10 Stupid Things Analysts Say During the NBA Playoffs

NBA analysts and intelligence don’t always go hand in hand.

Charles Barkley is the most popular in the business—enough said.

So-called experts of the field of basketball often fail to come off as such. Whether it’s repeatedly using the same monotonous clichés or making outlandish statements, NBA analysts always manage to take their game down a notch in the playoffs.

Here are 10 of the most stupid things that they say.

10. "This Is a Must-Win Game."

How many times have you heard that mind-blowing phenomenon revealed during the postseason?

A playoff game—a contest with win-or-lose ramifications—is must-win? That concept is downright baffling to me.

Thankfully, NBA analysts have the awareness to keep uneducated fans alert to such high stakes.

9. Reggie Miller

After LeBron sought out NBA legends to talk to about their postseason experiences, Miller went off, for some odd reason.

James is an easy target. He puts that on himself. But Miller really reached to stir the pot on this one.

Since when is calling ex-NBA players is frowned upon? What’s the difference between Kobe Bryant studying film of Michael Jordan and calling up Hakeem Olajuwon to help him on his postgame?

Each instance, including calling a legend to pick their brain, accomplishes the exact same goal: learn from someone who has already been there.

And why in the world would players be calling LeBron for advice on how to win in the playoffs?

8. “I Played (Insert Number Here) Years in the League…”

Often when former players turned NBA analysts find themselves in a heated debate with someone who isn't an ex-baller, they pull the I-played-in-the-league card.

That's basically the equivalent of a former Dick's Sporting Goods employee backing up his ability as a basketball player with the fact that he used to sell Jordan's. 

Playing in the league doesn't mean an analyst has any clue about a contemporary NBA topic.

7. Shaquille O'Neal

What seemed like the perfect fit for television has been anything but. Anything out of Shaq’s mouth is painful to listen to. He definitely failed to live up to the hype.

According to SportsGrid’s Dan Fogarty, Jalen Rose dissed O’Neal on Twitter saying, “Shaq has Superman emblems in his house like a clown plus TNT has sideshow silly segments to hide the fact that he can’t talk.” Unsurprisingly, Rose later deleted the tweet.

Now, I have nothing against Superman logos, but Rose is dead on about Shaq’s inability to communicate on TV.

6. “(Insert Name Here) Is the Best Player in the NBA.”

There is no such thing as a consensus No. 1 player in the league. At least, that’s the impression you receive watching NBA analysis.

When LeBron James is the topic of discussion, he’s without a doubt the best player in the NBA. During Los Angeles Lakers games, Kobe Bryant is the greatest. And when Kobe and LeBron are the focal point, Kevin Durant is the most talented in the league.

Same analysts. Different times. Different opinions.

5. Jon Barry

Jon Barry suffers a disease similar to the best-player-in-the-NBA syndrome.

According to ESPN, Barry ranked Rajon Rondo far too high on his list of the league’s best point guards saying:

"With all due respect to Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Deron Williams, Steve Nash, the whole list, Rondo is the best point guard in the NBA this season. He has played the best, there's no question about it."

Because Rondo just did the impossible by earning a fifth seed in the playoffs on a team with three future Hall of Famers. Bravo.

Westbrook has been able to score at will all season long. He’s flat-out dominated opposing point guards. Chris Paul is arguably the league’s most valuable player after turning around one of the most hopeless franchises in professional sports.

But with Rondo being the topic of discussion, someone had to throw out the B-word (best).

4. “I Told You…”

Nothing is more annoying than an analyst boasting about a bold prediction gone right.

For instance, Charles Barkley has been pounding his prediction that the Denver Nuggets will beat the Los Angeles Lakers into his Inside the NBA panel members' heads. After each of the Nuggets' latest victories, Barkley stresses which side he's always been on.

But for every bold prediction he or any analyst makes, about 10 go wrong. And we don't hear those being repeatedly reaffirmed.

3. Charles Barkley

While we're on the Round Mound...

Like I previously mentioned, Barkley is the most popular NBA analyst out there. His I-can’t-believe-he-just-said-that statements make TNT’s Inside the NBA must-watch television. But when Sir Charles stops talking about basketball, it gets ugly.

Athletes paid to talk about athletes shouldn’t use their platform to voice their political opinion. And with Chuck never afraid to say what’s on his mind, that’s exactly what he has done.

According to Michael McCarthy of the USA Today, after seeing a picture of Mitt Romney, Barkley sent a message to the Republican candidate: “We're going to beat you like a drum in November.”

Tell me what that has to do with the playoffs.

2. Skip Bayless

Bayless has developed a reputation as being someone who’ll argue about anything just to have something to argue about. He tweeted this head-shaker this past week…

“TParker now little better PG than CP3. Quicker, better penetrator & midrange j-shooter, nearly as good a passer. Finals MVP & this season's.”

First off, Paul is an elite talent compared to Parker. CP3 is a more capable scorer, passer and defender. The only argument Parker would have is that he’s more valuable to his particular team—which he’s not.

Considering that Chris Paul just carried the lowly Los Angeles Clippers to the playoffs, Bayless is nuts. Parker took a San Antonio Spurs team that finished first in the West last season…and helped them finish first again.

1. Stephen A. Smith

At least compared to Skip, what Smith lacks in outrageousness he makes up for in intensity. But he still has his ­­fair share of are-you-serious moments.

On ESPN’s First Take, Smith, along with Bayless, actually debated the legitimacy of Jeremy Lin’s injury heading into Game 5 against the Heat. Calling a player out for not playing through an injury is the most ignorant thing to do in sports. It’s especially absurd when there’s no hard evidence to support your position.

On top of that, though, Stephen A. actually called Goran Dragic a better point guard than Lin. Yeah, because Dragic is capable of averaging 24 points and nine assists over an 11-game stretch while leading his team to a 9-2 record. I forgot how many times he’s accomplished that over the course of his career.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels