HANG TIME NEW JERSEY — For NBA fans like us, there’s nothing better than League Pass. Having the ability to watch every game every night (and then again the next day) is heaven.
Of course, with local broadcasts, you get local broadcasters, which can be good and bad. It can be good, because these guys know their teams better than most national broadcasters. It can be bad, because these guys love their teams more than most national broadcasters. And they’re usually not afraid to show that love.
Air Check is where we highlight the best and worst of NBA broadcasts.
The season is on the line with every playoff game. Every quarter, every possession means so much. So clearly, players, coaches and fans are going to get emotional.
Broadcasters, both national and local, get emotional too.
The Kevin Harlan experience
I think Kevin Harlan likes Chris “Bird Man” Andersen, because he goes a little over the top with this call on a Bird Man put-back dunk in Game 1 of Heat-Bucks.
“Oh, here comes the Bird Man! Flapping his wings and soaring for a sweet flush! When you’re aerodynamically designed with that hair-do you can do those kinds of things … with that sweet mohawk. It helps him fly.”
But that’s Kevin Harlan, and that’s why we love him.
Stacey G. Excited
Not to be outdone, Bulls color man Stacey King has a flair of his own. And it comes out in full force when Jimmy Butler gets the hoop and the harm on this fast break in Game 4 of Nets-Bulls.
“Give it to me, Jimmy G. Buckets! The ‘G’ stands for ‘Gets!’”
HANG TIME NEW JERSEY – For NBA fans like us, there’s nothing better than League Pass. Having the ability to watch every game every night (and then again the next day) is heaven.
Of course, with local broadcasts, you get local broadcasters, which can be good and bad. It can be good, because these guys know their teams better than most national broadcasters. It can be bad, because these guys love their teams more than most national broadcasters. And they’re usually not afraid to show that love.
The national guys aren’t perfect either. And if they’re not careful, they may be featured here, where we highlight the best and worst of NBA broadcasts.
For all non-ABC games in the first round of the playoffs, fans have the option of watching the national broadcast (ESPN, TNT, NBA TV) or their local broadcast. And we here at NBA.com have the privilege of listening to what both sets of local broadcasters have to say about a particular play.
So the following play (a double foul called on Blake Griffin and Zach Randolph in Game 2 of Grizz-Clips on Tuesday) is presented without commentary, just a transcription of the conflicting comments made about the same play…
The Memphis perspective
Brevin Knight: “[Griffin] wraps his arms around Zach … Zach Randolph has two hands in the air. I don’t know how you even foul like that?
Pete Pranica: “It appears as Griffin initiated the contact and Randolph was just trying to protect himself.”
Knight: “And has both hands up. I don’t know how Zach Randolph gets called for a foul with both hands in the air. That’s impossible for that to happen.”
The L.A. perspective
Michael Smith: “I think if we see the replay, you’ll see that Blake blocks him out. Watch what happens afterwards. What does Blake Griffin do wrong there? What does he do wrong? … Watch right there where Zach is hanging on and pulling him back.”
HANG TIME NEW JERSEY – For NBA fans like us, there’s nothing better than League Pass. Having the ability to watch every game every night (and then again the next day) is heaven.
Of course, with local broadcasts, you get local broadcasters, which can be good and bad. It can be good, because these guys know their teams better than most national broadcasters. It can be bad, because these guys love their teams more than most national broadcasters. And they’re usually not afraid to show that love.
The national guys aren’t perfect either. And if they’re not careful, they may be featured here, where we highlight the best and worst of NBA broadcasts.
Game: Toronto at Washington, March 31 Broadcast: Toronto
As the weak-side guy on pick-and-roll coverage, you’re supposed to “chuck” the roll man, meaning that you should get into the paint and keep him from having a clear path to the basket. Rudy Gay goes a little too far here, body checking Jan Vesely like it was a Leafs-Caps game.
Gay is called for a Flagrant 1 foul on the play, a reasonable ruling which stands after review. And somehow, Matt Devlin and Leo Rautins feel like this was normal pick-and-roll defense.
