Thorpe says Mike and Tommy are not "informed"

[Chris]

It sounds like he didn't call them both out by name, so I am not sure he really meant to lump Mike and Tommy together.

As far as Tommy goes, I agree completely.  He is a total homer, and has lost touch with today's NBA.  I still love him, but he has become a charicature of himself, and while he is entertaining, he would be lucky if half of what he says is accurate.

  Tommy may be a homer, but he hasn't lost touch with today's nba. He probably doesn't know a ton of info on a lot of the non-stars from other teams but most of his comments on what the Celts are doing right/wrong and what they should be doing are pretty much spot on, and at least as astute as what you'll hear on national broadcasts.

While I only agree with you partially on this (but we can agree to disagree on whether Tommy is ussually right about the C's...since that is purely based on opinion), I am not sure how you are disagreeing with me here on what Thorpe said. 

Thorpe never said Tommy doesn't know what is going on with the C's, and he never said he wasn't a good analyst of what is going on.  He said that he is not informed.  And it sounds like you agree that he is not informed on the rest of the league.

Maybe my problem is that I am comparing Tommy with Mike here.  Mike knows EVERYTHING about the current NBA.  I would stake his knowledge against anyone else not on the direct payroll of an NBA team (as in a coach/scout/GM), and I think he would know as much or more than them on current goings on in the NBA. 

Tommy doesn't know much of that stuff at all, and would have trouble knowing more than the average NBA fan about whats going on with any team other than the C's. 

To me, for a guy who is paid to follow this league, I would consider that being uninformed.

Now, as a Celtic fan, I don't think this hinders my enjoyment, because he knows MY team.  However, for someone who is not a Celtics fan, I can certainly see how it would be annoying. 

[winsomme]

It sounds like he didn't call them both out by name, so I am not sure he really meant to lump Mike and Tommy together.

As far as Tommy goes, I agree completely.  He is a total homer, and has lost touch with today's NBA.  I still love him, but he has become a charicature of himself, and while he is entertaining, he would be lucky if half of what he says is accurate.

  Tommy may be a homer, but he hasn't lost touch with today's nba. He probably doesn't know a ton of info on a lot of the non-stars from other teams but most of his comments on what the Celts are doing right/wrong and what they should be doing are pretty much spot on, and at least as astute as what you'll hear on national broadcasts.

While I only agree with you partially on this (but we can agree to disagree on whether Tommy is ussually right about the C's...since that is purely based on opinion), I am not sure how you are disagreeing with me here on what Thorpe said. 

Thorpe never said Tommy doesn't know what is going on with the C's, and he never said he wasn't a good analyst of what is going on.  He said that he is not informed.  And it sounds like you agree that he is not informed on the rest of the league.

Maybe my problem is that I am comparing Tommy with Mike here.  Mike knows EVERYTHING about the current NBA.  I would stake his knowledge against anyone else not on the direct payroll of an NBA team (as in a coach/scout/GM), and I think he would know as much or more than them on current goings on in the NBA. 

Tommy doesn't know much of that stuff at all, and would have trouble knowing more than the average NBA fan about whats going on with any team other than the C's. 

To me, for a guy who is paid to follow this league, I would consider that being uninformed.

Now, as a Celtic fan, I don't think this hinders my enjoyment, because he knows MY team.  However, for someone who is not a Celtics fan, I can certainly see how it would be annoying. 

I don't know, Chris. It seems like Thorpe is 0-2 here.

he doesn't seem to be aware that Tommy knows basketball forwards and backwards from and Xs and Os standpoint, and he also doesn't seem to be aware that Mike G is completely current on players in the NBA.

A prefect team IMO.

[BballTim]

It sounds like he didn't call them both out by name, so I am not sure he really meant to lump Mike and Tommy together.

As far as Tommy goes, I agree completely.  He is a total homer, and has lost touch with today's NBA.  I still love him, but he has become a charicature of himself, and while he is entertaining, he would be lucky if half of what he says is accurate.

  Tommy may be a homer, but he hasn't lost touch with today's nba. He probably doesn't know a ton of info on a lot of the non-stars from other teams but most of his comments on what the Celts are doing right/wrong and what they should be doing are pretty much spot on, and at least as astute as what you'll hear on national broadcasts.

While I only agree with you partially on this (but we can agree to disagree on whether Tommy is ussually right about the C's...since that is purely based on opinion), I am not sure how you are disagreeing with me here on what Thorpe said. 

