Mike Breen Is Getting Torn Apart On The Internet For Not Hitting Tyrese Haliburton's Game Winner With An Iconic BANG
Sports Illustrated - “We were so happy with such a fun game and a great comeback, and now there’s obviously juice to the series and I liked the Haliburton call and then I find out later that I’m getting destroyed because I didn’t say ‘BANG!’ I think in all these years I've only said BANG for a two-pointer once. It was a Kobe Bryant game-winner in the playoffs when he hit a shot against Phoenix, and it was the only time. That was the only time. I save it for threes.
Game 1 of the playoffs had everything. Well, almost everything. The leagues best offense vs the best defense, incredible comebacks, last second game winners, but NO BANG. With the magnitude of the moment of Hali's final shot, everyone was expecting a DOUBLE BANG, hell even a single BANG, but to give absolutely ZERO BANGS is criminal. You don't give bangs out for 3's? Read the room, the stage doesn't get bigger than a game winner in the finals. The entire internet took offense to the lack of bangs.
Some are saying this is how the are getting their payback for having to listen to Reggie Miller on call for the entire Indiana / New York ECF series - Knicks paid employee Mike Breen is a sleeper cell here to cause chaos. Breen just tossing out double bangs in he first round of the playoffs like it's nothing. I understand Haliburton didn't hit a 3, but what about a BANG on the incredible Nembard stutter step 3 over the reigning MVP?
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You've got to play the hits, Mike! I'm not showing up to the Rolling Stones to hear their new stuff. I want the classics!
Is Mike Breen a terrorist? Probably. But, Mike Breen is the single bright spot on the entire ESPN production. Richard Jefferson on the biggest stage in basketball? Pass. I wish there were a way for fans to listen to their home announcers during the playoffs - I'd do anything to hear Chris Denari and Quinn Buckner do the call for the Pacers. Then you wouldn't have anyone bitching about the booth being biased - they are obviously rooting for your team. The radio broadcast with Pacers' legend Mark Boyle is incredible. I'd settle for being able to sync up the radio with the actual game.
Did I want a BANG on the call? Yes. But at the end of the day, I don't really care about the announcers all that much. The only time I care is when they stink so bad that it stands out. A good broadcast should be more background noise until the big moments. Doris and Jefferson are … something, but Mike Breen is the absolute best, BANG or No BANG.