Devlin: “There was no intent behind that.”
Rautins: “I think at times now things get a little carried away with whole idea of flagrant and intent and all that. That was just a hard foul.”
2. A run-of-the-mill assist of the year candidate
Game: Cleveland at New Orleans, April 7 Broadcast: New Orleans
If you’ve listened to Lakers games on League Pass the last two seasons, you know that new play-by-play man Bill Macdonald can get a little too excited when his team scores a basket (or just when Metta World Peace attempts a 3-pointer).
It’s a contrast to former Lakers play-by-play man Joel Meyers, who is now calling games for the Hornets. Here, Meyers calls this ridiculous, no-look, through-the-legs Kyrie Irving dime to Tristan Thompson like it was any old assist.
Personally, I’ll take the subdued Meyers over the hyper Macdonald. That pass probably called for a little more inflection, though.
3. All-Star sandwich
Game: Dallas at Denver, April 4 Broadcast: Denver
Scott Hastings is the King of Air Check.
Evan Fournier pushes Dirk Nowitzki in the back here, sending Nowitzki into a flying Kenneth Faried. Hastings, of course, immediately takes offense.
“I guarantee it’ll be here,” he says. “Dirk Nowitzki. Gotta protect him.”
The push is clear as day on the replay, but Hastings isn’t changing his tune.
“That’s a little bit of a Dirk flop and he gets rewarded, because he’s an All-Star.”
4. I can block shots like that
Game: Denver at Dallas, April 12 Broadcast: Dallas
When JaVale McGee blocks a shot a couple of feet above the basket, Mavs broadcaster Jeff Wade goes into some pretty funny schtick about playing against 10 year olds on an 8-foot rim.
HANG TIME NEW JERSEY – For NBA fans like us, there’s nothing better than League Pass. Having the ability to watch every game every night (and then again the next day) is heaven.
Of course, with local broadcasts, you get local broadcasters, which can be good and bad. It can be good, because these guys know their teams better than most national broadcasters. It can be bad, because these guys love their teams more than most national broadcasters. And they’re usually not afraid to show that love.
The national guys aren’t perfect either. And if they’re not careful, they may be featured here, where we highlight the best and worst of NBA broadcasts.
We’ve got a Clippers and Nets theme this week, so let’s start with the Clippers and Nets…
1. They don’t call him the Czar of the Telestrator for nothin’
Game: Brooklyn @ L.A. Clippers, March 23 Broadcast: Brooklyn
This is a great use of the telestrator by … you guessed it … Mike Fratello.
Late in the game, the Clippers try to get Brook Lopez (and his slow feet) to defend Chris Paul in a pick and roll. But, as Fratello explains, the Nets switch assignments as Blake Griffin goes to set the pick, having the more mobile Reggie Evans hedge the screen.
It’s a pretty simple concept, but something that many viewers wouldn’t have picked up on when watching the play live. And all it takes is a quick explanation from Fratello to make us all a little smarter.
2. Another one-liner from JVG
Game: L.A. Lakers @ L.A. Clippers, April 7 Broadcast: ESPN
Jeff Van Gundy always bring the coach’s perspective…
Mike Breen on Jamal Crawford: “He’s had 16 head coaches in his career, 16 in his 13 years in the league.”
Van Gundy: “Are you saying he’s got a lot of people fired?”
Classic JVG.
3. Is Tommy Heinsohn calling Kings games now?
Game: L.A. Clippers @ Sacramento, March 19 Broadcast: Sacramento
Kings color man Jerry Reynolds doesn’t like this foul call, even though the replay shows that Pizza Guy Isaiah Thomas was all in Chris Paul‘s space and hit him on the arm as he rose for the shot.
“Are you kidding me?,” Reynolds says. “What a bail out.”
And then he hits us with the big one: “I guarantee you if that had of been Isaiah Thomas shooting the ball and Chris Paul defending, that would not have been called that way. That is my take on it and I’m tired of it.”
