Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the NBA – Monday, January 18, 2010
TNT’s NBA Thursday coverage continues on Thursday, Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. ET with a doubleheader featuring the Los Angeles Lakers @ Cleveland Cavaliers followed by the Los Angeles Clippers @ Denver Nuggets
CLIP OF THE DAY
(click on link below to watch)
Charles Barkley’s first use of “second of all” on the show elicits applause from his colleagues.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The new Garden is nicer, cleaner and they’ve downsized the rats. In the old Garden, the rats were like small dogs. They are normal rats now.”
— TNT analyst Kevin McHale on how the new TD Garden compares with the old Boston Garden.
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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Chris Webber
Barkley on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy: “It’s so profound that somebody can live to 39 (years-old) and have such an enduring legacy. That says more about him as a man and a person than anything we could actually say.”
Smith on giving thanks to Martin Luther King, Jr.: “I think everyone can think of three people in their life that they say, ‘thank God they are in my life.’ Dr. Martin Luther King is that fourth (person) in everyone’s life. He changed the scope of how we live here in society. So when you go down and say your prayers and thank people, that’s the fourth person on everyone’s list.”
Webber on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s presence still having an impact around the world: “I think the thing about Martin Luther King is not that he tried to help all races, but he was really an advocate for the poor first and the uneducated second. Ghandi was his mentor and he said, ‘be the change in the world that you want to see.’ What I really like about him, when he started off being Dr. King, it wasn’t just with marches, it was his concern for indifference of the poor. When you see what’s going on in the world now, his presence will always have an affect. We’re always trying to follow what he did and that’s trying to help by example.”
Webber on Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace taking part in the 2010 Sprite Slam Dunk: “Gerald Wallace swore to me that he would never get in (the Sprite Slam Dunk) again because he got cheated (against Jason Richardson). In 2002, he came in from the free throw line like Dr. J (Julius Erving) so I’m interested to see what he comes with this year.”
Smith on Lakers guard Shannon Brown joining the field for the 2010 Sprite Slam Dunk: “I get to see (Shannon Brown) go up and down the court a lot in Los Angeles. Right now, he’s the favorite. Nate Robinson cannot do the things that Shannon Brown can do.”
Barkley on New York Knicks guard Nate Robinson defending his title in the 2010 Sprite Slam Dunk: “Not only is Nate (Robinson) great for the dunk contest, he’s playing great basketball for the Knicks since they started playing him.”
Barkley on why LeBron James should participate in the 2010 Sprite Slam Dunk: “LeBron said he would be in (the Sprite Slam Dunk) and he should be in it. I think there are certain things that guys should do just for the good of the game. Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins didn’t have to be in the Slam Dunk Contest but they understood they were trying to push the game. It would be great for the game if (LeBron) was in it.”
Smith on star players competing in contests during All-Star Weekend: “Not only did Michael Jordan win the dunk contest but he participated in the three-point contest (in 1990). Michael Jordan and Larry Bird and Magic (Johnson) have the sense that the game is bigger than them.”
The TNT studio crew talked to former NBA All-Star center Alonzo Mourning via satellite about his relief efforts in Haiti
Mourning on the current situation in Haiti: “Words can’t explain how devastating it is (in Haiti with) the deplorable and inhumane conditions that these people are going through. They need all the assistance possible. I’ve seen dead bodies and broken bodies. I’ve seen bones protruding out of individuals. The doctors lack the medical supplies and it’s unfortunate that we are an hour and a half away (from Haiti) and they haven’t gotten the proper medical attention to provide relief.”
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Game 1: Phoenix Suns (118) @ Memphis Grizzlies (125)
Announcers: Dick Stockton and Mike Fratello with David Aldridge reporting
Fratello on recent weight loss contributing to the improvement of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph: “The commitment of young players comes at different times of their careers. We saw a big commitment from Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. That started with getting their bodies in shape. Both players lost significance amounts of weight. Now they have a different body type that they are carrying without all of that extra baggage.”
Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph on teammates O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay: “Those guys are great. O.J. is a tremendous all-around player, he can shoot the outside shot, can get to the basket. Rudy is strong; he is very athletic and can shoot the jumper. The sky is the limit with those guys and their careers are just starting. They are future All-Stars.”
Fratello on the improving maturity of Zach Randolph: “He came out of college after one year. Then, all of a sudden, he was dealing with the scrutiny of the NBA. You have to make a lot of decisions, you make a lot of money and you’re constantly under the microscope. We all make mistakes and there were something on the outside that put him in the improper eye of the public with the way he handled some of those things. Now he understands that your career could end suddenly so you better make the most of it.”
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Halftime
Johnson, Barkley, Smith and Webber
Smith on Suns point guard Steve Nash’s consistency: “There are certain things that a point guard can do to become the best point guard in the league. There are a couple of things you can do that (Steve Nash) does on a regular basis. Some of them are so underrated and underappreciated by a lot of players that play with him.”
