ESPN's NBA Show

Nick Kaufman

Nick Kaufman

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Aug 2, 2003
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A Lost Time
I dunno if this is the place to comment on ESPN's NBA show, but the show seems far worse than last year and it wasn't like it was great back then. May be passable, may be above average if you were charitable. But at least you had the sense that those guys liked each other.

That doesn't seems to be the case with this year's permuation. The atmosphere seems cerebral. Bill Simmons goes on long rants or gets lost in conversation with Jalen Rose making the other two feel like outcasts. Collins seems visibly uncomfortable there. He looks as he's probably thinking why he fucked up so much with his coaching career that he has to end up lectured by an obvious inferior to him. Plus, I am always wondering what kind of shit Simmons has written against Collins in the past. I ve found a couple of morcels, but there has to be more.
 
B

Brickowski

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Feb 15, 2011
3,755
I watch The Replacements on NBA TV whenever I can. The former Basketball Jones guys (three Canadians and an Aussie) are more entertaining and insightful than anything on ESPN or TNT.
 
Kliq

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
22,970
You either like Simmons or you don't. I'm a huge fan of his, and I get all of his jokes and references because I have been following him for a while. I can totally understand if people couldn't stand him or wondered how he could have possibly be on television. If you don't like Bill, then there is a good chance you won't like the show.
 
Nick Kaufman

Nick Kaufman

protector of human kind from spoilers
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 2, 2003
13,451
A Lost Time
I don't have an issue with Simmons. I just find the chemistry among the presenters subpar.
 
Kliq

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
22,970
Well, it is still early in the season. Sage Steele and Collins are new to working with Bill and Jalen, who are both still relatively new to TV anyways. Chemistry will most likely improve at least a little bit once they get some more time.
 
Blacken

Blacken

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Jul 24, 2007
12,152
Who said anything about Simmons's writing? I like Simmons's writing when it comes to basketball (though his other stuff is hit or miss, mostly miss). I really liked Simmons's video series with Jalen, both during the preseason and the First Birdmester recap. But that panel is just no good. Collins looks like he wants to strangle Simmons, and for good reason, but he doesn't back up that burgeoning homicidal look with much more than bland platitudes. Steele doesn't seem to want to be there at all.
 
Kliq

Kliq

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SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
22,970
I didn't really bring up his writing, just him in general. But yeah, if you didn't read Simmons you probably wouldn't understand why he brings up Fast Break every 20 minutes and why he loves Oscar Gamble's afro so much. To the average viewer, Simmons might sound like a schitzophrenic who never makes any sense.
 
If they wanted to do it right, they would give Bill and Jalen their own show, like an afternoon spot on ESPN 2 during basketball season. ESPN has 15,000 different NFL shows that all talk about the same thing, why not have a fun NBA show?
 
K

knucklecup

hi, I'm a cuckold
Jun 26, 2006
4,235
Chicago, IL
In comparison to last year, ESPN has made major strides in my opinion.  Wilbon was completely uninteresting and out of his element covering the NBA.  Magic Johnson is arguably one of the biggest blowhards going.  This year, I really enjoy Jalen and Simmons' camaraderie and think Collins' less sarcastic, more straight to the point mentality fits in well; she catches a lot of flak but I really like Doris Burke too.
 
TNT, of course, is far superior.  They struck gold with Barkley.
 
kenneycb

kenneycb

Hates Goose Island Beer; Loves Backdoor Play
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Dec 2, 2006
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Tuukka's refugee camp
Kliq said:
I didn't really bring up his writing, just him in general. But yeah, if you didn't read Simmons you probably wouldn't understand why he brings up Fast Break every 20 minutes and why he loves Oscar Gamble's afro so much. To the average viewer, Simmons might sound like a schitzophrenic who never makes any sense.
 
If they wanted to do it right, they would give Bill and Jalen their own show, like an afternoon spot on ESPN 2 during basketball season. ESPN has 15,000 different NFL shows that all talk about the same thing, why not have a fun NBA show?
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Because Simmons doesn't want to do it. IIRC he barely came back for this year and that was after significant scheduling concessions from ESPN.
 
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