But good for play-by-play guy Grant Napear for calling Reynolds out for going a little to far: “Jerry Heinsohn working with us today.”
Reynolds: “I know. I get carried away every now and then. I can’t match up to my man Tommy Heinsohn, though. I can’t do it.”
Napear: “I don’t think anybody can.”
4. Rolls off the tongue
Game: Charlotte @ Brooklyn, April 6 Broadcast: Brooklyn
Ian Eagle and Jim Spanarkel have been working together for almost 20 years. So Spanarkel knows how much Eagle likes calling the game’s most unique names. (If you ever meet Eagle in person, just ask him about that forward who played for Stanford from 2002 to 2006.)
Bismack Biyombo is clearly among Eagle’s favorites.
HANG TIME NEW JERSEY – For NBA fans like us, there’s nothing better than League Pass. Having the ability to watch every game every night (and then again the next day) is heaven.
Of course, with local broadcasts, you get local broadcasters, which can be good and bad. It can be good, because these guys know their teams better than most national broadcasters. It can be bad, because these guys love their teams more than most national broadcasters. And they’re usually not afraid to show that love.
The national guys aren’t perfect either. And if they’re not careful, they may be featured here, where we highlight the best and worst of NBA broadcasts.
We’re keeping it light this week, highlighting some of the best one-liners of the last eight days…
1. First on the stage, Chris Webber
Game: L.A. Clippers @ Dallas, March 26 Broadcast: TNT
That Mike James is making an impact on a playoff race at the age of 37 is pretty amazing. That James is playing for his 11th NBA team after traveling the world in search of employment is, of course, a source of amusement.
Chris Webber goes there as David Aldridge and Dick Stockton explains James’ journey back to the league.
Stockton: “Mike James has played in Austria, France, Turkey, and China two years ago when the Mavericks were winning the NBA championship.”
Webber: “He also played in my church league.”
C-Webb then goes on to note that James might not have any space left in his house if he happened to keep a jersey from all those teams he’s played for.
2. The quick wit of Jeff Van Gundy
Game: Miami @ Chicago, March 27 Broadcast: ESPN
Bulls-Heat was arguably the biggest game of the season, as Chicago put Miami’s 27-game winning streak to an end. The biggest play of the game was Jimmy Butler‘s alley-oop throwdown on Chris Bosh. And Jeff Van Gundy capped it off with a great line as ESPN went to commercial.
“He LeBron’d the Heat!”
3. We’ve got imitations
Game: Boston @ Cleveland, March 27 Broadcast: Cleveland
Cleveland play-by-play man Fred McLeod takes advantage of a Cavs lead over Boston to poke a little fun at Celtics lifer Tommy Heinsohn.
4. This is not the matchup we’re looking for
Game: L.A. Clippers @ San Antonio, March 29 Broadcast: San Antonio
We know that Sean Elliott is one of the biggest homers on League Pass, but he’s not afraid to criticize. And when Boris Diaw switches onto Chris Paul on a critical possession down the stretch of a huge game, Elliott makes a great line: “How in the world did they get THIS mismatch?”
But somehow, Diaw gets the stop and the Spurs win the game.
5. Clyde does the wave
Game: Orlando @ Houston, April 1 Broadcast: San Antonio
We were a little harsh on the Rockets broadcasters last week, but this was a moment we thoroughly enjoyed. For some reason, the Toyota Center crowd started a wave in the middle of the third quarter on Monday. And Bill Worrell, Matt Bullard and Clyde Drexler decide to join in.
HANG TIME NEW JERSEY – For NBA fans like us, there’s nothing better than League Pass. Having the ability to watch every game every night (and then again the next day) is heaven.
Of course, with local broadcasts, you get local broadcasters, which can be good and bad. It can be good, because these guys know their teams better than most national broadcasters. It can be bad, because these guys love their teams more than most national broadcasters. And they’re usually not afraid to show that love.
The national guys aren’t perfect either. And if they’re not careful, they may be featured here, where we highlight the best and worst of NBA broadcasts.
