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Local NBA TV Broadcast Crews ranked! Where do Bullard, Worrell and Drexler rank around the league

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Harden2Capela, Jul 22, 2015.

  1. Harden2Capela

    Harden2Capela Member

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    http://www.broadcastshame.com/special-exhibits/


    30. Cleveland Cavaliers
    Play-by-play: Fred McLeod
    Color: Austin Carr
    Sideline: Allie Clifton


    Best compared to having someone slowly bore through your ear with a drill without the eventual relief of death, McLeod and Carr yell like two idiots in the cheap seats who've been drinking since noon.

    Dion Waiters hit three three-pointers in a row in a meaningless game in December, and these fools bellowed like Cleveland had finally won its first NBA title. In fact, almost every Cavs basket is called that way - on average about 40 a night.

    When he’s not braying like a jackass, the aptly name McLeod is smarmy like a local TV weatherman. He’s a strong candidate to go into the Hall next year.

    Carr was an absolute Hall lock. He’s so bad Cleveland leapfrogged San Antonio with it’s two charter members to claim last spot.

    I don’t know what Carr’s first language is, but it’s not English. He has almost as many irritating catchphrases as Dick Vitale. Among the gems:

    “He got him a bird,” when a Cavs player gets an opponent to bite on a pump-fake
    “Mouse in da house,” when a Cavs player is being guarded by a much smaller defender
    “Dere's a breeze in da building,” when an opponent shoots and air ball
    His analysis is even more nonsensical. I’d like to share with you his theory of how to stop Steph Curry, but I stopped transcribing it because the inanity combined with Ebonics made my brain ache.

    Worse, he’s an especially irritating homer, who taunts the opposition from press row. (For examples, check out his Hall of Shame bio). You can't watch a Cavs game without cheering for the other team - just to shut him up.

    Clifton is hot and she makes decent points, but saddled with these two dickheads, she could be naked, and this would still be the worst crew in the league.


    29. San Antonio Spurs
    Play-by-play: Bill Land
    Color: Sean Elliott
    Sideline: Andrew Monaco


    These pricks are the like the two old guys in the balcony on the Muppet Show - heckling, chortling and snorting at their own bad jokes. It’s an insult to high school broadcasts to call this a high school level broadcast.

    Both charter Hall members, Elliott and Land are both embarrassing homers who'll rip the opposition, but have nary a bad word to say about "our guys.”

    With Elliott, any call against the opponent is a good call; any call against the Spurs is not. Opponents “hack and whack;" but the Spurs “play tough D.”

    Land is radio announcer on TV who tells you exactly what you can see, and adds nothing other than homer-ism yowled in his tinny voice.

    The quintessential Land-Elliott call: against New Orleans, with 0.7 seconds left, the Pelicans' Omer Asik tipped a ball thrown for Tim Duncan into his own basket, tying the game. It was clear as day the unfortunate Asik put it into his own net.

    Not once did Land and Elliott acknowledge it was Asik who tipped the ball in the hoop. Throughout OT, they gushed about Duncan's greatness, and what a tribute the basket was to how he never gives up. Duncan is an outstanding player, but he didn’t come within six inches of that ball.

    Each takes a turn trying to jerk-off the Spurs bench. The Spurs are a good team - up there with the all time best. But, listening to these two dickheads you’d think it was a team of Gods playing against guys from the Y. Classic example from Elliott, “Draymond Green has made a name for himself defending against Blake Griffin - but Borris Diaw is a big cut above that.”

    Blake Griffin is a five time all-star and Borris Diaw is a zero time all-star, who was recently named one of the worst starters ever on a championship team, but in Elliott’s world I’m sure that just because the NBA can’t fill the all-star team only with Spurs.

    It doesn’t matter what Monaco says because Land and Elliot are such dickheads, I usually have the TV on mute by the time he comes on.

    You'd think having won five championships this stuff wouldn't play in San Antonio, but perhaps being Houston and Dallas's little brother means the small town chip will always be there.

    -----


    2. Minnesota Timberwolves
    Play-by-play: Dave Benz
    Color: Jim Petersen
    Sideline: Marney Gellner


    No crew works harder to tell you who’s winning and why, and provides hard data to back it up.

    Benz gives you the significance of the action rather than just describing what you can see. He’s the best in the biz at calling who sets-up screens. Sounds arcane. But if you think about it, that’s such a crucial part of the game, and you learn which players are good at it.

    These guys play it straight with no homer-ism at all. The Wolves are such a bad team, that it’s hard to build drama without looking foolish. Benz avoided that, but he also didn’t diminish the games, and kept in mind that Minnesota has a young team that might be good in two years. If I’m a Wolves’ fan - that’s what I want.

    The weaknesses: his voice will always limit him, and he could do a better job setting up calls.

    Petersen is rivaled only by King in breaking-down a game in plain English, ”Focus on (Steph) Curry's chest. That’s the best way to avoid falling for his head and shoulder fakes, which are how he creates so many of his shots.”

    He always uses data very well. His scouting report on Orlando’s Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Elfrid Payton, “Payton attacks the rim - 76% of shots come within 10 feet of basket. And, he’s dishing off that penetration too - averaging 6-and-a-half assists per game, which is 13th best in the league.”

    In that game, he did a halftime analysis that pointed-out:

    both teams had 11 turnovers, but Orlando had scored 15 points off those to 6 by Minnesota.
    Orlando was ahead 9-2 in offensive rebounds, and had scored 13 points off those extra chances
    the Wolves went to the free throw line six more times than Orlando.
    he then added the officials will, “Start to even the calls out.”
    Every NBA analyst should be made to do this.

    Gellner is the weak link. She’s not the best looking sideline prowler, her reports sound like team provided propaganda, and her questions are inane, “Coach, they have a 25-14 lead in rebounding. That must be a concern?”

    No ****, sweetheart. If you’re going to ask flat questions, at least push out your sweater nicely.


    1. Houston Rockets
    Play-by-play: Bill Worrell
    Color: Clyde Drexler and Matt Bullard


    This crew comes closest to having it all: they enhance the pictures, build the drama, provide perspective backed by credibility and stats, and are entertaining.

    Worrell is solid and personable, and the more you listen to him, the more his act grows on you. He definitely knows both teams, and can differentiate between big and routine games. He has that Vin Scully-style “It’s a great day for basketball” optimism, and gives the stakes for both teams.

    He compliments what you can see, “That pass might work against another defender, but you can’t throw it over Kawhi Leonard’s head. His arms are too long.”

    He also has a great feel for the game. When Houston surged out to a 13-point first-quarter lead over San Antonio, “Great start by the Rockets. But, one thing about the NBA, you can make up a big lead if it happens early.”

    That ended-up being prescient when the Spurs rallied. Worrell used stats nicely to point out why, “San Antonio’s bench has 21 points tonight compared to 4 for the Rockets and that’s got the Spurs right back in this game. “

    He’s also not afraid to rip the Rockets, “If (Patrick) Beverly doesn’t start making that shot, it’s going to be a long night.”

    He balances the broadcast in the right way for a local crew, “Well, we say it’s not a flagrant on James (Harden) but you can be sure down on the Dallas broadcast they’re saying it’s flagrant. So, we’ll see what the officials say.”

    Drexler is likable, and has the credibility of a living legend, though he could use a broadcasting course. He’s a homer - mostly when it comes to officials calls; but, because Worrell works so hard to be neutral - it’s not jarring. And, he definitely gives credit to the other team, “The Spurs don’t care who scores. They got five guys who average double figures, and only one guy who averages over thirty minutes a game. Year after year.”

    Bullard is solid, and quantifies as well as any color man:

    “James has shot 500 free throws this year. But, to put that in perspective, Michael Jordan shot 879 in 1987.”
    “The Spurs held Russell Westbrook to 17 points and then they held James to 22. Two guys who average over 30 points a game. Gives you an idea of how good their defense has been in the last month.”
    On road games, he’s the only color guy. On home games, he defers to Drexler rather than trying to talk over him, and it makes the chemistry work.

    Here’s how it all comes together:
    Bullard: “What the Rockets have learned since Tuesday, when the Spurs are overplaying you on the wing - cut back-door. We’ve seen several Rockets go back-door tonight, and it’s lead to about 15 points.”
    Drexler: ”Especially with Duncan out there. He’s a world-class shot blocker.”

    After another Manu Ginobli dive:
    Drexler: “Ginobli is a world-class flopper.”
    Worrell: “It puts the officials in a bad spot. They’re trying to watch out of their peripheral vision because there’s so much going on. But, they see a guy fall, and it’s their instinct to call it.”
    Bullard: “Absolutely. It’s the league head office that should be fining these guys.”

    When a behind-the-back-pass hit Dwight Howard in the numbers, and bounced out of bounds:
    Bullard: “That’s two possessions in a row T. Jones to Dwight Howard doesn’t work out. T. gets those turnovers, but Dwight Howard has got to catch those balls.”
    Drexler: “That was a beautiful behind-the-back pass from T. Should have been an easy two.”
    Worrell: “Although, didn’t John Wooden say, 'the best pass is a completed pass?'”
    Bullard: “Yes. But when it hits you in the numbers, you’ve got to catch it.”

    When Bullard and Drexler started lamenting the lack of physicality under the hoop, and complaining that the refs “need to let them play,” Worrell rightly pointed-out, “That’s not how they referee the game anymore, fellas. The rules have been changed to allow more offense.”

    Compare that ESPN’s Hall of Shame duo of Jackson and Van Gundy who attempt to generate faux controversy too often by talking about anything but the game they are watching.

    Here’s the best compliment I can give a crew: I’m not a Rockets’ fan, and have no ties to the Houston area - but, I look forward to the games they call, and I’m pissed if a so-called national crew is doing the game instead.
     
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  2. GlenDice

    GlenDice Member

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    I can't stand Drexlers blind homerism
     
  3. GlenDice

    GlenDice Member

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    I know homerism is not a word
     
  4. Verbal Christ

    Verbal Christ Member

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    Billy Wo getting love even on the edge of senility, love it!
     
  5. finsraider

    finsraider Member

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    Like clubbin baby seals!
     
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  6. Ns575

    Ns575 Member

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    "and a foul of wapbapbaboopbapbapwap. I mean Kostas Papanikolaou" - Matt Bullard
     
  7. heypartner

    heypartner Contributing Member

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    man he ripped Sean Elliott...haha...easily the worst. Funny story about the Asik tip in.

    Not sure about Rox at #1, but Worrell deserves the love.

    thx for posting OP. I'll come back to this article during the next season to read up on his take about the announcers.
     
  8. coachbadlee

    coachbadlee Member

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    I love it. Naturally, it should put a stop to all the hate they get from actual Rockets fans. But it won't.
     
  9. RedNation

    RedNation Contributing Member

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    Wow :eek:

    Wasn't expecting that. Pretty cool though
     
  10. BHannes2BHonest

    BHannes2BHonest 2 SOLID FOR WEIRD AZZES

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    Hey bull. Lets party!!!
     
  11. Jayzers_100

    Jayzers_100 Member

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    The color/sideline guy for the Mavericks is painful to listen to! The author was spot-on when he said "it just doesn't work when he tries to be a comedian" or something to that effect.
     
  12. 13 in 33

    13 in 33 Member

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    Worrell getting the praise he deserves for being the best in the business. I like the dynamic with our crew though, despite Clyde's homerism "night in and night out."
     
  13. Angkor Wat

    Angkor Wat Member

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    Hell yeah this is awesome. I love our guys. They are not perfect, but it works. I use to hate Bull but even hes grown on me. Drexler is well...Drexler lol and that what makes him enjoyable. It's nice to be #1, would have never guessed it
     
  14. abaker28

    abaker28 Member

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    "Who are you and what have you done with Joey Dorsey"
    "Three point play the Harden way"

    Love his 1 liners! Go Bill.
     
  15. baubo

    baubo Member

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    I may get some crap for this, but the first teams that come to mind when it comes to broadcast teams are the Knicks and the Nets, Knicks especially. I also love the Wolves but thought that's mostly due to Peterson connection. I personally would put the Rockets in that big group in the middle that's kind of just okay.
     
  16. heypartner

    heypartner Contributing Member

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    Wonder how would the Rockets Studio Analysts, Calvin Murphy, Bart Enis and Mo Taylor rank for studio teams, if League Pass showed those shows during games, so the writer could rank them.
     
  17. arno_ed

    arno_ed Contributing Member

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    Seriously?? Our team is way to baises and whiny.

    I do agree the wolves team is great. They are number 1 for me. After JVG ofcourse.
     
  18. mfastx

    mfastx Member
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    I had league pass BB for a couple of years and heard all of the team's broadcasts. The Rockets are certainly close to the top IMO. Not quite sure about #1, but they're definitely top 10.
     
  19. StupidMoniker

    StupidMoniker I lost a bet
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    This guy likes Drexler and hates Van Gundy. No cred.
     
  20. DreamShook

    DreamShook Member

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    Some of the fans take our broadcast team for granted.
     
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