Los Angeles Clippers announcer Brian Sieman didn’t hold back during Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. The reason? A grueling back-to-back schedule that left the Clippers with just 22 hours between tipoffs.
The Brutal Back-to-Back
The Clippers had faced the Chicago Bulls in a game that started at 1 p.m. Los Angeles time on Saturday. Then, less than a day later, they were back on the court for a noon local time matchup against the Bucks. Factor in the daylight saving time change, and it became an even more punishing turnaround.
Brian Sieman’s Scathing Critique
During the second quarter of Sunday’s game, Sieman took the microphone to express his frustration. His words echoed throughout the arena: “Whoever made that schedule possible should be ashamed of themselves. It’s a 22-hour turnover for the Clippers. Day games on the back-to-back are difficult period, whether they’re in December or January. They gave the Clippers a back-to-back day game situation the day of daylight saving time, and then they bumped the game up an hour. It’s 22 hours between tip-offs, which goes against NBA protocol.”
Fans Rally Behind Brian Sieman
Sieman’s sentiments resonated with fans who felt the scheduling was unfair. Twitter erupted with support for the Clippers announcer:
“Brian Sieman is 100% correct.” one fan wrote.
“We should’ve boycotted this Bucks game today. Back-to-back games and both at noon (12:30 pm) is disgrace. F*ck the NBA and Adam Silver.” another wrote.
Lessons for the NBA
The outrage highlights the need for better scheduling practices. While back-to-back games are a reality in the NBA, adjusting start times during daylight saving transitions seems like a reasonable solution. Sieman’s candid critique serves as a reminder that player welfare and fair competition should always be top priorities.
As the Clippers continue their season, fans hope that the league takes note and ensures a more thoughtful approach to scheduling in the future.
Read More- Otto Porter Jr. Announces Retirement After 11 Seasons in the NBA