Here are a few more moments that made us laugh, made us smarter, or made us shake our heads.
The Spurs-Rockets contest on Sunday was a great game, especially if you had your TV on mute. The game went down to the wire, with James Harden hitting the off-balance game-winner with five seconds left.
Unfortunately, the Rockets’ crew of Bill Worrell, Matt Bullard and Clyde Drexler made the broadcast a difficult listen, with several shake-your-head comments over the course of the night. So, we’re dedicating an entire edition of Air Check to this one game.
1. Off to a great start
Drexler sets the tone for the broadcast by complaining about the jump ball. The jump ball! And if you watch the jump ball, the only issue with it is that both Omer Asik and Tim Duncan jump too early.
Not to be outdone, Worrell joins Drexler in the jump ball critique (so does Bullard), and then calls for a travel 12 seconds into the Spurs’ first possession. Yep, this is how this broadcast is going to go.
2. Isn’t this Daryl Morey’s team?
Just a few minutes later, we get the dreaded team points-per-game graphic. The Rockets, of course, lead the league in that mostly meaningless stat.
Team points per game lacks a lot of context, specifically how the Rockets play at the league’s fastest pace. They do rank fifth in offensive efficiency, but they also rank 19th in defensive efficiency. So Drexler’s statement that “If you can score, you can do well in this league, especially in the playoffs” is also lacking some context.
Over the next few possessions, Worrell goes on to say that the Spurs used to rely on defense, and that Gregg Popovich decided a few years ago to “rely more on offense.”
Led by general manager Daryl Morey, the Houston Rockets are the team most invested in analytics. And it would be great if that was apparent when you watched their games. But unfortunately, the broadcast is well behind the curve.
3. The push in the back that nobody saw
When you first see this play, it’s unclear where the foul is. But both replays clearly show Asik push Duncan in the back.
Worrell: “I didn’t think there was a Rocket near enough to him to foul him!”
Replay 1.
Worrell: “Who fouled him?”
Replay 2, where the push in the back is pretty obvious.
Bullard: “There was no contact AT ALL!”
Drexler: “Asik might have pushed him in the back a little bit.”
Worrell: “The baseline official made the call, so he couldn’t have seen anything.”
Drexler: “Exactly.”
Worrell: “He doesn’t have x-ray vision.”
It’s hard to fathom that you’d prefer listening to Sean Elliott call a game on any given night, but this became the case on Sunday.
4. It was clear to us … but we have a bad angle
In the final minute, a rebound goes off of either Asik or Duncan, and the referees initially call a jump ball, which is pretty rare.
Worrell: “They have to look at it, because that was tipped out by San Antonio. That’s all there was to it.”
Drexler: “Duncan knocked it right out.”
Worrell: “Duncan knocked that ball out of bounds, folks.”
Then we see the replay.
Bullard: “Ooh. I don’t know. Omer’s hand looked like it was on the inside.” And later, “Maybe that is a jump ball. Maybe both guys hit it at the same time.”
Worrell, of course, gets in one more shot at the referee’s ability to toss up a fair jump ball, but they all basically agree that it’s a tough call. And the refs confirm the original call and do continue play with a jump ball.
Bullard: “I think to call that a jump ball in real time is a pretty impressive call.”
Drexler: “They got it right.”
Well, that’s good. But hilariously, Drexler ends the discussion by saying, “Of course, we couldn’t see it, because it was away from us.”
OK… Then why, exactly, were you insisting that the ball was off of Duncan just a minute ago?
HANG TIME NEW JERSEY – For NBA fans like us, there’s nothing better than League Pass. Having the ability to watch every game every night (and then again the next day) is heaven.
Of course, with local broadcasts, you get local broadcasters, which can be good and bad. It can be good, because these guys know their teams better than most national broadcasters. It can be bad, because these guys love their teams more than most national broadcasters. And they’re usually not afraid to show that love.
The national guys aren’t perfect either. And if they’re not careful, they may be featured here, where we highlight the best and worst of NBA broadcasts.
