Why is the NBA on ESPN so different

[tomtucker]

And horrible, compared to the other networks?

You got doris burke with the super boring monotone voice, analyzing every play right after it has been made, rattling off boring stats non stop, during actually gameplay !

then we got mike breen with mark jackson and jeff van gundy... just as terrible, instead of gameplay commentary, with have van gundy going on 5 min rants also during actual gameplay......it goes: "bla bla bla (as we see Lebron with the layup) bla bla bla"

Why is the NBA on ESPN so very different than FOX and the other stations, that actually talk about the game at hand, and not like ESPN, turn the game into a talk show, and just have the game as a backdrop.

??


.

[superduper]

I think you're comparing national casters to local casters. National casters are there to appeal more to the casual watcher. Not that it's an excuse for what they currently have but it just seems like you're comparing apples to oranges.

[90sgoat]

It caters to the lowest IQ fans.

Those people are interested in drama and flash over substance.

[HoopologyPhD]

Fake entertainment news network covering a fake sports league.

[Ghost1]

LeESPN

[tomtucker]

notice how ESPN commentators is ALWAYS talking about something different than the game at hand !
very noticeable in this highlight video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JDgJxRtIaA

20 % play calling, 80 % babbling than belong in a sports talkshow on the radio


so boring and annoying to listen too...... why is there not a "arena sound only" option

[Trollsmasher]

Breen, JVG and Jackson are just plain unlistenable these days

Breen doesn't have the ability to change intensity so he calls every shot like it's G7 of the Finals and those other two clowns rant about everything but basketball

[JohnnySic]

They suck but I'll take them over Marv Albert every time.

[lilteapot]

I'm not tolerating any Mike Breen disrespect.

JVG has his moments

Mark Jackson does suck and so do the rest of their color and play by play commentators.

[r0drig0lac]

Mike Breen is the best

[JohnnySic]

THEY HAVE TO FOUL!

Yes Mike, we get it, time is running out, and they have to foul.

[brooks_thompson]

Yeah, Mike Breen seems like the consummate professional and has a great voice, but ultimately he's soulless and takes no liberties with his PbP like the true greats do. He's textbook to a T, and that gets boring after almost 20 years now. He's decent, but not nearly as humorous or playful with his banter, say like Marv and the Czar or Marv and anybody during his heyday. He might be the most competent person at his job in the world, which is both a compliment and criticism.

For nostalgia's sake, shout out to Bill Walton for constantly confounding and exasperating Steve Snapper Jones back in the day. I was never entirely sure Steve was onboard with the act...so many times it seemed like pure frustration bubbling up when he was paired with Walton.

[tpols]

van gundy gives legit commentary. always playing the devil's advocate to the bullshit.

[brooks_thompson]

THEY HAVE TO FOUL!

Yes Mike, we get it, time is running out, and they have to foul.

I laughed. Yeah man, we understand!

[72-10]

I'd say it's mostly the different color coding and charts and graphs.

[AngelEyes]

Kevin Harlan is the greatest sportscaster in sports currently and I would take him over Mike Breen 100 times out of 100. Marv Albert is terrible and has been terrible for several years but he was fantastic when he was younger and clearly superior to Breen.

[FashionIssues]

keep the all star weekend out of cable tv.
you get saturday and sunday to showcase your brand and its on cable

[eliteballer]

I miss NBC..they made it seem like fate of the world depended on NBA games.

[Jay-B]

Always hated when they switched to espn/abc mike breem is a TERRIBLE lead broadcaster. What they need to do is switch back to NBC and use more turner broadcasting TNT and TBS

[Hey Yo]

notice how ESPN commentators is ALWAYS talking about something different than the game at hand !
very noticeable in this highlight video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JDgJxRtIaA

20 % play calling, 80 % babbling than belong in a sports talkshow on the radio


so boring and annoying to listen too...... why is there not a "arena sound only" option
Depends on what the score is if they decide to babble or not

[Lakers Legend#32]

Mike Breen is sooooo boring.

[brooks_thompson]

I wish they’d unleash Gus Johnson on the NBA. When he gets maniacal and gets that cackling going, it’s pure entertainment, better than the game itself.

[kentatm]

The only sport ESPN kicks everyones ass in coverage wise is college football and even that is screwed up b/c the playoffs and major bowls should be on ABC over cable.

[tomtucker]

And van gundy right besides him go on 5 minute rants, that have nothing to do when the game we all are watching......... how the fukk can this be accepted by us, the TV audience ??