Mauriceg
Two years ago

NBL Blitz Commentators

Had to turn the sound off while watching the Wildcats v NBL. The commentators were obsessed with waffling on about side issues instead of adding to and explaining the action happening on the court. It was almost like there was a game going on in the background while some spectators had a conversation.
Surely we can do better than that.
I enjoyed the game more with the sound turned off.

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koberulz  
Two years ago

It's the Blitz.

Reply #926331 | Report this post


Ballman  
Two years ago

Agree, they barely paying attention to the game or what is happening. Tech foul call and no commentary to say why. Was a poor effort by commentators.

Reply #926333 | Report this post


KET  
Two years ago

They're NBL commentators during regular season too though - Montagna, Heverin, Hooley, Rucker, von Hoff.


Reply #926337 | Report this post


Dunkman  
Two years ago

Agree totally, call the game, let us know who the foul went on etc, I'm not interested in their personal lives. It’s cringe worthy. Gaze and Gleeson please.

Reply #926343 | Report this post


Isaac  
Two years ago

I muted them for most of the 36ers game as well, then didn't hear that the game had resumed and missed a quarter.

Reply #926344 | Report this post


JMS  
Two years ago

Pete Hooley is the worst offender. During the United v Kings game the commentator guest Tahjere McCall seemed genuinely embarrassed at the wacky line of questioning considering a game was in play. The odd side conversation is fine, but totally disregarding the game is poor form.

Reply #926349 | Report this post


Zodiac  
Two years ago

The 36ers game vs NZB bloody Rucker spent almost the entire first half of the game talking about his supposed acting career, a cameo in one movie or something.

What next financial advice from the great man?

Reply #926357 | Report this post


Ushiro  
Two years ago

It was painful at times - like listening to a couple of people chatting away in a pub while the game was on the big screen.

Either that or a podcast with an occassional reference to the game.

My other thought was listening to the cricket on the radio during a rain break.

Reply #926361 | Report this post


Knockdown3  
Two years ago

Glad you guys noticed it too.

Yes, its pre-season so there's a more relaxed approach to commentary, but good lord, during the game, we *really* don't need to hear about what time you're going to bed, how old your son is, or who Angus Glover is inviting to his wedding.

Sure, engage in the occasional *brief* side chat, but an eight and a half minute ramble about completely un-related topics??
Nah c'mon, viewers deserve better.

Reply #926362 | Report this post


KTL33  
Two years ago

Guess what? This is what Larry wants. Expect more of the same during the season. To the point where all NBL commentators have been told that if they start calling 'traditional' play by play, they can find another job. It’s all about ‘telling the players’ stories’, whatever the hell that means.

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hoopie  
Two years ago

How do you know this, KTL?

It didn't work for ABC radio to go all social media and influencer kind of style, and I doubt it will work for the NBL.

I can remember the backlash on here when Corey Williams was given too much opportunity to ramble and provide a bit of 'colour’.

Reply #926366 | Report this post


KTL33  
Two years ago

Obviously I can't say on here how I know. All I can say is watch what happens when the season starts, then see if I was right.

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hoopie  
Two years ago

Fair point. I really meant from the horse's mouth, through a friend, etc etc. I’ll keep an eye out and if it gets too irritating then I can mute or record and rush through the ads or whatever.

Maybe after a few weeks we can have our usual annual thread on who the best or worst commentators are. LOL

Reply #926370 | Report this post


Sebastian  
Two years ago

KTL33 is a man in the know

Reply #926371 | Report this post


DennisRodmansHair  
Two years ago

"Guess what? This is what Larry wants. Expect more of the same during the season. To the point where all NBL commentators have been told that if they start calling 'traditional' play by play, they can find another job. It's all about 'telling the players’ stories’, whatever the hell that means."

I've never worked in marketing, so I would love to know what the logic behind this approach?

Here's hoping that the pre-season commentary format doesn't make its way to the regular season. I couldnt care less about how Derek Rucker talks to scouts about junior players he coaches, Pete Hooleys experience as a dad, Felix Von Hoffs 4 game NBL career etc.

Reply #926373 | Report this post


hoopie  
Two years ago

There's a big gap between human interest stuff and outright fluff to fill in silences (or replace factual useful information).

I’d love to hear more - in small doses - about players’ and coaches’ backgrounds in the sport, and maybe even a bit about their life outside sport, but I’ll be racing for the mute as soon as it gets into WAGs and what they wear, and commentators’ financial dealings, and other unimportant s**t!

I don’t know about you, but when I use mute it usually means I ignore advertisers, and give a low Net Promoter Score to anyone who asks how I feel about the NBL on TV. Both are bad for the NBL, I know, but ... if LK thinks there’s more money coming from casuals then hard-core fans then "tell him he’s dreaming!"