Here are a few more moments that made us laugh, made us smarter, or made us shake our heads.
Game: Philadelphia @ Orlando, March 10 Broadcast: Orlando
The Magic have one of the best (and smartest) broadcasting crews in the league, and it’s tough to pick on Richie Adubato here, because he’s just filling in for the excellent Matt Guokas. But calling this foul, where Thaddeus Young gets shoved out of bounds by Al Harrington, a “ticky-tack” call is kind of hilarious. In fact, Adubato actually suggests that the call “should have been our way.”
2. Timing is everything
Game: Memphis @ L.A. Clippers, March 13 Broadcast: Clippers
Sometimes, it all falls into place.
First referencing the Grizzlies’ lack of shooting, Michael Smith explains how Quincy Pondexter gives them one guy who can knock down threes, and how Pondexter likes to spot up in the corner. Pondexter immediately proceeds to spot up in the corner and knock down a three.
As Ralph Lawler said, “Good call, Michael.”
3. But he didn’t MEAN to do it!
Game: Minnesota @ Memphis, March 18 Broadcast: Memphis
Brevin Knight is a Jersey guy and I’ve been a fan since I saw him put the clamps on a scorer named Mark Bass (who went on to star at St. Joseph’s) as a sophomore in the 1991 state tournament. So it’s hard for me to call him out. But there’s no analyst around the league that uses the word “we” when talking about his team more than Knight, unless it’s back-up, Sean Tuohy.
Here, Knight somehow feels that Tayshaun Prince shouldn’t be called for a foul because he didn’t intend to make contact with Andrei Kirilenko. Play-by-play guy Pete Pranica says he didn’t see the contact at all.
A foul is a foul, intentional or not. It’s clear that both Prince and Kirilenko felt the contact, and Prince didn’t have any beef with the call.
4. Professor Petersen strikes again
Game: New Orleans @ Minnesota, March 17 Broadcast: Minnesota
Three weeks ago, we praised Wolves broadcasters Dave Benz and Jim Petersen for their acknowledgement of advanced statistics. But the best part of a Minnesota broadcast is when Petersen has the time to delve into the Xs and Os behind a particular play.
Here, he explains how the Wolves’ initial actions on the preceding play were designed to get the defense moving and set up a Ricky Rubio - Nikola Pekovic pick-and-roll.
That’s great use of a timeout. Petersen may be the best teacher among NBA analysts, unafraid to bring coaching jargon to the broadcast in an effort to make his audience a little smarter.
HANG TIME NEW JERSEY – For NBA fans like us, there’s nothing better than League Pass. Having the ability to watch every game every night (and then again the next day) is heaven.
Of course, with local broadcasts, you get local broadcasters, which can be good and bad. It can be good, because these guys know their teams better than most national broadcasters. It can be bad, because these guys love their teams more than most national broadcasters. And they’re usually not afraid to show that love.
The national guys aren’t perfect. And if they’re not careful, they may be featured here, where we highlight the best and worst of NBA broadcasts.
Here are a few more moments that made us laugh, made us smarter, or made us shake our heads.
1. Poetry Time with Clyde Frazier Game: Utah @ New York, March 9 Broadcast: New York
One of the joys of living in the New York area is the ability to listen to Clyde Frazier‘s wordplay 75 nights a year. And as he describes Utah’s lackluster play in the first half on Saturday, Clyde brings some of his best work.
“No fire, no desire, seem tired, uninspired.”
Beautiful.
2. When no commentary is needed Game: Orlando @ New Orleans, March 4 Broadcast: New Orleans
Sometimes, you just want to tell broadcasters that they don’t have to evaluate every foul call against their team. Here, David Wesley starts in on a call that just doesn’t need a critique, because there’s plenty of contact between Eric Gordon and Arron Afflalo. The replay isn’t the best angle, but the original shot shows a clear foul as Afflalo rises for his shot.
Also, a lesson for you players out there: If you don’t want to be called for a foul, don’t swing/chop down with your arm.
