Nah, not even there. He knows the game, but it just doesn't come across good on the screen. I don't know what it is.
I like how Barrett talks, as far as TV announcers go, his voice is nicer to listen to. He's at least smooth with his delivery, doesn't stumble often over what he wants to say. I agree though, he could 'root' for the Blazers a bit more >.> Rice cracks me up, the wife and I assume he's just 'pickled' for most of his waking day and when he gets all confused with what he wants to say or can't appear to do 2 + 2 that it's just the booze talking. Wheels is his own beast and every TNT game the TV is muted and Wheels is on the Radio. He's not Shonz, but none was ever going to be Shonz and that's a good thing. He's animated and I love it when they use HIS commentary for top-play videos on NBA.com
Holton really knows his stuff, and I appreciate his quality analysis. He's just not a good TV "personality". Remember the half time show they had him on when they first hired him? How painful and forced was that? I would certainly give him Harvey's gig and see how he does on the radio.
I think that's a good idea. Let Harvey do his schtick for a few minutes at a time on TV. Let Holton provide some basketball insight to those of us who are visually impared due to the virulent Comsuck outbreak.
I just realized this is Wheeler's 15th season with the Blazers. I've been listening to him longer than I listened to Schonley (8 years).
I love Barrett and Rice, they have a terrific "smart cop - dumb cop" thing going on that keeps me rolling. 'Tone has come a LONG way since he started, and I think his schtick fits well alongside Wheels. I'll be mad if they make any changes to our on-air talent. Now, the truck, that's a different story. Those poor people, having to sit in a truck full of kielbasa-and-refried-bean farts all game long...
I love a Rice and Barrett, the way they play off each other, and how Rice sounds like your drunk uncle until it comes time to draw up the last play of the game and he's always on the money with the analysis and prediction. And you realize he's way smarter than his schtick.
It amazes me that some can think our announcers suck, but that somehow Leonard is going to "break out."
I like Mike Rice too, he's one of the few commentators that actually says intelligent things about the game. He has a great eye for the game and sees things that many don't.
Yeah, but he shouldn't even say that after Greg Oden went down with his 5th knee injury. He started that line after we got Oden and thought we were headed for a dynasty.
I like Mike Barrett a lot more on shows like Talkin' Ball. I can't stand him on game telecasts. I used to really like Mike Rice a lot, but over the past couple of seasons, that has waned a bit as well.....but he still makes me laugh each game and has some interesting facts throughout. Wheels is fine, even Antonio isn't bad as a color man (see what I did there?) on the radio. I actually kinda miss the awkward and hilarious halftime shows with Tony Luftman and Michael Holton. EL CHACHO, anyone?
This is the call from Wheels about Dorell's game winner. https://soundcloud.com/portlandtrailblazers/dorrell-wright-three-for-the He's the best in the business when something amazing happens. I love hearing his call on a game winner because his emotions are so raw. You can tell he loves the team.
