Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the NBA – Thursday, January 28, 2010
TNT’s NBA Thursday coverage continues on Thursday, Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. ET with a doubleheader featuring the Miami Heat @ Cleveland Cavaliers and the San Antonio Spurs @ Portland Trail Blazers
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I’m happy for him. It’s well-deserved. Long line of guys from Alabama who are just studs.”
TNT’s Charles Barkley on Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace.
CLIPS OF THE DAY
(click on link below to watch; terms and conditions attached)
TNT NBA studio analysts discuss NBA All-Star Western Conference reserves.
Barkley plays a prank on All-Star reserve Kevin Durant.
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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Chris Webber
Eastern Conference All-Star Reserves
Rajon Rondo – Boston Celtics
Joe Johnson – Atlanta Hawks
Chris Bosh – Toronto Raptors
Paul Pierce – Boston Celtics
Gerald Wallace – Charlotte Bobcats
Derrick Rose – Chicago Bulls
Al Horford – Atlanta Hawks
Barkley on Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo: “Well deserved. He’s been the best player on the Celtics all season.”
Barkley on Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace: “I’m happy for him. It’s well-deserved. Long line of guys from Alabama who are just studs.”
Atlanta Hawks center and Eastern Conference All-Star Al Horford joined the TNT crew in the studio
Horford on being selected for the All-Star team by NBA coaches: “It means a lot. It’s really a great honor. When you think about all the great players that had an opportunity (to become an All-Star) and have been playing this year. We have a lot of talent in the East (Conference). For (the coaches) to consider me to be an All-Star player is a great honor. I’m so excited.”
Horford on the success that the Hawks are enjoying this season: “We have a really great team. Josh (Smith) has really been doing so much for our team all year long. He’s playing as (well) as anyone. Jamal (Crawford) coming off the bench has been such an impact for us. The reason we’ve been playing so well this season has a lot to do with (Crawford).”
Horford on Hawks head coach Mike Woodson’s shaved eyebrows: “I don’t know what he’s doing. I think his barber was (trimming) one (eyebrow) and accidently cut one so he had to clean it all out.”
Smith on Mike Woodson’s shaved eyebrows: “I don’t know if he’s frowning, if he’s sad, happy or mean.”
Barkley: “We do know one thing…he’s ugly.”
Western Conference All-Star Reserves
Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks
Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder
Brandon Roy – Portland Trail Blazers
Chris Paul – New Orleans Hornets
Deron Williams – Utah Jazz
Pau Gasol – Los Angeles Lakers
Zach Randolph – Memphis Grizzlies
Barkley on Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant: “Kevin Durant can score on anybody.”
Webber on Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Randolph: “He’s passing the ball more now and he’s actually being a good teammate. He’s being rewarded for that.”
Barkley on Rockets guard Aaron Brooks and Clipper center Chris Kaman not making the All-Star Team: “Aaron Brooks should have made it and Chris Kaman is the best center in the West (Conference). Amar’e Stoudemire is starting at center, but he’s really not a center. We always reward teams for winning and we did not (do that) in this situation.”
Barkley on New York Knicks center David Lee not making the All-Star team: “David Lee should have made (the All-Star team). If they would’ve taken David Lee over anybody else, there wouldn’t have been any gripes. (Lee) has been ballin’ and he’s on a terrible team. He gets a double-double every night.”
Barkley on Chicago Bulls forward Joakim Noah: “No disrespect to Derrick Rose but the most consistent player (on the Bulls) all year has been Joakim Noah.”
Smith: “I disagree. Derrick Rose is the engine that makes that team go. Without him, they aren’t even a playoff contender.”
Oklahoma City Thunder guard and Western Conference All-Star Kevin Durant joined the studio crew via phone
Durant on what has improved most with his game since last season: “I’m playing defense better. I’m able to pass the ball better than I did last year. I’ve been more of a leader and the guys look up to me. If I come in every day and work hard, they are going to follow (my lead). I’m excited to be (at the All-Star Game) and learn from these guys.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Eastern Conference All-Star and Celtics guard Rajon Rondo
Rondo on his improvement as a player: “It’s the hard work. The coaches have been on me since day one and I give them a lot of credit. Also, my teammates every day in practice; they are on me and they push me. (They) show me how to be consistent and a leader on the court.”
