Here’s my impersonation of the terrible commentators who covered the best NBA game so far this year, Spurs vs. Pistons on Christmas:

“Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan.”

Here are some actual quotes from the commentators during the game:

“Tony Parker has the complete confidence of his coach.”

“Tony Parker is an underrated defender.”

“Tim Duncan is easily in the top 10, 15 players of all time.”

After the Spurs only scored four baskets in the first quarter, the announcers didn’t give any credit to the Pistons’ defense, preferring to talk about the injuries to Ginobli and Duncan. Oh, and they dropped this gem: “Maybe there is some truth to those ‘JV’ rumors!” referring to the supposed weakness of the Eastern Conference.

After Duncan made a basket — “There’s some great offense from the greatest player ever to play on Christmas Day.”

And — “Tim Duncan is the creator.”

Why does this piss me off so much? Well, the lack of respect that the Pistons get is astounding. They won the championship the year before last. Just a few months ago, they were in Game 7 and nearly won the championship. They have the best record in the NBA right now. That’s unsurprising, because they have the most balanced offense and probably the best defense in the league right now. The Pistons players are consistent, confident, dominant, and ego-less.

And that’s why they don’t get respect — because they don’t flaunt it. No individual on the team has an ego big enough to attract the attention of a “star” on a bad team like Bryant, James, or Shaq. “Stars” like these attract attention with their flamboyant play, their flamboyant off-court personalities, and their status as the only good player on otherwise terrible teams.

The Pistons play basketball the right way — the way it is meant to be played. They’re a team. They can shoot. They can defend. And they go out there and do it night after night, and they still can’t get any respect. The Pistons were the early, “JV” game while the terrible Lakers and the overrated Heat got primetime, “Varsity” billing on Christmas Day.

You know what — this reminds me of another great team that gets no respect. Boyz II Men. They are the best-selling R&B group of all time. They are the most popular Motown group of all time. They hold the record for the single with the longest run at number one on the Billboard charts. They have four guys that can actually sing. They harmonize like a team and with skill comperable to classical quartets. And they get very little attention when anyone discusses the best acts of the 90s, much less the best acts of all time. Why?

Because they don’t have big egos. Because they’re nice guys.

And we all know where nice guys finish.

Or do we?