Notes from NBA TV’s Fan Night presented by Sprint – Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Brooklyn Nets (90) @ Los Angeles Lakers (95)
Voting is open on NBA.com, the NBA Facebook Page, Yahoo.com, mobile web, mobile Game Time app and Twitter for next week’s NBA Fan Night match-up which will air Tuesday, Nov. 27
Fans can select between the following games:
Dallas Mavericks @ Philadelphia 76ers
Phoenix Suns @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Toronto Raptors @ Houston Rockets
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Sacramento Kings
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AutoTrader.com Pregame Show
Ernie Johnson, Chris Webber and Greg Anthony
Anthony on the biggest difference in the Lakers since the coaching change from Mike Brown to Mike D’Antoni: “I don’t think they are thinking as much. As an athlete you want to play the game on instinct. Part of what they were doing (with that Princeton offense) is that no one really knew what they were doing. You can now see the energy and confidence with which they are playing.”
Webber on the element head coach Mike D’Antoni brings to the Lakers: “The best thing he does for this team is give them a calming presence. He’s making these guys comfortable letting them know they can trust the process. When you have someone with a good presence inside, it really allows you to relax and focus just on your job. And when you are in L.A. (with that circus) you need someone to control that because, if not, your attention will be everywhere.”
Anthony on Lakers center Dwight Howard: “The guy who will determine the fate of the Los Angeles Lakers is Dwight Howard. He is the key to their team. He will determine if this team will win championships.”
Webber on the Brooklyn Nets: “I like this team. Not the most athletic but if they can play a little like the Celtics did in the past by controlling the pace they have a good season ahead of them.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Webber and Anthony
Webber on Nets center Brooke Lopez: “Brooke Lopez is slow and steady. He’s not all hyper with the elbows. The difference between a great player and another player is great players don’t get as frustrated. In this case, he hasn’t been frustrated. He has been staying steady and that’s all you want to do. Sometimes it can come down to just staying steady for a 10-second stretch at the end of the game to see who comes out on top.”
Anthony on 76ers guard Jru Holiday’s improvement: “Jrue Holiday might be the most improved player in the NBA.”
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NBA GameTime presented by Hyundai
Johnson, Webber and Anthony
Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant joined the studio team via Arena Link
Bryant on the first 11 games of the season and the first game with Head Coach Mike D’Antoni: “I would say it’s been weird, but in L.A. there is no such thing. It’s unfortunate anytime you see a coach lose his job, it’s always tough. For us we just have to put one foot forward and continue to work. Coach D [Lakers Head Coach Mike D’Antoni] has come in here and done a fantastic job.”
Webber on the Knicks: “I am a believer in the Knicks because of the veterans like [Jason] Kidd and [Rasheed] Wallace. But then I am going to go to [Carmelo Anthony] Melo too because he has played well. I say Melo because of Coach [Mike] Woodson. He has given them a lot of control, let them do what they want but said ‘just give me some defense.’”
Anthony on the Knicks: “The reason that I am a believer in the Knicks is not because they are winning, but how they are winning. They are not a great rebounding team, but basketball is all about possessions. While they may give up rebounds, they make up for it with their high field goal percentage, they don’t allow you to shoot a high field goal percentage and they don’t turn it over. You put all that together with the veterans that they have and you can see a maturity that they haven’t had in the Melo [Carmelo Anthony] era. That’s why I think this team is going to be legit.”
Anthony on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, whose statue will be unveiled at Staples Center: “You can argue that he is the greatest player to ever play the game. His longevity and all the things he brought to the game…the most unstoppable weapon in the history of team sports is the Sky Hook.”
Webber on Abdul-Jabbar: “To be the great humanitarian that he is after [he retired], caring about kids and education, it’s great for him to finally be honored with this statue.”
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