Webber on who should be an All-Star on the Grizzlies: “Zach Randolph is known for being a hog and not rebounding. The year that he is having this year is incredible. I think he deserves (to be an All-Star) because of the position he plays as a big man who keeps everyone involved.”
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Fratello on Marc Gasol reminding him of his brother, Lakers forward Pau Gasol: “Marc Gasol reminds me of his brother Pau with his ability to use either hand around the basket.
Fratello on Grizzlies guard Rudy Gay’s jump shot: “Rudy Gay is such an excellent jump shooter, you don’t see him get to the foul line. He relies so much on the jump shot.”
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Game 2: Dallas Mavericks (99) @ Boston Celtics (90)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan, Kevin McHale, Reggie Miller with Cheryl Miller reporting
McHale on the Celtics needing injured forward Kevin Garnett back in the line-up: “I see a team that needs to get healthy and they need everybody back. They need (Kevin) Garnett back. They aren’t going to be able to win a championship unless they have Kevin Garnett as the anchor for their defense. He’s another guy on the offensive end who can make shots and spread the floor. (They need) all the positive things that KG brings.”
Miller on Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo making the All-Star team: “(Rajon Rondo) better make the All-Star team. He’s been the most consistent Celtic. He’s a walking triple-double for his team.”
McHale on Rajon Rondo’s ability on the fast break: “Rajon Rondo is a great pusher of the ball. He gets the ball up and down the floor and finds people. He drives to score and has such a good feel for how to score the ball. When people get open late, he finds them for dunks with easy little passes. He’s phenomenal on the (fast) break.”
TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle after the first quarter
Carlisle on improving struggling forward Josh Howard’s game: “When we get stops and we’re in transition, (Josh Howard) is a great transition player. Most of the time, he’s out there with Jason Kidd. We’ve got to get him involved in the right offensive situations. This is the third or fourth game for this starting line-up and we’re still working through some kinks.”
Miller on how Rasheed Wallace fits in with the Celtics: “(Rasheed Wallace has) got the right temperament for (the Celtics). He’s a fiery guy and when you look at the intensity of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, (Wallace) is perfect for this Celtics team.”
Miller on Mavericks reserve guard Jose Juan Barea: “He’s the perfect player for this team coming off the bench. He’s going to play 25-30 minutes, he can get into the paint and he’s a spark plug coming off the bench.”
McHale on how the new TD Garden compares with the old Boston Garden: “The new Garden is nicer, cleaner and they’ve down-sized the rats. In the old Garden, the rats were like small dogs. They are normal rats now.”
TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Celtics guard Paul Pierce after the second quarter
Pierce on teammate Rasheed Wallace’s impact on the Celtics: “He’s had a tremendous impact on both sides of the ball. You can see what he does with the ball when he gets it in the low post. We need him. We need all the guys we can get until everyone can get healthy.”
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Halftime
Johnson, Barkley, Smith and Webber
Barkley on Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki’s ability to draw fouls: “I had a rule (when I played), if a guy is in the air, forget making the shot, just get the two free throws. You help your team by getting a good player in foul trouble and you get your team in the penalty quicker. First of all, Dirk (Nowitzki) gets the guy in the air and second of all, he makes the shot tougher. If you get the guy in the air, take the contact and make sure you get the foul.”
Webber on good point guards making their teammates better: “One thing that point guards should do is make everyone on the team better. Many guys can’t get their own shots in the league. A lot of guys take bad shots. Playing with (Jason Kidd and Rajon Rondo) and (Steve) Nash, you’re always going to get a good shot.”
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McHale on the changing role of point guards in the league: “There are a bunch of different kinds of point guards. Some point guards need the ball in their hands. Other point guards can make plays for other people. But the trend that I’ve noticed the most is a lot more scoring point guards. Years ago, there were a lot more pass-first point guards.”
McHale on Celtics center Kendrick Perkins: “When he came (into the league), he was heavy. His body didn’t look anything like how it looks now. He’s trim and he’s really got his game down to a nice, solid game.”
TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Celtics head coach Doc Rivers following the third quarter
Rivers on the Mavericks playing tougher than the Celtics: “(The Mavericks) are just more physical then us. We’re supposed to be the big, bad Celtics and Dallas is playing more physical. They are (physically) tougher and mentally tougher right now.”
Miller on Rasheed Wallace needing to stay in the game mentally: “(Rasheed Wallace) can score anytime he wants if he’s motivated and his head is into the game. Sometimes he takes his head out of the game by settling for jump shots.”
McHale on Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki being one of the best fourth quarter scorers in the NBA: “Dirk is one of the top scorers in the fourth quarter. He likes that time and he’s got to be one of the top three closers in the game right now. He likes the big shot and he’s such a great shooter that if he gets any sliver of daylight, he’s knocking that thing down.”
TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki following the game
Nowitzki on teammate Erick Dampier: “He’s been big for us. I’ve been playing with him for five or six years and he does a lot of little things that don’t show up on the stat sheet. He sets screens and protects the paint for us. When he’s active in the paint, rebounding and blocking shots, we’re a different animal.”
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Game 3: Orlando Magic (92) @ Los Angeles Lakers (98)
Announcers: Marv Albert and Doug Collins with Craig Sager reporting
Collins on the Magic replacing Hedo Turkoglu with Vince Carter during the off-season: “(Hedo Turkoglu) was a great decision-maker in this offense. He was their fourth quarter guy, they put the ball in his hands and spread the court. He could see over the top of defenders. Vince Carter’s decision-making has not been good early in the season and the team has been out-of-sync because of that.”
Collins on the Lakers being one of the top defensive teams in the league: “The Lakers are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. They have terrific individual defenders. They have size, strength and power. When you have that, you don’t have to do a lot of double-teaming. You’re not roaming around so it doesn’t compromise your rebounding. Then they don’t give away a lot of three-point shots.”
Magic center Dwight Howard on carrying his team: “The team is only going to go as far as I take them. Everything starts with me on offense and defense.”
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Halftime
Johnson, Barkley, Smith and Webber
Barkley on Dwight Howard needing to add some offense to his game: “I still like Orlando to win the East (Conference). They’ve got arguably the best big man in the game (Dwight Howard). When Dwight Howard starts demanding a double-team, they are going to be tough to beat. I think Rashard Lewis is going to play better. No one guy should be able to guard Dwight Howard. He could go down as one of the best big men ever if he could add a little offense to his game.”
Webber on Dwight Howard: “If (Dwight Howard) has the ball, this team is unstoppable.”
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Collins on Magic reserve guard Matt Barnes: “I like the toughness and energy that (Matt Barnes) brings.”
Dwight Howard on the effort of the Magic: “The biggest thing we have to do that we haven’t done is playing hard (every game). Every team has been out-playing us from the jump-ball to the fourth quarter. They are out-playing us every way and on every possession. We just have to get back to playing hard.”
Collins on Dwight Howard’s comments that the Magic are being out-played: “It’s hard for me to imagine, as a player, to ever acknowledge the fact that another team is playing harder than you. Energy and effort should be a given every night. Sometimes the execution will not be there. The Magic need to find that edge that got them to the Finals last season.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Lakers head coach Phil Jackson following the third quarter
Jackson on if injuries are affecting Kobe Bryant’s shooting: “I think he’s ok physically but he didn’t practice. Sometimes when you don’t practice, your rhythm is off a little bit. He’s been off a couple of days and that probably took him out of his rhythm.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Lakers forward Pau Gasol following the game
Gasol on the Lakers stepping up defensively in the second half: “It was a defensive effort that we brought out. We didn’t start the third quarter with any intensity or aggressiveness on the defensive end. They took advantage of it and we stepped it up, started working and hustling.”
Gasol on the Lakers upcoming eight game road trip: “We are really looking forward to going on the road and proving ourselves. We understand that we have had a pretty good schedule as far as playing a lot of home games. We’re ready to step it up, go on the road and prove ourselves.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, Barkley, Smith and Webber
Webber on the decision to take Magic center Dwight Howard out early in the third quarter: “Why would you take (Dwight Howard) out four minutes into the third (quarter)? I don’t understand how you freeze your own player. I know Kenny says he’s got to demand the ball, but you’ve got to get him the ball. Call a play and get him the ball!”
Barkley on the Magic needing to have Magic center Dwight Howard more involved on the offense: “In this situation I’d be screaming at the players if anyone shoots the damn ball other than me. (Someone from the TNT staff) says that’s (Stan) Van Gundy’s job. The leader of the team has the right to scream at other players, but he’s right. Stan has got to say, ‘if one of you comes down and jacks up a three and Dwight Howard does not touch the ball, I’m taking you out.”
Webber on Mavericks guard Jason Kidd: “I thought we said that J. Kidd was old five years ago and he’s still doing it. He’s a true point guard because he makes everyone around him much better. He gets the ball to where they can score and they don’t have to do it by themselves.”
Webber on his Sprite Slam Dunk favorite: “(Gerald Wallace) can come from the free throw line and he can jump off two legs, ala Dominique (Wilkins).”
Smith: “Shannon Brown will win the dunk contest, he’s the best athlete in the field.”
Barkley: “Y’all are sleeping on Nate Robinson.”
Smith: “I’m not sleeping on him, but he can’t beat Shannon Brown.”
Barkley on a playoff prediction for the Oklahoma City Thunder: “I’m going to go out on a limb. Oklahoma City is going to make the playoffs (instead of) the Houston Rockets.”
Barkley on the New Jersey Nets’ terrible record: “I’ve got to say, Commissioner Stern who is the best commissioner has got to do something (about the Nets). This is a disgrace, three and 37, that’s ridiculous.”
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