A. It’s still kind of impossible for me to believe. I grew up watching the NBA. Watching the Knicks as a kid and watching the Lakers and the Celtics in the ’80s when I was in my 20s, then watching Michael Jordan and the Bulls and so many great announcers across those eras.
Dick Stockton to me is one of the most underrated of all time. Brent Musburger for so long. Bob Costas, Al Michaels. Sometimes I can’t believe that not only do I get to do it, but to be able to do it this long is beyond my wildest dreams.
And then of course, Marv [Albert], who’s the best who’s ever done it. Marv was my guy, and I’m far from alone there. In New York, if you had any interest in the profession, that was the guy that you took so much from. The one that inspired you.
In my opinion, he’s the greatest basketball play-by-play voice of all time. Now, my mom might think differently, but I’m not positive.
A. It is a challenge. I had Jeff and Mark for so long, we could finish each other’s sentences. So anytime you work with somebody new in the booth, but especially when it’s a three-person booth, it’s much more challenging. I don’t want to use the word difficult. We’re broadcasting basketball games.
But the challenge is to get everybody on the same page and to get everybody in rhythm with each other. When Doris and Doc started after a few games, we were so encouraged because we’re thinking, ‘OK, this is going to be really good,’ and then Doc, of course, gets this great opportunity to coach the Bucks, and off he goes. I’ve had more changes in one year than I’ve had in the past 18 years.
Q. How would you say it has gone since J.J. joined the booth?
A. I don’t mean this to sound condescending in any way, but I’m so proud of the two of them, how hard they worked. J.J. didn’t do his first game with us until I think it was the last Saturday in February. So to be able to get a rhythm and a chemistry in such a short time, it’s a lot to ask of anyone. It takes a long time to get there.
Doris and J.J. have two really important things in common. They have a great respect for each other. And they both have this love affair with basketball. It’s a lifelong love affair. You can just tell when they talk about the game, whether they’re on the air or whether we’re driving to the arena or to the airport.
A. This year is absolutely different than two years ago, because there’s no longer — and especially with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown — there’s no longer any desire to prove how good they are individually. Their lone goal is to prove that they can win a title.
It’s been really cool to watch. They are reminiscent, I think, of the 2008 Celtics from the standpoint of nobody really cares who goes for 30, they’re just looking to make the right play.
I remember one of my first years in the league, the Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas told me that young players define their games by how many points they score. But then after you play, and you see what winning does and what winning means and you learn from the veterans, then you realize that’s not what it’s all about.
Q. We have data for everything in basketball now, including how many times you’ve taken your signature “bang!” call of a big shot to a higher level with not one but two “bangs.” You broke it out for Jaylen Brown’s tying 3-point in Game 1 against the Pacers, only the seventh time you’ve gone with the “Bang! … bang!” call. Does that just come instinctively? How do you know when to use it?
A. What it is really is a spontaneous reaction to a spectacular play. And it’s usually one that’s a quick turn of events or a game-winner that I’m just so excited about that I get caught up into it
I’m 63 now, but in a lot of ways, I feel like my love of the sport and the fan in me is as strong as ever because I get to be up close to watch these amazing players do these amazing things. So when something happens that might win a huge game that might completely turn around a series, or set a tone for a series, especially in the playoffs, it’s spontaneous.
When that starts to diminish, then I’ll know it’s time to leave. But I’ve been in love with this sport ever since I was a little kid, and that is still how I feel. I can’t wait for Thursday.
Chad Finn can be reached at chad.finn@globe.com. Follow him @GlobeChadFinn.
