Simmons tweet about Sean Elliott and Bill Land

[K-State Spur]

There is no way that Sean is worse than Tommy. Sean looks at most individual plays with a spurs bias, but he can also look at the big picture and acknowledge when the spurs are being out-played, out-hustled, or out-smarted. To the best of Tommy's knowledge, this has never happened to a Celtics team. All losses are easily attributed to bad officiating or dirty play by opponents.

I think Portland's team is worse than Sean/Bill as well - every Blazer shot is either a make or a foul that wasn't called. Houston (with Clyde) is at least as biased as Sean.

And, for all the talk of NBATV vs. network, Sean at his absolute worst is not anymore pro-Spurs than Jon Barry was anti-Spurs last year on the ESPN telecast (and I've never accused any other broadcaster of having a slant against any of my teams).

[silverblackfan]

Sean Eliot brings a lot to the table as an announcer. He's a former player good enough for ESPN to hire, but came back to San Antonio because he missed calling Spurs games. He still has a good relationship with a lot of players and knows Pop on a level that other color commentators can't get from interviews.

Bill Land does a good job. He brings a lot to the table and he conveys the emotion of the game at the right spots. When he goes crazy, the Spurs crowd is with him. It's never out of place.

Simmons probably wanted Memphis to win this game so when San Antonio was making all those great plays in the 1st quarter to get the crowd into it, he was disappointed and didn't want to hear "Oh Mama" anymore.

I've been a fan of Land, Eliot and Simmons for a long time, but here I'm taking Land and Eliot. If I have to choose between Bill and Sean or ESPN/TNT, give me the Spurs broadcasters every time.

And they don't have to be neutral AT ALL. ESPN and TNT do, but Bill, Sean, and every other "local" broadcasters are paid by the team. Spurs Sports and Entertainment pays them. So there's no "conflict of interest" in calling the game. They're being PAID to be homers.

And the Heinsohn comments are right on the money. I've watched Celtics games, and you don't learn anything from the commentators. Sean breaks down plays and gives you insight into the players and coaches. While Heinsohn has won championships with Boston, he's much more of a little league parent than Sean. If Sean doesn't like a play, he'll say so and is really quick to point out missed opportunities and even when he's wrong.

Very well put and I fully agree. Give me Bill and Sean for any Spurs game. I think Sean gives a lot of insight on the game plays and points out the good and bad ones with good detail.
Celtic fan hates other teams announcers? Shocker.

[texas_gator]

Game 3 is on ESPN...

IMHO I think that was simmons being simmons (if it's not about boston or boston related teams, he's gonna about it)

[DPG21920]

Most announcers annoy everyone but their own fans.

[easjer]

Elliott was wrong twice before the replay, and said that he made a mistake both times. He and Land praised the Grizzlies throughout the game for their good play, never said anything disrespectful, and gave them credit for keeping it close at the end. When Elliott complained about Duncan's fifth foul because Battier was moving, he said exactly the same thing when Dice drew a charge the next time down.

And I was wrong, I counted two homer calls from Sean in the game, one per half. Some of you guys need to listen to The Glide in Houston or Jeff Wade for Mavs games if you want homer takes.

OMG, yes to all of that. I find Sean to be just about perfect for local commentary. Funny, insightful as a former player who still actively interacts with the team, willing to poke fun at the team, willing to call the team out for bad plays or getting away with bad calls, willing to admit when he is wrong about a call, frequently praising the other teams and players.

And I cannot STAND Houston's team. We watch a number of Rockets games b/c we live here and all Spurs/Rox games are Houston local and it's AWFUL. Clyde is so biased it's not funny and he doesn't have the same interest or interaction with the team Sean does. (the local Reliant Energy commercials with Clyde are funny though)

I appreciate Bill Simmons being annoyed that they had local commentary instead of national/neutral commentary. I don't generally like listening to other team's locals myself.

But to continue to slam Sean/Bill for being good local guys instead of neutral? Made him a dumbass. Everytime he posted something on Twitter, I responded by saying a Boston fan can't say that seriously.

[TE]

A Celtic Fan complaining about homer announcers? I've heard it all now.

[JR3]

Thats what you get when NBATV broadcasts the playoffs. I enjoyed it personally.

