Bruce Bowen replacing Mike Smith as analyst

[esqtvd]

I liked Mike too

life goes on

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[MrHill]

Getting Bill Walton back would've been so awesome though, I barely remember him commentating Clippers games cause I was a little **** just getting into basketball when he left for national TV, but he had to make the most amazing duo with Ralph.

he did, and they were fun.

Ralph has hinted several times that the Big Redhead was his favorite partner.

Mike is nice but Walton could make him laugh. Ralph's a funny guy and had to drag Mike along in that department. Shpritzing with Walton made the job easy.

I bolded that part because it takes me back to when Ralph was doing his daily segments on the old Beast 980...I forget the actual occasion on this particular edition of Ralph's segment (I believe it was his birthday), and when the hosts asked Ralph about how he felt about Mike, compared to Walton, he stated that he and Mike have a solid, professional relationship, and didn't say much more than that. It seems somewhere along the way, whether it be the Haddadi on-air gaffe that got them suspended or Mike's grand theft lawsuit (in which I could remember people pestering Ralph's social media, and he had to come out tell people that he's not talking about it), their professional relationship wasn't as strong as it once it was. Add in Ralph's reaction (or lack thereof) of Mike's dismissal/Bowen's hiring on Twitter, he didn't seem too hurt that his broadcast colleague of 19 years got **** canned.

[JayClips92]

When Ralph received his star on the Hollywood walk of fame, Mike Smith didn't show up... I don't think they got along. Also, he would never have a post game beer with Ralph

[MrHill]

When Ralph received his star on the Hollywood walk of fame, Mike Smith didn't show up... I don't think they got along. Also, he would never have a post game beer with Ralph

Yeah, I was bit shocked about that...practically everyone important in the Clipper organization was there, along with those ex-Clippers who are now serving as team ambassadors, and at least a couple of other NBA broadcasters. It's also a bit telling there with their relationship.

[TucsonClip]

Smith was interesting at times, and annoying at others. Wasnt a fan of Bowen on ESPN/NBA TV. Hopefully he bring bring some added insight and play/set diagnosis/individual match ups, ect.

[Roscoe Sheed]

I'm not sure if Don McLean would have taken the job because he has a lot going on in his life, but I would have preferred him over Bowen.

I really wish they would have kept Smith. I like Smith about as much as I like Lawler.

[Akklaim1]

The question is can he stay off the Spurs nuts when the Clippers play San Antonio?

[og15]

Bruce Bowen's first Clipper game impression, not very good. He's very dry and repetitive, it's generally good to get more personality with your color commentators. I don't know if that is something that develops over time, but maybe we'll all just get used to his dryness.

[Forte IV]

Someone needs to start counting how many times Bruce Bowen says "young fella" this year

[JayClips92]

anyone else watch pre-game and see him have no idea what Lawler's Law is...

[Don Tommy]

anyone else watch pre-game and see him have no idea what Lawler's Law is...

I deleted the game and skipped past the pregame show. You've got to be kidding me!

[esqtvd]

I'm glad Mike Hill's back as a/the host. I like Rogo well enough but Hill's got more ooomph.

Did Bowen say anything you didn't think of on your own? I sure hope McLean's still in the rotation.

Mrs. TVD did notice that Ralph seemed bouncy and 10 years younger. Could be glad to be back to work or it could be he enjoys the lighter flow with Bowen. It did plod a bit with Mike, who's earnest to a fault. Mike made it more like work.

[Clemenza]

Bowen was pretty good imo. I was mostly focused on first time seeing the team without CP3 and players like Jamal, JJ, and Pierce. I liked Mike Smith but fans of other teams couldn't stand him when they would watcn a Clipper game on NBA TV or League Pass while using our broadcast team. They **** on Ralph Lawler's 'BINGO!!' line all the time. But its all good, we love Ralph but from what I've gathered on a few other message boards is that most local broadcast teams get **** on pretty badly so it is what it is.

[mttwlsn16]

Any word on why Mike was let go?

[mkwest]

Hoffarth on the media: How Clippers, Bowen came to tie the knot on TV deal

“It went so well we could hardly believe it,” said Lawler, about to start his 39th season as the Clippers’ play-by-play man. “It felt as if we’d been working together for 20 years. He’s an absolute natural.”

Prime Ticket, with the Clippers’ input, decided not to renew the contract of longtime Lawler sidekick Michael Smith. They had been paired the past 14 seasons, and Smith logged 19 seasons overall going back to radio. The former Los Altos High of Hacienda Heights star football, basketball and volleyball player who became a two-time WAC player of the year at BYU spent the last of his three-year run in the NBA as a Clippers backup forward in 1994-95.

Lawler, whose previous game analyst partners have included Stu Lantz, Hubie Brown, Mike Fratello, Junior Bridgeman and Bill Walton, said that “Mike had the longest run, and he’s a very bright guy who I know will find a new interesting chapter in his life. It may be hard to see that right away but I think things will work out fine for him.”

Tim Hoffarth, Los Angeles Daily News