objective guy you could ask for. He was a complete non-homer. But he's doing other things besides working in the booth, so I'm not sure he's even interested in something like that.

Jon Abbey · May-27th-2007, 07:37 PM

I used to like Tom Tolbert OK. the thing is that almost no one seems to follow the whole league and at the same time manage to be intelligent and insightful about it, except the aforementioned Doug Collins.

Gordon B · May-27th-2007, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

However, one surprising candidate for a national crew doesn't work as an analyst anymore: Bill Laimbeer. Laugh if you will, but Bill was a great analyst, I thought. He offered more than cliches and was the most objective guy you could ask for. He was a complete non-homer. But he's doing other things besides working in the booth, so I'm not sure he's even interested in something like that.

Larry, I found this comment made by yours truly in the NBA 2004-5 thread when I searched for "Laimbeer" and myself as poster.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon B

Let's discuss. Who do we like providing commentary in the booth?

Doug Collins- my favorite. He should never go back to coaching.
Hubie Brown
Bill Laimbeer
Walt Frasier knows the game well and is honest, it's his alliterative schtick and unintentional Bill Buckley parody that's annoying. I'll still take him over a lot of people.
Jeff Van Gundy- He was good for the short time he wasn't coaching.

Gordon B · May-27th-2007, 08:37 PM

After my comments,
Captain Hate posted that he liked Matt Guokas, as well as Collins and Van Gundy.

Jon said that Tolbert was funny and he liked Steve "Snapper " Jones and Calvin Murphy.
Steve Reynolds said he liked Ainge when he was a color man.

Larry a few posts later made this comment,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

John Hollinger, whose in depth analysis starts out impressive but sometimes proves dead wrong, wrote earlier this season that Tayshaun would not improve on the offensive end. I don't think he's correct. I think he's blossoming as a post up threat and his confidence is growing by leaps and bounds. I expect his scoring to improve in the next couple of years. We'll see.

That was probably your most tentative bashing of Hollinger.

Captain Hate · May-27th-2007, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon B

Larry, regarding your pet announcer peeve, one of the worst offenders is Steve Kerr. I mentioned this a couple of hundred posts ago but it's apropos so I'll say it again. I was listening to a playoff game he did recently and every time one of the teams went through a three minute scoring drought he said "The blanks are out-of-sync."

I'm surprised Marv or somebody doesn't mention this to him. Kerr's a smart guy; I'd think he'd be open to constructive criticism.

Gordon B · May-27th-2007, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Hate

I'm surprised Marv or somebody doesn't mention this to him. Kerr's a smart guy; I'd think he'd be open to constructive criticism.

I agree.

moneyp · May-27th-2007, 09:27 PM

Larry really hadn't warmed up to bashing Hollinger yet. I think it was the third or fourth article about Detroit's bench that sent him over the edge.

I like Hubie, I just wish he had a different voice and could be more concise. Collins is OK. I know I've heard Laimbeer before, but I don't remember having an opinion of him. I remember Clyde as being horrible, but I haven't heard him in a while.

Really, I can't think of many pro analysts who add much of anything to the game, and a large majority of them really detract from it. In most cases, I'd rather just hear the game. And if we have to hear someone other than the play-by-play man, at least have something interesting to say. Note: Anything that starts off with "I talked with Player X before the game..." or "Back when I played with..." is instantly disqualified.

Really, there's very little reason for an analyst to talk during the action. They may have something interesting to point out, but they're not going to get it out in a two-second sound byte. Let them go nuts during the stoppages, replaying plays and showing us interesting things we might have missed. Other than that, shut up.

Jon Abbey · May-27th-2007, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneyp

I remember Clyde as being horrible, but I haven't heard him in a while.

he's a little better now, but he's still not good.

Enforcer · May-27th-2007, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon B

That was probably your most tentative bashing of Hollinger.

Hehehe, what Mone said. Honestly, I think his work got worse as time went on. When he got to ESPN, I think he had some work ready to publish. But after a few months, he was writing a weekly (or more often) column like he had no choice and just filled it with any old thing.

Enforcer · May-27th-2007, 11:09 PM

Another pretty good game tonight, very predictable the way it went down. Pistons have to get their guards involved earlier. Not sure what the deal is, but I'll give credit to Cleveland for it. If they're going to take Billups out of the game, Rip Hamilton needs to at least be getting plays called for him. Come on, Flip!

Enforcer · May-27th-2007, 11:12 PM

Oh, and props to the Bavetta crew for a very well officiated game.

bobetterblues · May-27th-2007, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

Oh, and props to the Bavetta crew for a very well officiated game.

Yeah, its amazing how much better LeBron looks in a correctly called game.

Also, no Eric Snow tonight. Not one minute. Coincidence? I think not. Larry Hughes getting hurt was a bonus as well I think.

Enforcer · May-27th-2007, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobetterblues

Yeah, its amazing how much better LeBron looks in a correctly called game.

Oh, the other games were fairly called. The difference in this game was LeBron taking and making perimeter shots. That was really the ballgame right there.

bobetterblues · May-28th-2007, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

Oh, the other games were fairly called. The difference in this game was LeBron taking and making perimeter shots. That was really the ballgame right there.

No, he couldn't buy a call in the first two games. And the play was a lot more aggressive in the first two. I saw at least 10 foul calls in today's game that wouldn't have been called in the 2 Detroit games. Rip's first foul of the three, on LeBron's drive in game two would have been called today.

But I agree, LeBron played much better especially with his outside shot.

Enforcer · May-28th-2007, 10:50 AM

No, the fouls were called that way both ways. Billups and the Detroit bigs were getting mauled the same way under the basket. That's fair in my book. What I liked about this one was what you described, which is the blatant contact was getting a whistle.

The whole difference in the game was LeBron's outside shot. Prince made mention of this in the postgame. Great effort by him. And Boobie Gibson!

Uli · May-28th-2007, 10:27 PM

I enjoy tonites game so far.

Enforcer · May-28th-2007, 10:28 PM

Dan Patrick is terrible.

Enforcer · May-28th-2007, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uli

I enjoy tonites game so far.

Yep, me too.

Enforcer · May-28th-2007, 11:11 PM

Jeff Van Gundy, on Ginobili, who just made a 3 pointer to give the Spurs a 4 point lead with 9:08 left in the 4th quarter: "He just has the ability to make timely shots."

Daniel · May-28th-2007, 11:29 PM

game over. phew

Enforcer · May-28th-2007, 11:30 PM

Can't believe they called Derek Fisher for a tech on that contact with Ginobili. That was all acting.

Enforcer · May-28th-2007, 11:40 PM

20,000 pissed off Mormons.