Weird basketball commentator clichés

[eebmg]

Hearing the Doris Burke (I think it's her) talk about a players' "comportment". I didn't mind it the first 50 times I heard her say it, but had enough by 51...

Yep, Doris. But not to worry, now that she moved out of the slums of WCBB into NBA basketball coverage, I doubt she will need to use the word "comportment" again.

 

[oldude]

Yep, Doris. But not to worry, now that she moved out of the slums of WCBB into NBA basketball coverage, I doubt she will need to use the word "comportment" again.

Sadly, not true. I was watching an NBA game a few days ago. I can’t even remember who was playing, and Doris chimed in about a player’s comportment. I felt like someone was dragging their finger nails across a blackboard.

 

[eebmg]

Sadly, not true. I was watching an NBA game a few days ago. I can’t even remember who was playing, and Doris chimed in about a player’s comportment. I felt like someone was dragging their finger nails across a blackboard.

Ok. There is an actual NBA player that has "comportment"

 

[JordyG]

I wish the Nets could have gotten Kemba but I am happy he is in an environment where he can thrive.

Kyrie is a mess just waiting to metastasize. As losses begins to outnumber wins, he will become a bigger ball hog (because he is good enough to get a few hero moments) leading to more losses. In parallel, his 'quirky' personality will turn morose. And the plucky hard working ball moving, hard cutting pass first Atkinson Nets will disintegrate. Only if Durant comes back at full strength will this cycle reverse.

...and there's hardly any guarantee of that at all. Past is prologue with this guy, and having another superstar with him on his last two teams proved disastrous. It seems to me it isn't necessarily that he's a ball hog, although his game is predicated on the dribble. I just don't think he understands that sharing the glory and the ball at high leverage moments takes the pressure off of him and makes the team better. He's already stated that now he's beginning to understand what LeBron went through on that Cleveland team, and that leading from the front isn't so easy. He's also hinted that young players don't take advice very well. Just like him.

 

[eebmg]

...and there's hardly any guarantee of that at all. Past is prologue with this guy, and having another superstar with him on his last two teams proved disastrous. It seems to me it isn't necessarily that he's a ball hog, although his game is predicated on the dribble. I just don't think he understands that sharing the glory and the ball at high leverage moments takes the pressure off of him and makes the team better. He's already stated that now he's beginning to understand what LeBron went through on that Cleveland team, and that leading from the front isn't so easy. He's also hinted that young players don't take advice very well. Just like him.

Not sure I understand? When Kyrie is not the best player like with Lebron on the Cavs, his "ball hogging" tendencies were kept under control and they had alot of success. When he wanted his own team (Celtics) and felt he was technically and emotionally the best player, that is when things went Kablooie.

If Durant comes back healthy (big big if), I think they can coexist and thrive


It is so weird watching him every game. It is just painful to watch him go 1-3 so many times with his team mates cleared out. Yes, he makes alot of tough shots and some of his drives are spectacular but that to me is ugly basketball. Also, I think he is getting more and more of his drives stuffed at the rim lately.

 

[Aluminny69]

Trivia question, who said "Twice on the pipes," and what does it mean?

 

[oldude]

Trivia question, who said "Twice on the pipes," and what does it mean?

That was a lyric from the song Knock Three Times by Tony Orlando and Dawn. In the song it refers to a rejection by a woman. The expression was adopted by Doris Burke and, quite frankly, whenever she uses it I don’t have a clue what she means.

 

[eebmg]

Trivia question, who said "Twice on the pipes," and what does it mean?

Part of the song " Knock Three Times"

"ain't going to show"

One of the few songs I remember the lyrics clearly.

 

[eebmg]

That was a lyric from the song Knock Three Times by Tony Orlando and Dawn. In the song it refers to a rejection by a woman. The expression was adopted by Doris Burke and, quite frankly, whenever she uses it I don’t have a clue what she means.

I do not recall Doris using that expression?

 

[oldude]

I do not recall Doris using that expression?

Of course I could be having a senior moment, but I have an indelible image of Burke using that expression on multiple occasions.

 

[EricLA]

Of course I could be having a senior moment, but I have an indelible image of Burke using that expression on multiple occasions.

Not a senior moment. She's used that one numerous times too. Usually when a player makes a huge block or a great defensive play or something like that IIRC...

