NBA viewers were far from happy with ESPN’s coverage of the Finals on Sunday night.
And the network appeared to even cut star analyst Stephen A. Smith off mid-rant.
Stephen A. Smith, Malika Andrews, Bob Myers, and Kendrick Perkins were ESPN’s NBA Countdown crew[/caption]
ESPN cameras were in Oklahoma City for Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
The Thunder’s clash with the Indiana Pacers was shown on ABC in prime time.
And the decisive game was given top billing by ESPN with blanket coverage.
But some fans claim their coverage went too far and was over the top.
During the lengthy pregame show from in the arena, Smith made a passionate point aimed at Kendrick Perkins.
The ESPN duo were joined in studio by Malika Andrews and Bob Myers.
Smith went off on a tangent about why Perkins was “annoying him” in a First Take-like rant.
And Myers chipped in by telling Smith that, “Just because you yell something doesn’t mean it’s true.”
Fans also made their displeasure known after watching the verbal sparring between ESPN analysts.
“Unwatchable,” one simply said.
“Does he actually do anything but yell,” another posted.
While a third said, “Couldn’t dislike Stephen A and Perk any more for this moment. Totally unwatchable.”
And a fourth commented, “You would think for Game 7 of NBA Finals ESPN would have good basketball people on countdown.
“But instead we get Kendrick Perkins and Stephen A. Smith having a ‘who can be louder?’ contest.”
Smith was then apparently cut off while he was still making a point later in the coverage.
Last week, he went viral for playing solitaire while a game was going on.
The Oklahoma City Thunder won Game 7 to clinch a dramatic 4-3 series victory.
Oklahoma City won 103-91 in the decisive game to be crowned NBA champions.
But the game also saw a horror Achilles injury for Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton.
The 25-year-old went down with a non-contact injury in the first quarter.
He was seen banging the court in anger and screaming in pain before being helped off.
