Oddly, for someone paid to talk, Kenny Smith is at his best when silent. In TNT’s studio, Smith sits next to Charles Barkley. While Barkley spits out opinions designed to astound, Smith refuses to play Can You Top This?

Even though Smith is unquestionably the second act, he is no Ed McMahon to Barkley’s Johnny Carson. When Barkley is particularly inane, Smith will basically say “You are incorrect, Sir [Charles].”

Next season, ABC/ESPN’s Sean Elliott may be asked to show this same quality. ABC’s choice to mix Tom Tolbert with Bill Walton and Brad Nessler on this year’s top games hasn’t worked. Tolbert is better than Walton, but Walton would likely survive a lineup change.

Walton’s silliness must be counter-balanced. Elliott’s straight-ahead approach could reel in Walton’s outrageousness.

If given the opportunity, Elliott should mirror Smith’s second banana skills. Smith’s unselfishness makes him a Matchup winner.