Frazier jokes Bulls defense evokes Iran, stuns Breen
New York Knicks broadcaster Walt Frazier opened the telecast against the Chicago Bulls by joking that his friends mistook his description of the Bulls' defense as talk about Iran. Frazier told play-by-play announcer Mike Breen he had used the words "eradicated," "obliterated" and "devastated," adding, "They thought I was talking about Iran. But I was talking about the Bulls." Breen reacted with "Oh jeez" and later questioned, "That's how you start a telecast?"
The Bulls entered Madison Square Garden on Friday night with one of the NBA's weakest defenses, allowing 121.6 points per game, the third-highest mark in the league. Frazier, a Hall of Fame Knicks guard turned longtime MSG Network color commentator, highlighted Chicago's defensive woes as tipoff approached.
Chicago had surrendered 145 points to the Indiana Pacers, 157 to the Philadelphia 76ers and averaged around 135 points allowed during a five-game losing streak. The Bulls sit at 29-48, 12th in the Eastern Conference, with their draft lottery position pending.
The Knicks hold a prior 40-point victory over Chicago, in which the Bulls allowed 136 points.
