2013-2014 NBA Thread - IND @ WAS and OKC @ LAC on ESPN

[dmbrhs]

Will not tolerate any Doris Burke slander. She's an exceptional analyst who knows what she's talking about.

This. She's great.

 

[victor page]

Magic done as an analyst. Thank god.

 

[mjshoefanatic]

Eric Gordon>Harden

maybe on 2k14

not even
harden is god mode on 2k

EJ can hit everything on Pro

 

[jpzx]

A poster on here who spent some time working with the T'Wolves confirmed that Parsons was a big partier as well.

Happy that Magic is done on ESPN/ABC. As good as the guy was at his natural calling, he has fourth-grade level basketball takes which was strange, because he looked like he would fascinate the hell out of himself when he was in the middle of one of his own opinions.

 

[pmatic]

I'm watching the replay of this mornings Rockets-Pacers game, and Danny Granger looks horrible out there.

 

[trynafeelmink]

? how in the hell did the nets manage to move Gerald wallace and his contract 10 + a year for three more years?

 

[coldcity]

I'm watching the replay of this mornings Rockets-Pacers game, and Danny Granger looks horrible out there.

dude was turtle slow vs the bulls

 

[Johnny_Cakes]

http://deadspin.com/sources-magic-j...source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

Sources: Magic Johnson Left ESPN Because Of Bill Simmons

Magic Johnson Is Leaving ESPN

So, why did Magic make his sudden announcement that he's leaving ESPN, less than three weeks before the NBA season begins? An announcement so sudden that the newest addition to NBA Countdown, Doris Burke, appeared to have had no idea it was going down?

ESPN sources tell us that Johnson's departure was the result of an old-fashioned power war, with one very clear winner: Bill Simmons. "It's Simmons's show now," said one source.

Magic apparently was not at all happy when ESPN told his buddy Michael Wilbon that his role on NBA Countdown would be diminished. He was "booted," according to one source. Another ESPN insider also said that Magic was "privately seething over the Wilbon thing and in general did not like that Simmons held all the power and influence." Magic didn't necessarily need the power, our sources explained; he just didn't feel like kowtowing to Simmons when he's, well, Magic Johnson.

"The bottom line is they turned that show over to Simmons," said our source. "That's why Doug Collins got hired and why Wilbon was out."

And that's a very large part of why Johnson decided to bolt the show at the 11th hour. ESPN announced the news this afternoon and said that Johnson informed the network of his decision today. Johnson said in a statement he was leaving "due to the nature of my schedule and other commitments, I don't feel confident that I can continue to devote the time needed to thrive in my role."

Now, the show belongs entirely to Simmons. He's losing star power with Magic Johnson's departure, but he's not necessarily losing a key component of a studio show that had a much-improved but still uneven 2012-2013 season. ESPN said it's still "determining our NBA commentator roles for the upcoming season." Simmons will be able to get a proper host in for the show. He'll be able to shape it however he wants.

Such is his power now at ESPN. "The shadow president," a source called him.

 

[cashbanks]

is Bill really the Don behind the scenes like this ?

 

[krazy88s]

? how in the hell did the nets manage to move Gerald wallace and his contract 10 + a year for three more years?

This is the NBA.

I remember folks saying the Nets will never be able to move it and it's a huge mistake. I just sat back and laughed. That contract later became KG,PP, and Jet

 

[senorroboto2k5]

I don't feel confident that I can continue to devote the time needed to thrive in my role."

I love Magic for everything that he does... except analyzing basketball.

Maybe someone as great as Magic shouldn't need to feel minimized, especially by a columnist who never played the sport. But maybe Simmons can get some enjoyable analysts now.

Some of you might not like Simmons but his whole style has moved the show closer to TNT's style... more personal opinion and tongue in cheek comments, less "politically correct" statements and reading off a teleprompter like the rest of those cardboard cutouts.

 

[do work son]

i haven't been this excited for a season since tmac came to houston

 

[coldcity]

is Bill really the Don behind the scenes like this ?

fam got the Juice...RIGHT when his fav team wont be worth $%^7 anymore

 

[licensed to ball]

Magic Johnson leaving ESPN?

Spoiler

[Magic voice] NBA Countdown is Back!!! [/Magic voice]

 

[certifiedflyboi23]

What happened to Bill Walker, isn't he NT's fav?

 

[johnnyredstorm]

Skywalker

 

[addict4sneakers]

Meh

TNT >>> whoever espn has to offer

 

[Johnny_Cakes]

**** Bill Simmons. Hate that chump.

 

[Bert.]

So this season we will see Blake Griffin emerge as a top 5 player and Eric Gordon emerge as a top 15/10 player? Cant wait

Don't forget Blake is winning MVP

 

[flyerthandelta]

Bill Simmons a **** for that one cant stand that mf!

 

[kevin cleveland]

So this season we will see Blake Griffin emerge as a top 5 player and Eric Gordon emerge as a top 15/10 player? Cant wait

Looks like I returned to the basketball world at the exact wrong time.

 

[trynafeelmink]

Bill simmons is decent at best but that man damn sure isn't important enough to let him start picking and choosing who should be on staff. Wilbon is def better than him

 

[kal-el-8]

Bill Simmons a **** for that one cant stand that mf!

Bill simmons is bad on NBA countdown, but he's pretty good on grantland. IMO at least.

 

[johnnyredstorm]

Simmons isn't even entertaining. As a writer, I respect what he's done, how he's apparently now the captain of ESPN's lousy basketball coverage, but meh, he makes me sigh just as often as I laugh. Won't front though, listening to Magic bothered me. Dude would take 20 minutes to get his 15 second point across.

 

[big j 33]

Wilbon doesn't do anything different than any other ESPN guy, he's far more replaceable.. Same with Magic. Get another legend in there to spout nonsense and you'll never notice Magic is gone.

Like him or hate him, Simmons is different and has a style behind him. Give me the choice between sticking with Simmons or playing it safer with generic ESPN talking heads and I go with Bill.