Bill Simmons leaving ESPN NBA Countdown to start Grantland hoops show

 
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 5:01 pm    Post subject: Bill Simmons leaving ESPN NBA Countdown to start Grantland hoops show

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/13/bill-simmons-leaving-espns-prepost-game-nba-countdown-to-start-grantland-hoops-show/

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Bill Simmons leaving ESPN’s pre/post game NBA Countdown to start Grantland hoops show

ESPN continues to tinker and toy with it’s pre-game/in-game “NBA Countdown” show. The key move a couple years ago was to bring in online force of nature Bill Simmons, and that had its ups and downs. Simmons and Jalen Rose did some good stuff, but overall the show was nice. Not thrilling, but nice.

Now changes are coming. Simmons is leaving Countdown to focus on his own “The Grantland Basketball Show,” and hour-long NBA show that will air on ESPN supposed to be starting Oct. 21 and be on roughly every other week through the season, something the network announced Tuesday (but has since taken down the press release).

The Grantland show has potential, if it uses video and Zach Lowe a lot. There are a lot of great NBA writers and minds at Grantland that could be utilized. We’ll see how that goes.

As for Countdown, it’s not clear who will join host Sage Steele, Rose and former coach Doug Collins. Usually that spot has gone to more of a print/online journalist but I’m not sure Chris Broussard or Stephen A. Smith are great fits.

You know what Countdown’s biggest problem is? It’s not TNT’s “Inside the NBA.” It can’t live up to that, arguably the best sports studio show anywhere (ESPN’s College Gameday for football comes close). We all watch Inside the NBA, even if the game in front of it was a dud. Countdown can’t replicate the chemistry of Charles Barkley, Shaq, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson.
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 5:12 pm    Post subject:

ESPN's college Gameday is nice. Inside the NBA is just awesome. Even when the game is doo doo, I won't miss it.
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 5:12 pm    Post subject:

ESPN Countdown is pretty mediocre....They should just have the TNT guys do all the pre and post game shows.....or let the NBA TV guys do it instead.
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 5:14 pm    Post subject:

If only it was Bill Simmons leaving. Period.
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 6:42 pm    Post subject:

I've whined about it a million times and I'll whine a million more: ESPN/ABC's coverage of BBall is (bleep) awful.
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lakersken80
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 7:07 pm    Post subject:

City_Dawg wrote:
I've whined about it a million times and I'll whine a million more: ESPN/ABC's coverage of BBall is (bleep) awful.


It couldn't hold a candle to NBC and its never been the same ever since they took it over. Unfortunately, considering the influence of ESPN on cable sports, I doubt they will lose the rights anytime soon, since the downside is that they will reduce coverage on Sportscenter.
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ronnyjeremy
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 16, 2014 9:55 am    Post subject:

Thank god
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 16, 2014 11:07 am    Post subject:

The name Sage Steele sounds like it belongs in a porno.
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 16, 2014 11:35 am    Post subject:

Lakersneuron wrote:
The name Sage Steele sounds like it belongs in a porno.


HAHAHA, I thought I was the only one that felt that way.
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67ShelbyGT
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 10:48 pm    Post subject:

City_Dawg wrote:
I've whined about it a million times and I'll whine a million more: ESPN/ABC's coverage of BBall is (bleep) awful.


Most old school or avid bball fans resoundingly agree with your statement. I miss NBA on NBC. TNT has some good analysts. Inside the NBA is pure entertainment (tho many times it can be light on analysis). NBAtv is ok depending on guests as their hosts suck. CWebb has a future.

ESPN/ABC takes the cake tho... by far the worst. JVG, MJax are good but the rest are just hot garbage. They are either toting the company line of shoving LBJ down your throats or trying to create drama (see hiring a Celtic diehard to troll the biggest fanbase in NBA). ESPN as a whole has become a soap opera. Dan Patrick left for a reason. Besides NFL coverage, they suck balls.
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