Smith on the suspensions to Wizards players Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton: “It was expected. The only time that you’re supposed to bring a gun to the workplace is if you’re a police officer or a crook, otherwise you’re supposed to keep it at home. It’s unfortunate but the one thing that’s fortunate about it is now he can move on. I think now Gilbert has to move on and (Javaris) Crittenton has to move on, realize their mistake and suffer the consequences. Then come back next year with a vengeance as a player. Not as an entertainer, not as a blogger, not as a gun-totter but as a basketball player.”
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Game 1: Boston Celtics (94) @ Orlando Magic (96)
Announcer: Marv Albert, Reggie Miller with Craig Sager reporting
Miller on the Celtics trusting center Kendrick Perkins more on the offensive end of the court: “I love the trust factor that (Celtics head coach) Doc Rivers and the rest of the Celtics have for Kendrick Perkins. He used to be the (defensive) workhorse of the team. (He) rebounds, blocks shots and sets picks. Now they are going to him offensively and that’s the trust factor that this team has in him.”
Miller on Celtics forward Rasheed Wallace: “That’s what I like about Rasheed (Wallace’s) game. He won’t settle for three’s and the mid-range game as well as the post-up. He can be a dangerous player.”
Miller on the defensive play of Magic guard J.J. Redick: “I’m really surprised by how good of a defender J.J. Redick is. He’s not great but he really moves his feet and uses his body. He’s worked out for (head coach Stan) Van Gundy.”
Miller on Celtics forward Kevin Garnett: “It’s no secret, when Kevin Garnett is on the floor and in uniform for the Celtics. He gives them a much different look defensively.”
Magic guard Vince Carter on why he hasn’t returned to the Sprite Slam Dunk: “If I were to do it again at that point in time, I want to be healthy and 100%. I had a few injuries but for what I want to do and try in the dunk contest, I wouldn’t be able to do it.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Celtics guard Ray Allen following the second quarter
Allen on how he fits into the Celtics’ offense: “I think a lot of the time; our own worst enemy is ourselves if we don’t move the ball from the strong side to the weak side. Most teams we play, they double me off of pick-and-rolls and I have to move the ball and get the quick pass. As long as that keeps working, I’ll get my spots where I can get my shot working.”
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Halftime
Johnson, Barkley, Smith and Webber
Smith on Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo: “(Rajon Rondo is) the little big man. Most guards like to play outside-in. Rajon Rondo likes to play inside-out. He gives (the Celtics) another post player.”
Webber on where Orlando fits into the race in the Eastern Conference: “I don’t think (Orlando) is in the two team race (in the Eastern Conference with Boston). Cleveland is ahead of them because they don’t get the ball inside.”
Barkley on why Orlando is one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference: “I still think Orlando is going to be a team to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference. They only have to beat Cleveland and Boston because they’ve got the best bench (in the East) and they’ve got the most dominant big man in Dwight Howard. They are going to be there at the end.”
amazing weekend party-wise.
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Miller on how to attack the Celtics defense: “You can’t keep the ball on one side against the Celtics. Their defense is that good. You have to move the ball from side to side against their defense and then take the ball off the dribble to be successful.”
Celtics guard Ray Allen on his role changing throughout his career: “I’ve been on teams where I’ve had to do a lot more on the floor and some teams where I had to do a lot more off the floor. It just takes each individual player on any team in any sport to figure out what that coach or that player needs from you. If you can make that coach look good or your teammates look great then you’re doing your job.”
Miller on how the Celtics defend Dwight Howard: “The reason why (Celtics center) Kendrick Perkins is so successful at pushing (Dwight Howard) around is that it allows the Celtics to play one-on-one defense on Dwight Howard. They don’t have to double (team) him and when they don’t double-team him, you’re not unleashing all of those three-point threats.”
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Game 2: Dallas Mavericks (106) @ Phoenix Suns (112)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan and Doug Collins with Cheryl Miller reporting
Collins on the rising confidence of Suns reserve guard Goran Dragic: “Confidence is an amazing thing. (Goran) Dragic is playing with great confidence. His defense on the ball is very, very good. He pressures the ball and gives them a chance to defend at the point of the ball much better.”
Suns point guard Steve Nash on his team losing confidence: “I think for little stretches that’s crept into our game. We’ve got to get our swagger back, not think and just play. (That’s when) good things will happen. As much as anything, it’s a mentality. In sports, you’ve got to have that mentality that you’re good and you’re going to win.”
Collins on Suns’ starting center Robin Lopez: “Robin Lopez has played very aggressive basketball and his numbers are up. He makes them a different team and provides a physical presence.”
TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Mavericks guard Jason Terry following the second quarter
Terry on how the Mavericks should be able to score against the Suns: “I thought we did a great job of getting stops and getting our hands on some balls. We’re not getting the job done offensively. We (have) to score on these guys. They’re not very good defensively and we’ve got to make them pay.”
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Halftime
Johnson, Barkley, Smith and Webber
Webber on Mavericks reserve guard Jason Terry: “I look at Jason Terry as a starter anyway. He’s the commander off the bench. Jason Kidd is the facilitator for this team and they need more scoring besides Dirk (Nowitzki) so it does make sense to put him in the starting lineup.”
Smith on the questions surrounding Suns center Amar’e Stoudemire: “The future of Amar’e Stoudemire is very interesting. The one thing that’s going to separate him (from other players) and the biggest question mark (with him) is if he is a franchise player? Can he dominate the low post without a pick-and-roll?”
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Collins on why the Mavericks have struggled at home this season: “Sometimes guys get home and they get complacent. They expect the crowd to energize them but they’ve got to bring their own energy.”
Collins compares Suns point guard Steve Nash to Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre: “(Steve Nash) will take chances with the ball. Just like Brett Favre slinging that ball in the NFC Championship.”
Collins on Mavericks forward Shawn Marion: “Shawn (Marion) is a slasher and a cutter and a guy who will get on the boards but not really a guy that you’re going to post (up).”
TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Suns point guard Steve Nash following the game
Nash on the Suns winning on TNT for the first time in 19 games: “I’m not going to say anything derogatory about the network. We hung in there. We played pretty well but we scrapped. We came up with some loose balls. (We made) some defensive plays that we’ve been missing in crucial situations lately. It was a big game for us.”
Nash on the importance of the Suns’ bench in their victory over the Mavericks: “The second unit was huge. Goran (Dragic) has been playing great lately and the energy of the rest of the guys was fantastic. They scrambled and talked on defense and held the momentum for us.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, Barkley, Smith and Webber
Barkley on a camera shot of Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell: “That’s my boy JaMarcus Russell. We need to get him on a diet because he’s going to be the quarterback for the Oakland Raiders next year. We’ve got to get about 30 pounds off him and then he’ll be ok.”
Barkley on the best shooters he’s ever seen: “Reggie Miller is the best shooter I’ve ever seen and Ray Allen is in the passenger seat. Steve Kerr is in the back.”
Barkley on Magic center Dwight Howard and Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki needing to play more aggressively against their defenders: “Let me say this about Dwight Howard and Dirk Nowitzki – it drives me nuts – why they wrestle with guys trying to post up. Listen, in my day I told the defender, ‘you get where you want to, and then when you get there, you’re stuck there for the rest of the night.’ When they’re pushing you off the box and things like that, that’s absurd, no guy can push you off the box. You get where you want to and he’s going to front you or play behind you. Now once he gets in one of those positions you lock him up and you say, ‘throw the ball, this guy can’t come and get it.’ You sit there and watch Dwight Howard get pushed off the box because he doesn’t use his legs, it’s all about legs. You see the same thing with Dirk Nowitzki, he let Grant Hill push him off the box. I’m like, dude, that is so stupid, that is Basketball 101. You get to your position and you stay there. I’m going to lock your ass there.”
Webber: “I agree totally, they are so good on the post that all you have to do is hold your position just like you said. All the flopping and flailing and moving, you’re just fighting and wasting time. (Those players) need to watch tape of you and Karl Malone and other guys and just put your butt in it. Not everybody has a butt as big as ya’ll though.”
Webber on a new nickname for Thunder forward Kevin Durant: “Chuck, Steve Smith gave (Kevin Durant) this nickname and I want to know if you like it. ‘Baby Ice.’ Like the Ice Man, ‘Baby Ice.’”
“He can score anywhere, he’ll score at a funeral.”
TNT announced the nominees for its ‘TNT All-Decade Presented by esurance: Buzzer-Beaters: Regular Season’ category. Fans can visit NBA.com’s ‘TNT All-Decade Presented by esurance’ page (http://www.nba.com/alldecade/vote3/) to view clips of all of the previously announced nominees and cast a vote on who they think should win. Nominees for Buzzer-Beaters Regular Season include:
- Kobe Bryant: 2004 versus Trail Blazers
- Dwight Howard: 2007 versus Spurs
- Rasheed Wallace: 2007 versus Nuggets
- Morris Peterson: 2007 versus Warriors
- Devin Harris: 2007 versus 76ers
- Dwyane Wade: 2009 versus Bulls
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