So ESPN gets rid of Magic, Wilbon and replaces them with Doug Collins and Sage Steele? I tried watching the show tonite but I almost fell asleep. If ESPN thought by giving Bill Simmons more control it would boost ratings, then somebody needs to get fired asap. You fire Magic for this crap? That show is atrocious. If you fire a HOF player the LEAST thing you can do is bring in someone with a little basketball credibility. Nobody on that show outside of Jalen has any good insight basketball wise. Simmons is a joke lol
I don't understand why Magic was fired. He was actually good, even if he was biased towards the Lakers. Simmons looks like a person who is just not good on tv.
Sorry, disagree. Magic stammering around and Wilbon doing his "everybody look at me and realize that I'm one of those reporters who's cool with the players" schtick wore me out.
He wasn't fired, he opted not to come back this year, in part due to his disdain for Wilbon's dismissal and Simmons' increased control of the show. Although Magic provided little insight (it just seemed like he believed in every player), he definitely brought charisma and entertainment to the show. Countdown just isn't the same anymore (I actually liked Wilbon, in spite of his fallacies). It was and never will be as good as TNT's crew, but it was at least watchable last year. This year.. not so much. Jalen and Simmons pretty much just regurgitate their podcasts now..
It is better than Inside the NBA. Sure Inside is more entertaining but their analysis of the game outside of 1 out of every 5 Barkley rants is horrible. Yesterday Howard dominates in the post and Shaq still spent the entire break trashing him anyway.
QFT. I wouldn't say it is better but Countdown provides better analysis while Inside the NBA is just more amusing.
Not sure what show the OP and others clamoring for Magic Johnson were, were watching last season but Magic was even worse than Wilbon and was the weakest link on the show. Who gives two $hits about charisma and enthusiasm/entertainment if one can't provide proper analysis or at least be entertaining(ie Barkely/Shaq).
i actually like sage steele...went to my alma mater, IU. however, she has no business on an NBA pregame show. stick to highlights. I want people who can give valid insight on NBA teams. Collins can provide that. Yeah, he's old, and boring, but he can be balanced out with the right people. I'm kind of iffy on Simmons. I like him a lot, but what really makes him different than any other knowledgable poster on CF? Get Sage off the show ASAP though.
Did he really? Wasn't Shaq saying Dwight should get 25-15 or 30-15 every time. He always says Dwight should average that and Dwight actually DID that last night lol.
Shaq ruined the dynamic of TNT.. if they were going to add someone Webber fit in so much better. Shaq is like the ball stopper of the TNT offense while the other 3 feed off each other.
