The Indiana Pacers pulled off a thrilling 116-107 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night to gain a one-game advantage in the NBA Finals. Mike Breen was on the call for the matchup airing on ABC, working alongside colleagues Doris Burke, Richard Jefferson and Jorge Sedano. Less than 24 hours after the conclusion of the matchup, Breen joined Dan Patrick on the Dan Patrick Show where he was asked about the fatigue he was feeling as the Pacers secured the victory down the stretch with an explosive fourth quarter.
“You’re tired because it’s a long day in terms of preparation, but you can’t go to sleep for hours,” Breen said. “It’s just you’re so wound up, especially when you see a game that good. You want to talk about it – you want to talk with the people you work with. It’s hard to fall asleep, but when you do, you’re out.”
The capacity crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse brought energy and enthusiasm to the arena throughout the night. Viewers from afar could gain a sense for the environment, resulting in Patrick asking Breen about the last time he could not hear himself. Breen noted that headphones mitigate this issue, but there are instances in which he needs to turn the volume up to a point where he can overcome the crowd. On top of that, the music at some of the arenas makes it difficult to preserve hearing, and while this was not a problem on Wednesday night, there was another shortcoming Breen needed to combat.
“Last night, there was only a couple of times that I just couldn’t hear the whistle,” Breen said, “and you’re looking for the ref to see if his hand goes up to see if a call was made.”
Part of the reason Breen delivers his signature ‘Bang!’ call, specifically on three-point baskets, is because of the crowds and how fans can risk drowning out the broadcast at times. Breen was recently criticized for omitting his signature call when Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton hit a go-ahead shot with three-tenths of a second remaining in Game 1 of the series. Breen addressed his rationale for deciding not to convey the moment in such a manner.
“Sometimes it’s a feel,” Breen said. “In many cases, I prefer it on a three-pointer. On this particular play, he was moving so quickly. Also sometimes too, I like doing it on a home team big bucket because the crowd overtakes it.”
Throughout his broadcasting career, Breen has delivered the ‘Double Bang’ variation of his call approximately 10 times. As a result, there has been speculation as to whether or not he would ever consider introducing the ‘Triple Bang,’ a question that Patrick asked towards the end of the interview. Breen outlined that while he believes he “would sound like an idiot” should he decide to do it, he explained that the call is not premediated. Patrick asked if he would do it if Haliburton were to hit a game-winning three-point basket to win the NBA championship.
“I have no choice but to do it then,” Breen said. “I’m under severe pressure to do it then.”
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