List of "analysts" you wish weren't.

[Andrew]

I thought it would be fun to make lists of NBA analysts you thought shouldn't be and why...

1)Stephen A. Smith-he is just too annoying.
2)Bill Walton-flip flops more than flip flops.
3)Jim Rome-though not a NBA analyst, I wanna punch him in this throat. Man, knows nothing about sports.
4)Mark Jackson-you weren't anything special when you played and still aren't.
5)Scoop Jackson-man thinks he knows all.
6)Swin Cash-you don't play in the NBA, analyze you're sports league.
7)Marc Stein-small, pudgy man that thinks he is the only one than can "power rank" teams.

As you can tell there are many analysts I can't stand, I think all analysts should be ex-coaches and players, so they know what they are talking about.

What's your list?

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Bucher
Hollinger
Barkley

In that order.

 

[FArting]

Greg Anthony
Mark Jackson
Bill Walton

No particular order.

 

[BeeBeard]

Why is John Hollinger not on this list??

He shamelessly overstates the importance of the made-up statistic that he created, simply to be some contrarian nutjob counterpoint to Stein and the others.

edit: Ah, I see, you've got mostly a list of TV guys. Hollinger is more of an internet antagonist who works for ESPN.com

 

[Chaplin]

Mark Stein? You mean the ONLY ESPN analyst that like the Suns?

Hollinger and Stephen A. Smith are far and away the worst.

As for Swin Cash, basketball is basketball, no need to chastise her simply because she's a woman.

JA Adande is an awful Laker-loving analyst as well.

 

[Covert Rain]

Top 3.

Stephen A. Smith. - the guy is a tool
Greg Anthony - he was a punk as a player and is an ass as a commentator.
Bill Walton - The guy is like a monkey in a banana truck. He gets overwhelmed with too much, gets confused and doesn't know where to start let alone finish.

 

[French Fries]

Greg Anthony
Mark Jackson
Bill Walton

No particular order.

 

[tobiazz]

As for Swin Cash, basketball is basketball, no need to chastise her simply because she's a woman.

It's not because she's a woman, it's because she's not an NBA player. I want analysts that have experience in the same league they are talking about. Even having some Euro analyst would be odd, even though he would be closer to an NBA player. I want to hear insight from guys that are not too far removed from their playing days in the NBA. I should mention that I am refering to in-game analysts. I don't have to listen to the pre- and post-game idiots so I don't care whom they are.

The only somewhat gender-based gripe I have is that ABC/ESPN is choosing women with high, grating voices which is very annoying. You want speakers with low or soft voices. For example, most of the sideline reporters like Cheryl Miller and Michelle Tafoya are easy enough on the ears. The women they have doing whole games and in the studio happen to be really annoying. I don't need to hear a woman that sounds like a bat echo locating or a guy like Stephen A. that sounds like he has a megaphone stuck in his throat.

 

[Chaplin]

It's not because she's a woman, it's because she's not an NBA player. I want analysts that have experience in the same league they are talking about. Even having some Euro analyst would be odd, even though he would be closer to an NBA player. I want to hear insight from guys that are not too far removed from their playing days in the NBA. I should mention that I am refering to in-game analysts. I don't have to listen to the pre- and post-game idiots so I don't care whom they are.

I don't remember Ernie Johnson playing professional basketball.

 

[tobiazz]

I don't remember Ernie Johnson playing professional basketball.

Come on now, he doesn't do much analysis. He is basically a moderator for Chuck, Kenny et. al. Hosts and announcers rarely have league experience because they need to be trained in broadcasting. I even explicitly stated that I don't care about the studio analysts that much; I don't like color analysts that don't have experience coaching or playing in the NBA.

 

[KloD]

There's a few on the board, do they count?

 

[sublimineezy]

greg popovich

 

[Chaplin]

Come on now, he doesn't do much analysis. He is basically a moderator for Chuck, Kenny et. al. Hosts and announcers rarely have league experience because they need to be trained in broadcasting. I even explicitly stated that I don't care about the studio analysts that much; I don't like color analysts that don't have experience coaching or playing in the NBA.

So does that mean you don't like Kenny Smith? I think he's a pretty decent analyst--even though he does all his stuff in the studio.

 

[TJ]

Hollinger's "PER ratings" make him the worst analyst. Just go take a look at some of them.

But Walton, Stephen A Smith, and Skip Bayless simply kill me

Honorable mention: Jim Rome. I love his show, but he knows dick about NBA

 

[jagu]

Stephen A. Smith is too damn loud.
Bill Walton thinks he is Larry Bird
Jim Rome is pissed off about everything because he doesnt know what anything means.