 

[Ron and Vida]

Why I Love English football announcers:
Describing a new player just added to a club: “He’s good enough to start on the bench.”
Describing England’s woeful performance and early elimination from a World Cup: “If they don’t play better they will find themselves home before the postcards arrive.”
Describing a certain player: “He’s not one to bother the scorer regularly.”
Describing a late goal: “….scored in the dying embers of the first half.”
Describing a player: “He hasn’t been on the ball much, but when he has, he has been good at giving the ball away.”
Describing a player: He’s where Liverpool’s joy is going to come from.”
Describing a dumb pass: “Lacked judgment but was full of hope.”
“A nicely weighted ball.”
Describing a player: “He can turn on a three pence.”
Describing a foul: “Unfortunately Pogba won the ball by nefarious methods”.
Describing a foul for excessive celebration: “Can’t blame Mata for getting caught in the maelstrom of the moment”.
After Newcastle United big upset over Arsenal: “It will be a long and liquid evening in the tube tonight”
Fifty Shades of Grey: London weather

 

[Mdoggie]

fast break....is there a slow break?

No but there is a secondary break.

 

[Mdoggie]

"Droppin dimes"
"Give me the pill"
"From downtown"
She/he got handles
Etc etc etc.

 

[Bigboote]

While it’s somewhat obscure, one of my favorite basketball expressions is, “he/she’s a ball movement killer.” The first time I ever heard that expression was when Doug Collins was describing what happened to the Knicks offense when Carmelo Anthony had the ball.

Not basketball, but one of the Orioles' announcers once referred to Mike Hargrove as "The human rain delay." Of course, Hargrove (and Carlton Fisk) got nothing on today's players in terms of the time they take out of the batters box.

 

[Bigboote]

My favorite DUH expression from basketball announcers: To win this game, they'll have to outscore them.

 

[Pinhead]

"UNBELIEVABLE." Shot was unbelievable. Rebound was unbelievable. Pass was unbelievable. Work ethic is unbelievable. Unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable. I don't know if I can believe anything! Oh, and Beth Mowins... "OH BABY!"

 

[DefenseBB]

My top 3:

1. "There's a timeout on the floor."
As opposed to those timeouts that occur, say, on the ceiling or underground.

2. "From downtown!" (referring to a 3-point shot)
So the basket is located in the suburbs?

3. "She can really score the basketball."
But can she score a bowling ball? How about a watermelon?

From Adam Amin “She’s a true Freshman” as opposed to ALL those Red-shirt freshman that we see? That’s the worst...

 

[Orangutan]

From Adam Amin “She’s a true Freshman” as opposed to ALL those Red-shirt freshman that we see? That’s the worst...

I mean, yes? Less common in basketball than football but there are some redshirt freshmen out there such as ND's Katlyn Gilbert

(ND actually classifies players by academic year not eligibility so she's just called a sophomore on the roster, but I digress).

 

[Orangutan]

3. "She can really score the basketball."
But can she score a bowling ball? How about a watermelon?

Basketball announcers are certainly guilty of this but football announcers are the worst offenders with this. They LOVE to say "the football" any time they can.

 

[willtalk]

"Ready to lace them up". What with products from Victoria Secret?

 

[Viet Vet]

How about a "winning streak of 18 games, in a row, without a loss". A double redundancy!

 

[meyers7]

What, you're not going with Cal, last year you always went against UConn.

Trivia question, who said "Twice on the pipes," and what does it mean?

That was a lyric from the song Knock Three Times by Tony Orlando and Dawn. In the song it refers to a rejection by a woman. The expression was adopted by Doris Burke and, quite frankly, whenever she uses it I don’t have a clue what she means.

Part of the song " Knock Three Times"

"ain't going to show"

One of the few songs I remember the lyrics clearly.

Not that clear eebmg.

Yes from Tony Orlando and Dawn. Knock Three Times

"Knock three times on the ceiling if you want me
Twice on the pipe if the answer is no"

So when the ball is rejected (blocked shot), the answer is no (twice on the pipe). (think Mutombo)

Actually fairly clever. Some of you need to get out more.

 

[Husky25]

How about a "winning streak of 18 games, in a row, without a loss". A double redundancy!

This thread has evolved into exaggerations, euphemisms, or just plain incorrect statements. In the vein of the 3rd, when a team goes on a run during the heart of the game, "They've scored 13 unanswered points!!!"

These are 13 points in a row, but do not necessarily go "unanswered" unless they are the last points scored. I'll give a commentator partial credit if they add the time period to the end of the comment. I.e., "They've scored 13 unanswered points to end the half (or quarter, considering the game to which this board is dedicated.)."

 

[FanHam]

I haven't read all the posts, has anyone tapped the great Dick Vitale yet?

"He's a PTP, baby! A Prime Time Player!"

I never hear him use the word "win". It's always "W', as in "That's a W, baby. Warm up the bus!"