unless you are this team! If I had to choose to not watch the team play or listen to these guys, I would rather not watch the game.
I have to agree to disagree. analyzing games should require some skill at pronouncing players names and staying focused. I've wanted to see Rice replaced for years now. I lobbied for the organization to make a run at Tas Melas before he joined NBA tv. The job requires a talent for detail and Rice would be fine in Michael Holton's job but I think he's lacking broadcasting skills.
Wow. I couldn't disagree more. Rice makes the game fun to listen to. When it's all intense, it's good to have a guy who knows his stuff and can lighten the mood a little bit. He's a really good analyst. I'm sorry you don't get to enjoy it.
I know he's popular with most fans. If I can watch a game I mute Mike and Mike and listen to Wheels. Now Wheels is my kind of broadcaster. I enjoy every game. I've accepted that Rice and his history here are not going away, I laugh at him pretty often and always credit his knowledge of the game but not his skills with a microphone.
He mentioned the upcoming Pacers game, he didn't call them the Pacers. I'm curious if you have a chance to watch other teams local broadcasts? I've said it before and I'll say it again.....go watch. I'll tell you Mike and Mike are in the top 5 of league announcers as a tandem. EASILY!
He's also the one guy in Blazers Broadcasting we could convince to call Nic Batum "The French Tickler" on-air. Get it done, HCP!
Who cares if he can pronounce the players names. That's what make him enjoyable and fun to watch. The fans he's talking to can't pronounce their names either. He's the kind of guy you would want to either be sitting on the bar stool next to you or on the couch watching the game with. The NBA is FULL of boring, cookie cutter, vanilla color analysts. Like I said go watch Detroit, Memphis, Utah etc etc........I could keep naming boring, put you to sleep announcers if you'd like.
I don't mind their play by play guy, but Harping is warm vanilla ice cream topped off with Saltine crackers. Sent from my Baller-Ass 5.5" iPhone 6+......... FAMS
People may not realize how well respected Rice is. Doesn't matter what city we are in, but refs, other announcers, coaches and GMs always go out of their way to come over and chat with him. And he prepares for games like no other I've seen. He knows basketball! Sent from my Baller-Ass 5.5" iPhone 6+......... FAMS
Rice makes me laugh. I'll give him that. I don't listen to announcers for other teams generally but I have listened to the Jazz announcers and I think they are pretty good. I like Barrett. For the record, there are a lot of guys calling games even for NBA TV that I don't care for. For me Marv Albert and formerly Steve Kerr were my favorites. As for pronouncing names, that's just something I think is part of the job description and game prep. I mentioned before that I do respect Rice's knowledge of the game, just not his microphone work. I love Casey's Holdahl's writing but also don't care for his microphone skills. All the years I listened to Rice and Casey on Casey's old podcast I would just shake my head and wonder why the Blazers didn't just give Orlando Williams the job
Everybody has the right to their own opinion, but I would love for you to be able to watch a Bucks game and a Denver game and get back to me. What makes Coach Rice so valuable is his quirkiness and mind set. He knows the Xs and Os back and forth, but its the little cracks and jokes that make him special. Blazer fans are very lucky.
That unto itself goes to show you how much he cares for the game. Ref come up and talk to him all the time. They couldn't tell you who the other teams guys are, yet they love The Wild One.
I appreciate the insights HCP. You know a lot more than I'll ever know about Rice and his stature in the NBA. My views are just those of a listener. I long go accepted that Rice is ingrained in the Blazers organization and I don't have serious issues with him.He does make me laugh.
