After the puzzling decision to let go of Jeff Van Gundy, ESPN’s NBA broadcasts are worse off

Things were confusing last summer when ESPN fired NBA Finals game analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson. It was part of the network layoffs that Disney goes through seemingly every few years, kind of like an NFL team trimming its books to make room for future multimillion-dollar expenses.

Van Gundy’s salary dump in particular didn’t make sense, as he was arguably the best game analyst in the sport with his gym-rat mentality and “Inside the NBA” quirkiness.

In the wake of these moves, ESPN isn’t nearly as good as it was. With venerable play-by-player Mike Breen, Hall of Famer Doris Burke and an emerging JJ Redick, ESPN should be an excellent listener in theory, but it takes time to develop NBA Finals-level chemistry.

Breen, Burke and Redick don’t have it. With just four months together, they don’t look like a team that should get past the second round. But they will.

On Tuesday night, Breen, Burke and Redick will be in Boston to host the Eastern Conference finals before the main event next month, the NBA Finals. Suddenly, the future of what was a stalwart, steady stand for ESPN is once again in doubt, as the current group lacks humor and flow. Hopefully they will acknowledge the Indiana Pacers in this series.

On Sunday, ESPN turned its production of Game 7 of the Pacers-New York Knicks series into a Knicks home broadcast from start to finish by having “First Take” host Stephen A. Smith walk into the arena as if he were a player and and then have him give a pep talk before the Knicks game. During the game, Breen and company focused too much on the Knicks and not enough on the Pacers’ all-time shooting performance. After ESPN showed its best on Friday with its coverage of Scottie Scheffler’s arrest, the contrast of Sunday’s NBA performance was embarrassing.

How ESPN got here and where it’s going is an intriguing broadcast question. Especially with a framework agreement on a new TV deal with the NBA, which is expected to host the league’s biggest event for the next twelve years on ESPN’s stage.

Breen, who turns 63 on Wednesday, will remain an anchor. However, in the play-offs he too often has to try to go it alone, without having full confidence in his new teammates.

With his familiar voice, Breen may be able to carry the trio late in close games, but he doesn’t raise the level of his partners. When he evaluates what he has, he comes across more as a shoot-first point guard, providing not only the play-by-play, but often the analysis as well.

After Van Gundy and Jackson, ESPN had a seemingly workable plan. Breen’s good friend Doc Rivers was available after he was fired as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. With Breen and Rivers, there would have been strong built-in chemistry.

With the history-making Burke, who will become the first female TV analyst on one of the traditional championships of the Big Four League (NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL), ESPN’s top executives Jimmy Pitaro, Burke Magnus and David Roberts had a successor on the eye. out. Roberts even named heir apparents, as Ryan Ruocco, Richard Jefferson and Redick were anointed as the No. 2 team with an eye toward calling the Finals one day.

Although the NBA didn’t like Van Gundy’s criticism of his office — and complained about it to ESPN — there is no evidence the league ordered his banishment. One of the concerns ESPN had, according to executives briefed on their decision-making, was that Van Gundy would return to coaching, which he had flirted with for years.

Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy and Mike Breen talk before Game 2 of the 2022 Eastern Conference finals. The three called 15 NBA Finals appearances between them. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

However, Van Gundy never left during his sixteen seasons with the network, while Rivers’ stay at ESPN was almost as short as Bill Belichick’s as “HC of the NYJ.”

While working in ESPN broadcasting, Rivers first began consulting with the Milwaukee Bucks in December, then left in January to become the team’s head coach, embarrassing ESPN after he made it a three-year deal had given.

Redick, who turns 40 in June, was signed during the All-Star break. He has had an incredible broadcast run, making many millions as a podcaster and gambling spokesperson and through his ESPN gaming and studio work.

But as evidenced by his latest venture, an inside-the-game podcast with LeBron James, Redick’s post-playing passion could mirror Rivers’. His game analysis is more coach-like than conversational.

After a brief flirtation with the Charlotte Hornets coaching job, he is a top candidate for James’ Los Angeles Lakers. After Van Gundy’s departure, ESPN has a second analyst who can continue to pursue the broadcast crime that Van Gundy was accused of but never committed. Until Redick leaves, he’s on the phone with Breen and Burke.

It doesn’t sound like Breen, Burke, and Redick hate each other; they just don’t finish each other’s sentences. Heck, half the time it feels like Burke and Redick barely even start their own projects. It’s a lot of Breen.

Breen, Van Gundy and Jackson called 15 NBA Finals appearances, allowing them to develop a comfort level with each other and the crowd. Breen’s “Bang!” gets the shine – and it’s a strong signature call – but it’s his rhythm to the action and his inflection at the right time for 48 minutes that signal when something special is happening that stands out.

If you close your eyes and just listen to Breen’s emotion during his conversations, you can tell where a play ranks on a scale of 1 to 10. That’s why ESPN should still be fine in a time of crisis.

It’s when the score needs to shine in light moments or outbursts that Van Gundy and Jackson are missed.

Jackson was far from perfect — he inexplicably left Nikola Jokić out of his All-Star ballot last year — but he had his style, especially the phrase “Mama, there goes that man!” He was able to hit a pair of threes off the ball from Breen and Van Gundy.

However, Van Gundy’s dismissal was a headache. With headphones on, he was always in a triple threat position: sharp analysis, a looseness to say it all and humor.

Van Gundy has moved on and is now a senior consultant with the Boston Celtics. ESPN is still paying him. Maybe it could prompt him to come back for a series or two.

(Top photo of JJ Redick, Doris Burke and Mike Breen: Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE via Getty Images)