 

[Andrew]

The only NBA related show I make an effort to watch is Inside the NBA on TNT because Chuck and Kenny make me laugh.

 

[tobiazz]

So does that mean you don't like Kenny Smith? I think he's a pretty decent analyst--even though he does all his stuff in the studio.

I think Kenny Smith is great. Can you clarify your question? I don't think anything I wrote implies that I should not like Kenny Smith.

 

[passenger]

The only NBA related show I make an effort to watch is Inside the NBA on TNT because Chuck and Kenny make me laugh.

I watch Inside The Nba for the entertainment and I think Doug Collins,Steve Kerr,Hubie Brown and Kevin Harlan are all pretty good.(Well,despite not liking Kerr's GM decisions,I think he's one of the best commentator)

I can't stand Stephen A Smith,noisy,ignorant.Walton is in contradiction with himself.

 

[nowagimp]

I gotta disagree on scoop jackson, he a good writer with some good info, alot of players talk to scoop.

The bad:

Hollinger is the worst, basketball knowledge wise. He a statistical moron, and thats his strength, apparently. Stephen A smith is arrogant, he's a trash talking tele-journalist and if youre going to talk the trash, you'd better deliver, and he doesnt. Barkley is entertaining, but offers very little knowledgewise, stealing a paycheck, just like his days in houston as a player. Greg Anthony(a steve Nash hater who ate alot of nash supplied crow) thinks he was a better player than steve nash I suspect, who hired that guy and why? Bill Walton, trying to be the dick vitale of the NBA, and it doesnt work, at all. Buscher, makes me want to turn down the volume, not much coming out of his mouth worth listening to, strength is trade rumours and the deadline is past.


Former players and coaches that I think are OK to good:

Hubie Brown good
Reggie Miller good
Kenny Smith good to very good
Doug Collins good to very good
Jeff Van Gundy good
Jalen Rose good to very good
Marc Jackson OK
Mike Fratello(he's OK but a little too whiny, OK-)

generally it seems like Kenny Doug and Jalen do more homework/prep than the others.


local:
Eddie Johnson(local) is my favorite, I like his style talking about players strengths and weaknesses, as well as strategies. I dont dislike Majerle(loved him as a player), but he seems disinterested, probably would rather be at his grill with a brew.

 

[TucsonDevil]

Greg Anthony is #1... he laps the field in incompetence. He is the living definition of Jackass.

Stephen A. Smith. He is too in love with his 'persona', rather than concentrating on making well thought out opinions or observations.

John Hollinger. I can't understand why ESPN.com uses him... he should be handing stats to the other guys for research - not being used as an expert.

Charles Barkley. I enjoy his humor at times and some of his observations are 50% accurate and comprehendable, however he holds too many grudges that cloud his judgment.

 

[BeeBeard]

To Hollinger's credit, he has given the Suns a 96.2% chance of making the playoffs.

To his discredit, he still has the Rockets with a 97.4% chance of making the playoffs, even with Yao's injury:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/playoffodds

His statistical voodoo just never accounts for the kinds of things that actually impact basketball games, and yet he has a forum for it in espn.com

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

I dont know how you guys can not mention Bucher. He represents everything wrong with professionals who are in the inner circle of rumors.

 

[Rab]

Greg Anthony would be numero uno on my list.

Others would include:

Stephen A. Smith
Bill Walton
John Hollinger (he brings zero substance to basketball reality)
Mike Breen
Ric Bucher
Marc Stein

Guys who I like hearing from

Doug Collins
Hubie Brown
Jalen Rose

 

[passenger]

Greg Anthony is #1... he laps the field in incompetence. He is the living definition of Jackass.

Stephen A. Smith. He is too in love with his 'persona', rather than concentrating on making well thought out opinions or observations.

John Hollinger. I can't understand why ESPN.com uses him... he should be handing stats to the other guys for research - not being used as an expert.

Charles Barkley. I enjoy his humor at times and some of his observations are 50% accurate and comprehendable, however he holds too many grudges that cloud his judgment.

Very well said my friend

 

[arwillan]

rob fukuzaki. LA area analyst, the guy kills me. He's more of a lakers homer than every lakers troll we've ever had here. same for norm nixon, that guy is a real idiot. i know he played in the nba, but still...totally clueless.


guys i like:

barkley
hubie brown
reggie miller (probably my favorite)
E.J/Kenny (inside the nba as a whole is cool)