NBA rankings had been the highest on Christmas that they’ve been in 5 years, however within the weeks earlier than, the media and on-line followers had to participate of their annual custom of arguing about why the league’s rankings are down, whether or not it issues, and why it’s brought on by what you — sure you, particularly — don’t like concerning the present state of the sport.
Amidst all that discourse, JJ Redick was requested for his ideas on the rankings decline to begin the season, and used the chance to take a not-so-subtle shot at “Contained in the NBA,” Turner’s longtime NBA flagship pre, submit and halftime program that might be licensed to ESPN subsequent season to proceed its decades-long run.
Here’s what Redick needed to say, through Sam Amick of The Athletic:
“I don’t assume we … have finished an excellent job of storytelling, of celebrating the sport,” Redick mentioned. “If I’m an off-the-cuff fan and also you inform me each time I activate the tv that the product sucks, nicely, I’m not going to look at the product. And that’s actually what has occurred over the past 10 to fifteen years. I don’t know why. It’s not humorous to me.”
Claiming that somebody on TV is saying each time a fan activates an NBA recreation that a) the product sucks and b) that trashing it’s “not humorous” to him is a reasonably thinly veiled shot at “Contained in the NBA,” which is understood for each its irreverence and the way crotchety its major solid — particularly Corridor of Famers Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal — may be about how fashionable basketball is performed, particularly its de-emphasis of submit play and preponderance of three-pointers.
And, to some extent, whether or not this blogger thinks it was a shot doesn’t actually matter, as a result of Barkley clearly did, and fired again throughout Turner’s broadcast of Timberwolves/Celtics on Thursday night time (emphasis mine):
Barkley: ”Hey JJ… He mentioned one thing about we’re the rationale folks ain’t watching this crappy product you bought… yeah, us, like we’re out right here jacking up 100 threes an evening… JJ, you come for the king, you higher not miss. As a result of I can get you, brother. Bear in mind, I bought the Lakers video games. You possibly can’t disguise them flaws they bought. You’re only a lifeless man strolling. They removed Frank Vogel who did an excellent job, they removed Darvin Ham who did an excellent job. You got here on the market considering you had been gonna change issues with that very same ugly woman you went on a date with…
Ernie Johnson, rising more and more frantic as highlights proceed to roll: ”64-51 was your halftime rating as we get again to the highlights. Rudy Gobert!”
Barkley, ignoring him to proceed: ”He (Redick) got here in there considering ‘I could make this factor work.’ The hell you may! You possibly can put some make-up on that pig!
Shaq: *dying of laughter*
Barkley, continued: “The Lakers stink, man. Come on man.”
The funniest half about that is Barkley threatening Redick with damaging commentary… whereas railing about how a lot the Lakers suck. It’s like if the mob got here right into a small household enterprise, smashed up the place, and then mentioned “it is a actual good place right here, it might be a disgrace if any individual wrecked it.” For Barkley, trashing the Lakers and groups that shoot a number of threes is a labor of affection. He’s going to do it whether or not Redick says good issues about his present or not.
Now, there may be an argument available about whether or not the best way “Inside” discusses the league has execs that outweigh the cons. Clearly basketball purists can quibble with its lack of emphasis on X’s and O’s, or say that it does a nasty job explaining the sports activities nuances to followers to make them really feel extra educated concerning the product in a manner just like the NFL.
However in case you’re studying this, you’ve in all probability laughed at an “Contained in the NBA” clip in some unspecified time in the future. Or had a good friend who just isn’t that into basketball ship one to you as a result of they thought it was humorous. There’s some worth for the league in having a present even probably the most informal observer may be entertained by once they put it on, even when whether or not that outweighs any damaging emotions it creates concerning the product is up for debate.
However I’m not going to do this right here, as a result of there isn’t a likelihood I’m going to vary your thoughts, no matter what your opinion on the present is, so making an attempt to take action is as pointless because the rankings discourse that sparked this feud.
The one factor left to look at for now could be whether or not or not Redick — who may solely love basketball greater than he loves being condescending right into a microphone — fires again at Barkley after the Lakers end their recreation towards the Blazers, or decides to let this beef fizzle out. We’ll replace this submit if he does.
Replace, Friday Jan. 3: Redick didn’t take the bait, saying merely “actually don’t care” when requested about what Barkley needed to say. So it seems like this feud could also be over… for now.