3. Calls against your team are not for the faint of heart Game: Oklahoma City @ San Antonio, March 11 Broadcast: San Antonio (NBA TV)
Sean Elliott ranks as one of the biggest homers on League Pass, and he doesn’t change his stripes when the Spurs’ broadcast goes national for NBA TV. Here, he has issues with two straight loose ball fouls on Boris Diaw.
After the first call, Elliott tells us that he “didn’t like that one at all.” No kidding. Then he says that “It’s a grown man’s game underneath,” and “The paint area is not for the faint of heart.”
I guess that means that Diaw is allowed to hold down Serge Ibaka‘s arm as the rebound comes their way.
After the second call, Elliott says “Ibaka looked like he had that rebound anyways.” Well no, he didn’t once he got fouled.
Then, “Ibaka gets rewarded for not boxing out.” Actually, Diaw gets punished for pushing Ibaka in the back.
Bottom line, a foul is a foul, even if it happens 94 feet from the basket.
“Two wrongs just make it wrong,” Elliott says.
That’s exactly what those who were listening to him were thinking.
4. LeBron’s wants an Air Check Game: Philadelphia @ Miami, March 8 Broadcast: Miami
Clearly jealous of Scott Hastings and unsatisfied with just being the best player in the world, LeBron James wants some love in this week’s Air Check column. Either he wants to complain about that one time he got called for a foul or he wants to drop some poetry like Clyde, but James tries to get in on the Heat’s broadcast after deflecting a pass out of bounds.
HANG TIME NEW JERSEY – For NBA fans like us, there’s nothing better than League Pass. Having the ability to watch every game every night (and then again the next day) is heaven.
Of course, with local broadcasts, you get local broadcasters, which can be good and bad. It can be good, because these guys know their teams better than most national broadcasters. It can be bad, because these guys love their teams more than most national broadcasters. And they’re usually not afraid to show that love.
The national guys aren’t perfect either. And if they’re not careful, they may be featured here, where we highlight the best and worst of NBA broadcasts.
Here are a few more moments that made us laugh, made us smarter, or made us shake our heads.
Under the weather, I crashed early on Wednesday. When I woke up Thursday morning, I had an e-mail telling me that we needed to include the blown call “of Trevor Ariza’s missed shot” in the next Air Check.
So I knew the call was wrong. I knew the shot didn’t go in. And when I pulled up the game on my iPad, I knew the final score. But when I watched the play, I thought, for a split second, that the ball went through the basket.
So yeah, it was a tough moment for Buckhantz. But if you read this interview with Sarah Kogod, you’ll understand that he had a bad angle. And we’ll take a mistake like that over some of the other nonsense we hear on League Pass from time to time.
2. Classic Tommy
Game: Chicago @ Boston, Feb. 13 Broadcast: Boston
Tommy Heinsohn is an unapologetic Celtics homer. Heck, he’s been a part of the Celtics organization for most of the last 57 years. And of course, Heinsohn can go a little over the top with his analysis of officials’ calls. This one is a perfect example.
He calls the official “terrible” and says that Avery Bradley “plays this perfect.” As the replay clearly shows that Bradley didn’t beat Nate Robinson to the sideline and fouled Robinson with his shoulder, Heinsohn gets louder. “PLAYS IT PERFECT!”
“You couldn’t have played it any better than Bradley played it.”
Not really. But that’s Tommy.
3. Donatas’ Never-Before-Seen Post Moves
Game: Dallas @ Houston, March 3 Broadcast: Houston
I’ve watched this play more than a dozen times and I’m still not sure I see a travel. It’s possible that Donatas Motiejunas‘ left foot was his original pivot foot, and then he switched it to the right. He gathers the ball and makes his move so quickly that it’s hard to tell. But that’s not really the point.
What’s hilarious is Matt Bullard‘s insinuation that referee David Jones, with his 23 years of NBA experience, has never seen a move like that before.
“That’s the problem with young players in this league,” Bullard says. “The officials have not seen their moves. I think D-Mo surprised not only the Mavericks’ defender, but also the official.”
