Anyone else enjoy Jeff Van Gundy's commentary last night?

[RebusRankin]

Van Gundy's line of the night was something along the lines of: "Our friends at TNT, what is that?  This is playoffs.  There are no friends.  Their our competition, I wanna do better than Doug Collins..."

Agreed. Also liked his one about those Knick teams being finesse teams.

[fmf2]

I always enjoy his commentary...humorous and informative.

He is a class act

[The Walker Wiggle]

Van Gundy's line of the night was something along the lines of: "Our friends at TNT, what is that?  This is playoffs.  There are no friends.  Their our competition, I wanna do better than Doug Collins..."

Dang, Redz I already gave you a TP for the hour...

[half manbot]

The Breen/Van Gundy/Jackson team has quickly become my favorite announcing team of any sport.  I don't remember the last time I have lol'd at what an announcer purposely said before, but Van Gundy get's me going and Jackson's comment after Garnett dunked over (I think it was) Maxiell "excuse me I have an appointment...with the rim!"  And the putting Van Gundy together with Jackson, who he used to coach, is an interesting chemistry match-up.  Has there ever been another former coach/player combo?

[painter33]

I'll listen to Jackson and Van Gundy if I have to (I don't - I turn off the audio most of the time these days), but Breen is the most biased and negative announcer on television.  He puts everything into a negative context when talking about Boston and tries to build up their opposition the rest of the time.  Look, this is an all-Knicks group with Breen the former announcer for them.  There has never been any love lost between New York and Boston and Breen is the most obvious tip of that iceberg.  At least Jackson was a player and Van Gundy coached, but Breen doesn't know squat about the game (did you listen to his drivel about flagrant fouls?) but keeps talking anyway.  I can't wait until we're done with Breen, hopefully forever.

[Scintan]

This announcing trio has done an excellent job.  Breen has set up the 'controversy' to let Van Gundy and Jackson go at it.  Jackson has brought insight from the player perspective and Van Gundy seems as if he's loving his work for the first time in decades.  They haven't been afraid to critique players, coaches, officials or even the NBA, and it's made for very entertaining listening.

[Triboy16]

I like the van gundy and jackson tandem. They don't agree to everything which is a good thing.

I don't like that announcer guy though.

Some others i like is tommy heinson of course and i think the best announcer i heard was hubie brown. That guy knows alot

[Redz]

This announcing trio has done an excellent job.  Breen has set up the 'controversy' to let Van Gundy and Jackson go at it.  Jackson has brought insight from the player perspective and Van Gundy seems as if he's loving his work for the first time in decades.  They haven't been afraid to critique players, coaches, officials or even the NBA, and it's made for very entertaining listening.

As much as I've occasionally found myself bristling at some of the criticism laid on the Celtics it's generally dead on and fair (from both Van Gundy & Jackson). They both have plenty of credentials to back their opinions. That they have a history as player/coach adds some good anecdotal and chumminess to the broadcast too.  I certainly give more credence to what Mark Jackson has to offer about "When I was playing" than I do Donnie Marshall - or maybe it's that Donnie dips into that well too often (IMO) for a guy who had a mediocre, at best, and short career.

[Gainesville Celtic]

This announcing trio has done an excellent job.  Breen has set up the 'controversy' to let Van Gundy and Jackson go at it.  Jackson has brought insight from the player perspective and Van Gundy seems as if he's loving his work for the first time in decades.  They haven't been afraid to critique players, coaches, officials or even the NBA, and it's made for very entertaining listening.

Breen should "set up the controversy" only if there's a lull --- otherwise SHUT UP. He was just plain wrong on PJ's flagrant and I agree with Painter33 that Breen's just too negative. Everytime there's a hard foul, he starts in with "lets see if it's a flagrant".  I was glad MJax and JVG kept making fun of him last night.

BTW -- after game 7 vs. ATL I saw Jeff Van Gundy in the Logan Airport Fudruckers ... in a sweatsuit. I didn't think it was him b/c i figured he flew in a suit and went whereever rich people go in airports, not the Fudruckers... plus it was like an hour after the game, he must have gone right there.

I didn't want to bother him but wanted to tell him how much I liked their announcing.  He was the opposite of TV --- where he's pretty gregarious. After saying thanks to my compliment it was clear he just wanted to go back to his Sunday NYT.  I asked him if he thought we had a chance, and he said "yeah" then back to his paper. I said thanks.

[footey]

Van Gundy and Jackson are great together. Both very knowledgeable, not afraid to step on each other's toes, and very funny. Mike Breen has become a disappointment. He is actually a very funny guy, used to do sports on Imus a few years ago before he went national, but he seems full of cliches doing these broadcasts.

Walt Frazier was a great player, but he is mediocre (putting it kikdly) as a TV commentator ("he swishes, he dishes...").  Marv and Jackson for the Nets was much better.   

I think the guys missed two things, though:  1. The Celtics' starters were exhausted by the 4th quarter, no wonder they fell apart. 2. Rondo is only a second year player, and should be given a little more slack. They are pretty brutal when he screws up.

[Redz]

I can't believe I'm saying this, but...Was it just me or were they just a wee bit harsh on the Lakers tonight?  Man.  They won the [dang] game, give them a little credit for that.  I'd have thrown a brick through the TV if I was a Lakers fan.

[Steve Weinman]

I can't believe I'm saying this, but...Was it just me or were they just a wee bit harsh on the Lakers tonight?  Man.  They won the [dang] game, give them a little credit for that.  I'd have thrown a brick through the TV if I was a Lakers fan.

JVG killed them all night -- rightfully so in many instances, but you're absolutely right, Redz.  There is no case to be made for any pro-Laker bias tonight, not that I thought there was with that crew prior.  But definitely not tonight.

-sw

[milloy03]

I can't believe I'm saying this, but...Was it just me or were they just a wee bit harsh on the Lakers tonight?  Man.  They won the [dang] game, give them a little credit for that.  I'd have thrown a brick through the TV if I was a Lakers fan.

JVG killed them all night -- rightfully so in many instances, but you're absolutely right, Redz.  There is no case to be made for any pro-Laker bias tonight, not that I thought there was with that crew prior.  But definitely not tonight.

-sw

Were either of you watching the same broadcast as I was, but Mike Breen seemed to be outwardly rooting for the Lakers once again.

[soap07]

Were either of you watching the same broadcast as I was, but Mike Breen seemed to be outwardly rooting for the Lakers once again.

No way. The trio killed the Lakers, went overboard with it, similar to Game 7 against the Hawks. They are usually a great crew, but they barely mentioned the KG dissappearing act in the 4th.

[dark_lord]

van gundy and jackson play off of one another so well.  its very enjoyable to watch, especially since i never like watching the national telecast (i prefer gorman and tommy).  i could do without breen tho.