Reply #926374 | Report this post


BigD  
Two years ago

Athlete awareness (player stories) is the biggest driver in fan engagement, and there is lots of data that they have which backs this up, as a lot of sports are shifting to this model.
Casual fans follow individual athletes more than the generic teams.

Die hard hoopsters have to remember the NBL is trying to pick up more casual fans rather than the die hard ones going through this forum.

A good sport which has set this precedent is F1, since Liberty Media took over the fan engagement, popularity and therefore money has surged, because they want more overall fans rather than the close die hards.

Reply #926375 | Report this post


DennisRodmansHair  
Two years ago

BigD makes a good point that at the end of the day the diehard basketball fans will watch either way (abiet on mute), the casuals may not unless they can engage with the "player stories, star players" etc. Therefore the NBL is making moves to attract these viewers to the league.

Reply #926376 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Two years ago

I agree with most others that the blitz commentary was poor to the point of being insulting. I was putting that mostly down to so many games compressed together causing them to venture into random chatting territory, rather than an intentional change of direction.

I'm cool with telling players stories or whatever. If commentators aren't knowledgeable enough about basketball to sustain our interest solely based on all the action occurring in front of them then look for other things to supplement with.
But none of those tangential anecdotes are so important that they can't be briefly put on hold if a great play occurs in the middle of one, yet that's what seemed to happen pretty regularly in the past week. That's when it bothers me.


Reply #926377 | Report this post


Knockdown3  
Two years ago

Everyone would likely agree that player stories are interesting and generate more appreciation of both them as individuals and the sport.
However, there's an appropriate time and context to deliver such stories/conversations, and its not during the play - unless it's brief and doesn't detract from the play.

Feature stories during time outs, half time, or a dedicated highlights show are the perfect context for such content.

Reply #926378 | Report this post


Dunkman  
Two years ago

Another thing that annoyed me was when the nz import, Cheetham had a sensational dunk, but not one mention of how it was made so easy for him by the magnificent drive and penetration through traffic with the beautiful pass to him from Jackson Cartwright. Now that was real talent.

Reply #926383 | Report this post


Screeningnick  
Two years ago

I'm sure Hooley's a good bloke but my god he's cringe on the call.

Rucker loves the smell of his sh*t that much is obvious.

Reply #926385 | Report this post


Perthworld  
Two years ago

I've been watching on mute for years since LK's on-air commentating "talent" is generally poor to shit.

Reply #926393 | Report this post


Perthworld  
Two years ago

von Hoff.

Exhibit A.

Reply #926394 | Report this post


hoopie  
Two years ago

Famous for being on The Bachelor rather than his basketball. No doubt he will bring in thousands of viewers as a result.
LOL

Reply #926397 | Report this post


ME (he/kangaroo)  
Two years ago

I remember how bad Liam Santamaria used to be on the Blitz calls before he became a regular NBL guy and refined himself "that's money for jam!" and a bunch of cringe sayings I am glad he did away with. I think some of it is the fact we just dont have a lot of professional basketball commentators with real experience so you're going to have ex players pumping themselves up, or footy guys who barely have a vague interest in the sport making accidental football references. I usually dont care but having Trevor Gleeson on the world cup call just showed how much value a coaches insights can bring to a broadcast. I felt like - at times - Ruckers had some interesting things to say but then refers back to himself ad naseaum.

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Zodiac  
Two years ago

Liam Santamaria


"Going downhill and putting his knuckles on the backboard!"

Trevor Gleeson


Gleeson was good with the X's & O's on the coverage but undid a lot of that when he supposedly picked Cotton in his Boomers team for the Olympics. Aside from fit/need the guy isn't even available for selection, as he knows, and we're told now is still two years away from possible naturalisation, I'm sure Gleeson knew that too being close to Cotton.

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Dunkman  
Two years ago

Cotton should be in the Olympic team, Gleeson actually said that someone from BA should be leaning on the Australian government. His commentary compared to cringe worthy stuff that gets regurgitated by present commentators was excellent. You don't need three, just get game caller and an expert, Gleeson, Gaze being by far the best two.

Reply #926410 | Report this post


Fairsy  
Two years ago

I am going to go against the grain a little and say that I really enjoyed the side stories, not all of them but most of them, I loved the interviews with team owners, NBA scouts and GM's. I think they will continue but in smaller doses when the season kicks off.

Reply #926413 | Report this post


KET  
Two years ago

Can probably get away with in the blitz a bit like the espn commentators do in summer league.

I agree that narrative and story is super important - but that's why they need a good pre-game build up and something of a post game.

I also think afl are great with telling the stories and analysing through the week - AFL 360, Last Crack, on the couch etc. would love if we saw similar for the NBL, even World Cup live did a decent job and giving us the stories.

Things like the "premiership window" that fox were doing all season and ranking the offence, defence etc. is something I’d love to see in the NBL.

Reply #926414 | Report this post




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