It’s also kind of funny that this was the fourth possession of the game and we’re already getting into the complaints about the officiating.
Bullard does take back his complaint after seeing the replay and Clyde Drexler notes that, you know, officials are good at their jobs. But it’s the instinct to immediately complain about a call against your team that’s bothersome.
4. Actually, he’s from Brooklyn
Game: Oklahoma City @ Denver, Jan. 20 Broadcast: Denver
Scott Hastings‘ absurd homerism was noted in last week’s post. We should probably give him some time before a second mention, but this one was so ridiculous, it couldn’t wait. Hastings continues to feed conspiracy theorists and question the ethics of NBA officials with unsubstantiated comments.
Late in a close game, Ty Lawson gets his hand on a Russell Westbrook pass, and official Mark Lindsay says the ball went off of Kevin Durant. Then Hastings takes over.
“Scottie Brooks runs to his guy Zach Zarba and says, ‘Hey can you review this?’”
“His guy.”
The officials indeed decide to review the call, because the best thing to do is make sure that the calls was right. And then Hastings chimes in one more time.
“Zach lives down around Tulsa or some place,” he says.
HANG TIME NEW JERSEY – For NBA fans like us, there’s nothing better than League Pass. Having the ability to watch every game every night (and then again the next day) is heaven.
Of course, with local broadcasts, you get local broadcasters, which can be good and bad. It can be good, because these guys know their teams better than most national broadcasters. It can be bad, because these guys love their teams more than most national broadcasters. And they’re usually not afraid to show that love.
The national guys aren’t perfect either. And if they’re not careful, they may be featured here, where we highlight the best and worst of NBA broadcasts.
Here are a few moments from the season thus far that made us laugh, made us smarter, or made us shake our heads.
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Denver analyst Scott Hastings really shows his colors here. First, he infers that the official should take a previous J.J. Barea complaint into account when making a call. Then, he disparages Barea’s size. And finally, he infers that the number of fouls that Kenneth Faried had at the time should have affected the call. Oof.
2. Mid-game education
Game: Golden State @ Minnesota, Nov. 16 Broadcast: Minnesota
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One of the biggest problems with some NBA broadcasters is that they’re behind the curve in regard to advanced stats. When a play-by-play guy or analyst references points per game and/or field-goal percentage as a measure of offensive or defensive quality, those of us who know and believe in advanced stats just want to squirm and/or mute your television.
So when one of these guys takes the time to educate their audience about pace and efficiency, it’s worthy of a mention. This clip starts out on the wrong foot with a graphic citing PPG, but Dave Benz and Jim Petersen quickly turn the conversation toward efficiency.
Hopefully, talk of pace and efficiency will be the norm (and not the exception) in the near future.
3. Foul? What foul?
Game: New Orleans @ Portland, Dec. 16 Broadcast: Portland
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There are a lot of times when broadcasters need to hold their tongues until they see a replay before questioning an official’s call. Let’s just say that Mike Barrett and Mike Rice don’t do that very often.
On this play, Barrett (play-by-play) first questions the idea of Nicolas Batum‘s foul being a flagrant. Rice takes over from there, seems to ignore an obvious blow to the face of Anthony Davis, makes a silly remark about the official not wanting him to eat dinner on time, and then takes a grade-school-level shot at Davis’ eyebrow(s). Oh yeah, like Hastings in the clip above, he infers that a previous call should somehow influence this one.
One more thing: Broadcasters should know that referees will err on the side of caution when initially determining whether a foul was a flagrant or a common foul, because one can be reviewed and the other can’t. If the refs initially call a flagrant, they can review the play and change it to a common foul. If they don’t call a flagrant initially, they can’t review it or change it. So if there’s any doubt, the best thing to do is call a flagrant foul and check the replay.
Ian Eagle is a Hang Time favorite, because he’s calls games straight, he’s got a quick wit and he certainly isn’t afraid to laugh at himself. Here, he regrets his premature assessment of Greg Stiemsma‘s perimeter game.
