ESPN does exactly what it looks to do. Entertainment. You think because Chris Mullin is an "NBA analyst" he can tell you who the better team is? Their opinions are the same as ours, just they get the contract and get to go on TV. Half of them don't know what they are talking about.
Yesterday, I forget who it was....but he was talking about how the Celtics were the best team in the East with Perkins in the lineup before the All-Star break, and now they are done because they traded him. (not starting a perkins argument) But obviously Perkins didnt play in those games, and it was a Fail.
It's not like analysts study "analyzing" basketball in college like doctors study anatomy, etc.
They are opinions that get televised for entertainment, and they do just that.
BTW....Hollinger is an idiot. I've written to him 10+ times during the season. When the Heat were on their huge losing streak and the Celtics were in first in the East by 3 games and were the second best record in the league, he had them as the 6th best team. That just frustrates me