[nkdlunch]

only remember 1 homer comment last nite:
"clearly he was inside the circle!! clearly!! (replay shows he wasn't) ok, he was outside, but he was clearly moving!!!"

[rjv]

only remember 1 homer comment last nite:
"clearly he was inside the circle!! clearly!! (replay shows he wasn't) ok, he was outside, but he was clearly moving!!!"

yeah-that was big time homerism.

[alchemist]

Sean is a homer no doubt but on a Tommy Points level? No even close.

all I know is the refs had a sequence last night that cost the Spurs 5 points (no goaltending and a clear charge back-2-back)

[Fpoonsie]

I agree, I live in Canada and we get a heavy dose of Matt Devlin

He screams as if the Raps have won the le, when in reality they have cut their deficit to 15 points

And I agree with a couple of the posters already. Sure, they're homers, but if you wanna get mad, pick a fight with the NBA playoff game tv-schedulers. It isn't as if some higher-up from the league office can quickly give Bill or Sean a ring pre-game and ask them to "take it down a notch" so as to not offend or turn anyone off.

[Trill Clinton]

Bill Land is entertaining, I laugh at him all the time.

Sean Elliott on the other hand.....

[LongtimeSpursFan]

Bill Land and Sean Elliott are awesome as a local announcers. I absolutely love Sean's insight on Spurs players and coaches. Plus, his one-liners are classic. Yeah we may have heard some of them several times but then again after broadcasting Spurs games for five years or so it would be difficult to come up with fresh material. As far as Bill Land he definitely an upgrade over play-by-play predecessors. And how can you not like his well-timed 'Oh Mama' shout outs?

[MannyIsGod]

Being out of state I don't get to hear Bill Lamb and Sean very often so last night was great for me. Sean may be a huge homer, but you can't deny the fact that he's far moe witty and articulate than most NBA announcers so I really enjoy that. I actually got a chance to listen to the Memphis announcers a couple of times through the year on League Pass and I thought they were pretty damn good. I really enjoyed the 2 games I saw them call.

That being said, there are a lot of terrible announcer teams out there who are not just homers but incompetent idiotic homers. The Houston Team and Boston come to mine. Drexler is terrible, but the game I got to see also had the Rockets owner on the telecast and that was pretty much a cue for Drexler to give him a verbal blowjob the entire game.

[ducks]

Sean made like one homer comment in the entire game. Not getting excited when the other team scores does not cons ute being a homer.

sean is a homer

[Seventyniner]

Sean and Bill are homers, but mild ones. Drexler/Murphy in Houston and Heinsohn in Boston are far, far worse.

I'll give props to the Atlanta and Minnesota FOX Sports announcers for being objective. The Minnesota guys were bringing up advanced stats all night, and the Atlanta guys seemed very even-handed to me.

[4>0rings]

Simmons should just be glad that Rose isn't commentating the game.

[baseline bum]

He has never liked the Spurs and is probably still butthurt over Duncan and their sucking for years.

Nah, he was an enormous 05-07 Phoenix Suns fan.

[Spursnlego]

I don't give a heck, Bill and Sean are the best broadcasting team in the NBA IMO.

[ploto]

Pointing out that Boston's are worse does not make Land any better.

[Jimcs50]

"Just muted Grizz-Spurs. Couldn't take it anymore. It was like sitting in the stands w/ 2 overbearing Little League parents."

I find it amusing that Sean still refers to the team as "we".

[VBM]

I always when Land goes into full "IUPUI!!!!!!!" orgasm mode...

I've mocked Sean before, but last night he wasn't too bad (other than the "he's in the circle...oh, well he was moving" comment. During the 3rd quarter he foresaw the Grizz comeback after the Spurs had built a 6 point or so lead...saying they got outhustled and let them hang around like they did in Game 1.

[pawe]

I want to hit my mute button whenever the Heat play in their home court. I cant stand hearing that PA guy screaming CHRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSS BOSH!

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Nah, he was an enormous 05-07 Phoenix Suns fan.

I know he was on the Nash but his dislike goes farther back then that. He has been one of the leading voices on the 'boring Spurs' brigade for a decade.

[VBM]

I know he was on the Nash but his dislike goes farther back then that. He has been one of the leading voices on the 'boring Spurs' brigade for a decade.

He gives Duncan his due though. I'll give him that.