With their fans urging them on, the Cavs were launching three-pointers late during a Game 2 beat down of the Hawks Wednesday in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semis. The Cavs ended up setting the record by making 25 three-pointers, two more than the previous mark set by Houston (2013) and Orlando (2009).
Speaking from TNT's Atlanta studio, analyst Charles Barkley said the Hawks should have gone after the Cavs for showing them up.
"You've got to take somebody out, Ernie, when a team is just embarrassing you, shooting threes when the game is way over, just trying to set a record," Barkley said to host Ernie Johnson during an exchange on "Inside the NBA" following the game. "If you keep shooting threes, I’ve got to take you down one time really hard. Come on, man. Whether America agrees with that or not, I don’t care."
Fellow analyst Shaquille O'Neal protested Barkley's use of the term "take em out" because it implies trying to injure an opponent. Several times O'Neal says that the Hawks should have "touched up" the Cavaliers with physical play but should not have tried to cause injury.
"You've got to touch em up good though, to set a precedent," Barkley says.
O'Neal eventually agreed with Barkley's basic idea of roughing up the Cavs, though he still objected to the connotation implied by "taking em out."
Barkley is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame (and O'Neal soon will be formally inducted). Barley is known for clowning players and teams in his TNT role. During my time covering the league, most players didn't take Barkley's barbs too seriously when asked about them. Most also most weren't willing to get into a public spat with a guy who has a national platform to troll them.
Speaking of which . . .
When prior to a commercial break Johnson said the panel had "much more to talk about" Barkley said: "What are we going to talk about after that ass kicking? What else are we going to talk about?"
When Johnson mentioned that the Hawks would have to "look at everything" while regrouping for Game 3, Barkley retorted: "Bring in Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn, the Pope. You better hope they are at the game Friday night. I love Joel Osteen. Better bring him in Friday night. See if the Pope ain't busy. Benny Hinn. Bring them all in."
Osteen and Hinn are prominent televangelists and The Pope is the leader of the Catholic church. Get it? The Hawks need divine intervention to have a chance against the Cavs, according to Barkley.
Awful Announcing has video clips of Barkley's remarks . I've provided a partial transcript below.
Another NBA legend, Magic Johnson, also took his shots at the Hawks.
Barkley's comments caught the attention of ex-NBA player Charles Oakley, who once got into a fist fight with Barkley during an exhibition game.
Inside the NBA transcript
Charles Barkley: The Atlanta Hawks got to take somebody out, Ernie.
Kenny Smith: When you say "take em out," what do you mean?
Ernie Johnson: "Touch em up" or "take em out?"
Barkley: No! Take em out!
Shaquille O'Neal: You can't say that on national TV.
Barkley: Yes, I can.
O'Neal: Just say "touch em up." You can't hurt nobody, Chuck.
Barkley: You ain't trying to hurt em
O'Neal: Take em out means hurt em.
Barkley: No, you are not trying to. You've got to take somebody out, Ernie, when a team is just embarrassing you, shooting threes when the game is way over, just trying to set a record. . . . If you keep shooting threes, I've got to take you down one time really hard.
O'Neal: I agree with that Chuck.
Barkley: Come on, man. Whether America agrees with that or not, I don't care.
O'Neal: You don't "take em out" though, you just touch em up a little bit.
Barkley: You've got to touch em up good though, to set a precendent.
O'Neal: You are right.
Related headlines
About the Author
