Portnoy Calls Out NBA Announcers

Dave Portnoy expressed his displeasure with the Amazon Prime Video commentary during the recent NBA playoff game featuring the Celtics and 76ers.

Frustrated by the enthusiasm of the announcing team during the third game of the first round, Portnoy didn’t hold back. In a clip he shared, he criticized, “This may be the worst announcing staff I’ve ever heard. They get more frustrated with every shot.”

He particularly targeted Eric Collins, a sports commentator known for his animated play-by-play for the Hornets, calling out his excessive excitement over a moment that, by all appearances, was far from critical.

“What are those announcers doing?” Portnoy questioned in the video, just a few minutes shy of the third quarter’s end, as Collins voiced his excitement over Andre Drummond’s three-pointer. “They’re acting like it’s Game 7, the final shot. Open three, what are we doing?”

“Eric Collins, come on, get it back in your pants, there’s three minutes left. He’s treating every shot like a Game 7 buzzer-beater. This is just unacceptable.” His critique reflected a strong discontent with the tone of the broadcast.

Collins has been the voice of the Hornets for over a decade, renowned for the energy he injects into games, often ramping up his volume during critical plays. Some, like NBA insider Bill Simmons, have previously praised Collins for delivering one of the league’s best broadcasts, indicating that he genuinely cares about the game and his audience.

In a recent podcast, Simmons reflected on Collins’ unique commentary style, mentioning amusing phrases he uses during critical moments. “He just keeps repeating crazy comments,” Simmons remarked. “The Hornets are hanging like a hat on a screen door. He’s a 10 out of 10.” Whether that energy resonates with all viewers is a different conversation, but it certainly keeps things lively.