2023-24 Running NBA thread

The beauty of having your own team suck (Sell the team, Jody) and seeing the Lakers and Warriors out is that I can be an impartial observer to the rest of the proceedings. Only team I want to see lose is Oklahoma City because Go Sonics. This Pacers team looks fun as hell to watch.

 

It's crazy to think about the fact that TNT has been broadcasting NBA games for 35 years, going back to Skip Caray, Steve Jones, Ron Thulin and Rick Barry with the OG Inside the NBA hosted by Fred Hickman (RIP). As a teenager, it was always a test for this east coast basketball nerd to make it through both ends of a doubleheader plus Hickman.

 

Lakers all fixed now

 

Beverley is a 35 year old on an expiring contract and now he's looking at a lengthy suspension. I wonder if that doesn't end up being the end of his NBA career.

 

USA Network.

 

We got USA in like late '84, just in time for that very weird Vince McMahon talk show they'd air, but missed out when the NBA was on it. But when I watch old Lakers games on YouTube always surprised how many were on USA. Not a classic theme song for their coverage, especially compared to so many iconic ones from that era, but not horrific either.

I really hope TNT keeps it. I loved Roundball Rock as much as anyone but I can watch that on YouTube or Fox Sports college hoops. Marv and the Czar are not walking through that door so while I have as much NBA on NBC nostalgia as anyone, I don't want to lose the Inside the NBA crew. And as great as Barkley is and as annoying as Shaq can be, they really do work best as a foursome and especially if there's no Ernie it's just not going to be the same.

 

Hilarious:

 

The Cancun thing is something I only started hearing this year in regards to the NBA. And it's everywhere. Half of my Instagram reels are Steph, Book and KD welcoming people to the NBA vacation house in Cancun.

I've definitely heard two and barbecue in regards to getting ousted in two games at a college baseball regional. Has Cancun always been a thing?

 

I think it's been a thing the TNT guys have done for years, with the "Gone Fishin'" segment, with the Cancun references getting stronger in recent years. The phrase itself apparently originates in the NBA with Nick Van Exel.

 

It was "interesting" seeing Linda Cohn having NBA analyst Austin Rivers "break down" the Bucks-Pacers elimination game. It wasn't as insightful as it could have been - lets just say that.

 

No Ted Cruz's were harmed in the making of the legend of Cancun [/crossthread]