98.5 The Sports Hub is the flagship radio home of the Boston Celtics, and the only local broadcast presenting games during the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals. As the Celtics look to even up the best-of-seven series tonight at home against the rival Miami Heat, Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell will be on the call to bring fans all the action…that is, if neither one of them is late back from halftime.
During Wednesday’s Game 1 matchup, Maxwell, a former Celtics player and current color commentator, ultimately assumed responsibility of the play-by-play role when Grande was late returning from halftime.
It was a moment no one would have expected in one of the team’s most important games of the season. Jon Wallach has filled in on Celtics radio broadcasts before, and is aware of the structure of the halftime show. He explained it to Fred Toucher and Rich Shertenlieb during their morning show on Wednesday.
“There’s something called ‘Reliving the Green’ where you have a highlight from years’ past that happened on this day 10, 15, 20, 30 years ago,” Wallach said. “Then we’re pretty much right up against the beginning of the third quarter, so we get into it pretty quickly after that.”
Usually, Grande is the one who is doing the segment; however, Maxwell did it that day instead. When the highlight ended, it became Maxwell’s responsibility to transition the broadcast from halftime to the start of the third quarter.
“I love the opportunities right now the Celtics have had,” Maxwell said. “I love the opportunity right now. I have to talk since Sean Grande is late coming back, so I’m going on and on. I’m going to carry this as long as I can.”
Maxwell proceeded to read and subsequently react to the number of points some of the players had, and then proceeded to mention how Grande was still not back when the ball was put into play. Maxwell even had to take on an announcing assignment he never thought he would have to do, especially during a playoff game.
“The game has started and Sean Grande’s not back yet as Gabe Vincent is dribbling the ball down,” Maxwell announced. “Pass over; jump shot. That is so soft as it falls in this time for Bam [Adebayo]. Nice job of getting up in there and just knocking that shot down.”
After the clip ended, Toucher and Shertenlieb reacted with confusion as to what had just happened, expressing a sense of shock.
“That’s the Eastern Conference Finals,” Toucher said. “You’ve got plenty of time to take a dump.”
“I have no idea what happened,” Shertenlieb added. “I’ve never heard Sean be late for anything before.”
They proceeded to talk about the implications such an instance would have if it had occurred on TNT’s national television broadcast, surmising it would be one of the biggest stories in sports media.
“Wouldn’t it be big news if the dude from TNT didn’t show up for the first two minutes?,” Toucher asked. “If Kevin Harlan was just like not there, you’d at least read about it.”
Both announcers have now exposed the other for being late back from halftime on playoff broadcasts. Toucher and Shertenlieb acknowledged the incident as “strange,” but it created a memorable moment hearing Maxwell make his play-by-play debut as the voice of the Celtics.
“I don’t know where Sean’s at,” Maxwell said on the broadcast. “Oooh! Great job on the top right now – wow, Rob [Williams].”