Thorpe never said Tommy doesn't know what is going on with the C's, and he never said he wasn't a good analyst of what is going on.  He said that he is not informed.  And it sounds like you agree that he is not informed on the rest of the league.

Maybe my problem is that I am comparing Tommy with Mike here.  Mike knows EVERYTHING about the current NBA.  I would stake his knowledge against anyone else not on the direct payroll of an NBA team (as in a coach/scout/GM), and I think he would know as much or more than them on current goings on in the NBA. 

Tommy doesn't know much of that stuff at all, and would have trouble knowing more than the average NBA fan about whats going on with any team other than the C's. 

To me, for a guy who is paid to follow this league, I would consider that being uninformed.

Now, as a Celtic fan, I don't think this hinders my enjoyment, because he knows MY team.  However, for someone who is not a Celtics fan, I can certainly see how it would be annoying. 

  Different semantics I guess. I don't know that I'd consider people with more knowledge of rotation players on other teams but less understanding of the game to be more in touch with today's nba.

[zerophase]

hes just mad he doesnt have fans the way tommy does. mike is not bias @ all.  and we love tommy so he can go screw

he also seems to miss the fact that it's a local market.

If i wanted sterile, "we never criticize anyone or anything because it's mean" commentary I'd watch Miller and albert games.

National games, much like the NFL are boring because everyone and everything is a great play, or a great call, or a great throw because they don't want to offend anyone. It leads to bland, boring calls. **

If im watching MY team i want my announcers to talk about my teams and players. I don't care about the other sides guys, they arent on my team.

Exactly. I love it when Tommy says it's a clear charge and it was really a very clear block haha. There is absolutely nothing wrong with showing your team love.

Plus, I don't have the hear all the bull about Lebron being god, and Kobe being MJ.

[soap07]

I love Tommy now that the team is fantastic. When the team was terrible (especially during THE losing streak), it was unbearable listening to him justify poor play from Gerald, blatant tanking by Doc, etc.

[LooseCannon]

  Different semantics I guess. I don't know that I'd consider people with more knowledge of rotation players on other teams but less understanding of the game to be more in touch with today's nba.

If he were a political journalist who had a great understanding of how politics works but lacked knowledge of people outside of his particular beat (let's say he primarily covers city politics and doesn't pay that much attention to the rest of the state or country), would "not particularly informed" be an adequate description of him?

[BballTim]

  Different semantics I guess. I don't know that I'd consider people with more knowledge of rotation players on other teams but less understanding of the game to be more in touch with today's nba.

If he were a political journalist who had a great understanding of how politics works but lacked knowledge of people outside of his particular beat (let's say he primarily covers city politics and doesn't pay that much attention to the rest of the state or country), would "not particularly informed" be an adequate description of him?

  Kind of, but that's not the exact point I was making. But, ok, two guys report on the bills in congress, the first of which can give you a detailed biography on the congressman who presents the bill (where they're from, how conservative or liberal they are, their voting record and the like) where the second guy can't, but can read their bill and tell you why parts of it are worded in certain ways, what parts of it are meant to appease different voting blocks, and how the bill is likely to look after they compromise with the senate. You could say the second guy is somewhat ignorant or uninformed compared to some of the other reports, but would you say that modern politics have passed him by?

[Chris]

hes just mad he doesnt have fans the way tommy does. mike is not bias @ all.  and we love tommy so he can go screw

he also seems to miss the fact that it's a local market.

If i wanted sterile, "we never criticize anyone or anything because it's mean" commentary I'd watch Miller and albert games.

National games, much like the NFL are boring because everyone and everything is a great play, or a great call, or a great throw because they don't want to offend anyone. It leads to bland, boring calls. **

If im watching MY team i want my announcers to talk about my teams and players. I don't care about the other sides guys, they arent on my team.

Exactly. I love it when Tommy says it's a clear charge and it was really a very clear block haha. There is absolutely nothing wrong with showing your team love.

Plus, I don't have the hear all the bull about Lebron being god, and Kobe being MJ.

My favorite was the other night when he gushed about how Avery Bradley challenged a layup (and picked up the foul), saying that he rotated perfectly, and it was just proof that he was starting to get it.  Unfortunately, if you watch the whole play, the reason he was able to challenge that shot was because he couldn't find his man, and was completely lost in no mans land, but got lucky when the guy came right into where he was floating.

[winsomme]

hes just mad he doesnt have fans the way tommy does. mike is not bias @ all.  and we love tommy so he can go screw

he also seems to miss the fact that it's a local market.

