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- NBA fans took issue with Jeff Van Gundy’s commentary during Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.
- The Los Angeles Clippers staved off elimination, beating the Phoenix Suns 116-102.
- Game 6 will be played in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.
This year’s NBA Playoffs represent the most basketball I’ve watched in literal years. Maybe it’s because we’re finally free of all those seasons where the Golden State Warriors meeting the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals was a foregone conclusion. Hell, maybe it’s because I suffered through a year-plus-long pandemic and am simply craving any mass expression of human emotion that I can get my hands off. Maybe it’s cause I’m a single dude with a wicked gambling habit. Actually, the why of it isn’t really important — the fact is that I’ve been watching more NBA than ever and it’s been a blast, especially as the various superteams have fallen by the wayside.
That said, even as a newfound NBA fan (well, not technically “newfound”, as I used to crush basketball back in high school and college), I’m well aware of the disparity between TNT’s coverage and ESPN’s coverage. In fact, I actually find myself legitimately annoyed when I realize the night’s game is one the latter channel instead of the former.
I’m certainly not alone in that regard, as basketball fans were absolutely laying into former NBA head coach and current ESPN color commentator Jeff Van Gundy for some of his opinions during Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns, particularly his hot takes about Paul George (who put up 41 points, 13 rebounds and six assists to help the Clippers stave off elimination):
Jeff Van Gundy is SICKhttps://t.co/2sbHN01tuJ
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) June 29, 2021
Paul George just played the best, most important game of his career and Jeff Van Gundy out here talking about “sissyfication” – aka calling him a sissy. What are we doing to these players sports media? Seriously though.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 29, 2021
“I am sick of the sissification of the game.”
— Jeff Van Gundy, dumbfounded again by a flagrant foul callFor reference, the NBA
that JVG coached in: pic.twitter.com/P1XACoKBPM— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) June 29, 2021
JEFF VAN GUNDY: “oh come on no way that’s a flagrant foul yall are SISSIES”
THE FOUL: pic.twitter.com/NRwiYVvzpi
— Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) June 29, 2021
*Player is in the sharpshooter*
Jeff Van Gundy: THESE PLAYERS ARE PUSSIES. THATS NOT A FLAGRANT
— kyle (@knicks_tape99) June 29, 2021
https://twitter.com/PaymanBenz/status/1409709161504411649
Jeff Van Gundy
anytime there’s a
review for a flagrant
foul nba fans pic.twitter.com/quQwpYN5Ad— sean yoo (@SeanYoo) June 29, 2021
https://twitter.com/the786official/status/1409714839686029313
Jeff Van Gundy anytime a referee makes a bad call and Mark Jackson agrees with the ref lmao pic.twitter.com/b114O7RItz
— Shamon Gholson (@Untouchable_75) June 29, 2021
https://twitter.com/MrPringle69420/status/1409719849392214018
jeff van gundy: how is that a flagrant the game has become soft
the flagrant in question: pic.twitter.com/CmRB3HtFnB
— ish 🧙🏽♂️ (@ismailwzrdv4) June 29, 2021
mark jackson and jeff van gundy tonight pic.twitter.com/lA7Sf9NDbf
— nicki (@trizweino) June 29, 2021
The Western Conference Finals will continue with Game 6 in Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 30. As for the Eastern Conference Finals, the Milwaukee Bucks — who leads the series 2-1 — will take on the Hawks in Atlanta tonight at 8:30 p.m. EST.