If i wanted sterile, "we never criticize anyone or anything because it's mean" commentary I'd watch Miller and albert games.

National games, much like the NFL are boring because everyone and everything is a great play, or a great call, or a great throw because they don't want to offend anyone. It leads to bland, boring calls. **

If im watching MY team i want my announcers to talk about my teams and players. I don't care about the other sides guys, they arent on my team.

Exactly. I love it when Tommy says it's a clear charge and it was really a very clear block haha. There is absolutely nothing wrong with showing your team love.

Plus, I don't have the hear all the bull about Lebron being god, and Kobe being MJ.

My favorite was the other night when he gushed about how Avery Bradley challenged a layup (and picked up the foul), saying that he rotated perfectly, and it was just proof that he was starting to get it.  Unfortunately, if you watch the whole play, the reason he was able to challenge that shot was because he couldn't find his man, and was completely lost in no mans land, but got lucky when the guy came right into where he was floating.

I think you are going to have a hard time making the case that Tommy doesn't understand the game of basketball or that somehow it's passed him by....

From my perspective, he's usually right on the pulse of the game, and that's what I want out of an announcer...MikeG is too, but he adds in more of the stats angle...

[Chris]

hes just mad he doesnt have fans the way tommy does. mike is not bias @ all.  and we love tommy so he can go screw

he also seems to miss the fact that it's a local market.

If i wanted sterile, "we never criticize anyone or anything because it's mean" commentary I'd watch Miller and albert games.

National games, much like the NFL are boring because everyone and everything is a great play, or a great call, or a great throw because they don't want to offend anyone. It leads to bland, boring calls. **

If im watching MY team i want my announcers to talk about my teams and players. I don't care about the other sides guys, they arent on my team.

Exactly. I love it when Tommy says it's a clear charge and it was really a very clear block haha. There is absolutely nothing wrong with showing your team love.

Plus, I don't have the hear all the bull about Lebron being god, and Kobe being MJ.

My favorite was the other night when he gushed about how Avery Bradley challenged a layup (and picked up the foul), saying that he rotated perfectly, and it was just proof that he was starting to get it.  Unfortunately, if you watch the whole play, the reason he was able to challenge that shot was because he couldn't find his man, and was completely lost in no mans land, but got lucky when the guy came right into where he was floating.

I think you are going to have a hard time making the case that Tommy doesn't understand the game of basketball or that somehow it's passed him by....

From my perspective, he's usually right on the pulse of the game, and that's what I want out of an announcer...MikeG is too, but he adds in more of the stats angle...

I'm not making that case at all.  He knows more basketball than any of us will ever know. 

But I think him being such a homer can blind his judgement at times.

[LooseCannon]

  Different semantics I guess. I don't know that I'd consider people with more knowledge of rotation players on other teams but less understanding of the game to be more in touch with today's nba.

If he were a political journalist who had a great understanding of how politics works but lacked knowledge of people outside of his particular beat (let's say he primarily covers city politics and doesn't pay that much attention to the rest of the state or country), would "not particularly informed" be an adequate description of him?

  Kind of, but that's not the exact point I was making. But, ok, two guys report on the bills in congress, the first of which can give you a detailed biography on the congressman who presents the bill (where they're from, how conservative or liberal they are, their voting record and the like) where the second guy can't, but can read their bill and tell you why parts of it are worded in certain ways, what parts of it are meant to appease different voting blocks, and how the bill is likely to look after they compromise with the senate. You could say the second guy is somewhat ignorant or uninformed compared to some of the other reports, but would you say that modern politics have passed him by?

I think people are saying, what if the second guy could tell you all that in the abstract, but couldn't tell you who everyone is in the Senate and how they are likely to vote? 

Anyways, the initial claim wasn't that basketball has passed Tommy by, just that he is relatively uninformed. Which, since it wasn't specified, may just mean that he's not sufficiently up to speed on important NBA things like the latest news on the Miami Heat.

I propose this test for how informed a commentator is.  How prepared would Tommy and Mike (or another team) be if they had to do call a game on short notice involving two teams they don't normally cover?  If you ranked all commentary teams by that criterion, about where would the Celtics duo rank?

[housecall]

Tommy is informed for 48 minutes...he cares about what is happening on the court that night.Thats good enough for me.

[winsomme]

hes just mad he doesnt have fans the way tommy does. mike is not bias @ all.  and we love tommy so he can go screw

he also seems to miss the fact that it's a local market.

If i wanted sterile, "we never criticize anyone or anything because it's mean" commentary I'd watch Miller and albert games.

National games, much like the NFL are boring because everyone and everything is a great play, or a great call, or a great throw because they don't want to offend anyone. It leads to bland, boring calls. **

If im watching MY team i want my announcers to talk about my teams and players. I don't care about the other sides guys, they arent on my team.

Exactly. I love it when Tommy says it's a clear charge and it was really a very clear block haha. There is absolutely nothing wrong with showing your team love.

Plus, I don't have the hear all the bull about Lebron being god, and Kobe being MJ.

My favorite was the other night when he gushed about how Avery Bradley challenged a layup (and picked up the foul), saying that he rotated perfectly, and it was just proof that he was starting to get it.  Unfortunately, if you watch the whole play, the reason he was able to challenge that shot was because he couldn't find his man, and was completely lost in no mans land, but got lucky when the guy came right into where he was floating.

I think you are going to have a hard time making the case that Tommy doesn't understand the game of basketball or that somehow it's passed him by....

From my perspective, he's usually right on the pulse of the game, and that's what I want out of an announcer...MikeG is too, but he adds in more of the stats angle...

I'm not making that case at all.  He knows more basketball than any of us will ever know. 

But I think him being such a homer can blind his judgement at times.

ah, gotcha...

More likely IMO that he just missed what happened on that play in real time...

[Chris]

hes just mad he doesnt have fans the way tommy does. mike is not bias @ all.  and we love tommy so he can go screw

he also seems to miss the fact that it's a local market.

If i wanted sterile, "we never criticize anyone or anything because it's mean" commentary I'd watch Miller and albert games.

National games, much like the NFL are boring because everyone and everything is a great play, or a great call, or a great throw because they don't want to offend anyone. It leads to bland, boring calls. **

If im watching MY team i want my announcers to talk about my teams and players. I don't care about the other sides guys, they arent on my team.

Exactly. I love it when Tommy says it's a clear charge and it was really a very clear block haha. There is absolutely nothing wrong with showing your team love.

Plus, I don't have the hear all the bull about Lebron being god, and Kobe being MJ.

My favorite was the other night when he gushed about how Avery Bradley challenged a layup (and picked up the foul), saying that he rotated perfectly, and it was just proof that he was starting to get it.  Unfortunately, if you watch the whole play, the reason he was able to challenge that shot was because he couldn't find his man, and was completely lost in no mans land, but got lucky when the guy came right into where he was floating.

I think you are going to have a hard time making the case that Tommy doesn't understand the game of basketball or that somehow it's passed him by....

From my perspective, he's usually right on the pulse of the game, and that's what I want out of an announcer...MikeG is too, but he adds in more of the stats angle...

I'm not making that case at all.  He knows more basketball than any of us will ever know. 

But I think him being such a homer can blind his judgement at times.

ah, gotcha...

More likely IMO that he just missed what happened on that play in real time...

Exactly, and it was just funny, because he jumped to the other extreme, simply because he is a homer (which I love).

Personally, I am not trying to attack Tommy by saying he is uninformed.  Frankly, I don't think he is there to be informed.  He is an entertainer.  The basketball knowledge he has is all a bonus, but its really all about the show.

[Birdbrain]

hes just mad he doesnt have fans the way tommy does. mike is not bias @ all.  and we love tommy so he can go screw

he also seems to miss the fact that it's a local market.

If i wanted sterile, "we never criticize anyone or anything because it's mean" commentary I'd watch Miller and albert games.

National games, much like the NFL are boring because everyone and everything is a great play, or a great call, or a great throw because they don't want to offend anyone. It leads to bland, boring calls. **

If im watching MY team i want my announcers to talk about my teams and players. I don't care about the other sides guys, they arent on my team.

Exactly. I love it when Tommy says it's a clear charge and it was really a very clear block haha. There is absolutely nothing wrong with showing your team love.

Plus, I don't have the hear all the bull about Lebron being god, and Kobe being MJ.

My favorite was the other night when he gushed about how Avery Bradley challenged a layup (and picked up the foul), saying that he rotated perfectly, and it was just proof that he was starting to get it.  Unfortunately, if you watch the whole play, the reason he was able to challenge that shot was because he couldn't find his man, and was completely lost in no mans land, but got lucky when the guy came right into where he was floating.

I went back to verify what I knew to be correct about that play (and another sign of things Tommy sees that most don't) it was 6'8 Derrick Brown he fouled on the play correctly anticipating someone else's guy before they got to the rim.

So Tommy gets a TP

So I suggest you go back and watch that whole play again.