Notes from TNT’s Coverage of NBA All-Star 2009

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Coverage continues on Sunday, February 15 at 8 p.m. ET with the 2009 NBA All-Star Game.

Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai – 2-hour special featuring H-O-R-S-E presented by GEICO

Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Chris Webber

Webber on shooting trick shots in H-O-R-S-E:  “Everyone always misses the first trick shot.  We act like the Harlem Globetrotters don’t practice a million half-court shots a day.  Guys are going to miss the first trick shot. First of all, I would have killed you in H-O-R-S-E, Kenny.”

Smith: “In Detroit they miss trick shots, in New York we are trick shots.”

TNT aired a Timeout with Thompson piece featuring John Thompson’s interview with Indiana Pacers guard and first-time All-Star Danny Granger and his father, Danny Granger, Sr.

Webber on Pacers forward Danny Granger being selected as an NBA All-Star: “(Danny Granger) is an All-Star hands down, he makes the winning shots on that team, he is the best player on that team and at the end of the games you know he’s the one who is going to get the ball. He plays almost every position for them, it doesn’t surprise me that he’s an All-Star.  I’m glad he’s telling his story because there are a lot of kids out there that don’t get recruited to the best universities, that don’t play AAU, but all that doesn’t matter.  All that matters is what type of structure you have home and what type of ball player you are.”

Smith on tough love being a necessity to raise successful children in a tough environment: “(Tough love is) the only approach when you are in a tough environment.  Some of the rules that are traditionally there, you have to break for the protection of your kids and your family. That tough love that (Danny Granger’s) father had is a very consistent story for guys who have done well in those environments.  His dad with the tough love, you’ve got to applaud it.”

TNT analyst Doug Collins joined the studio show to discuss the USA Basketball team who won the Olympic gold medal in Beijing.  Collins, a member of the 1972 USA Olympic basketball team, served as a broadcaster for the USA Basketball Olympic telecasts.

Collins on his involvement with the USA Basketball team and what it meant to him to witness the gold medal win in Beijing: “I don’t have a gold medal in my home from ’72, but now (I do) with (my son) Chris being a part of that (as an assistant coach). The guys asked me to come out on the floor after the game and put the gold medal around my neck and asked to take a picture. As a coach with how many times I’ve gotten up to speak to a team and you don’t know if it ever resonates.  This, for whatever reason, there was a real connection I felt to this group of guys. They made me feel so much a part of that when I was over (in Beijing) broadcasting.  It put a lot of closure for me, in that in ‘72 when the medal was taken away from us, and now my son Chris as a part of that team, there is a gold medal in my house and that means a lot to me.”

H-O-R-S-E presented by GEICO

Participants

Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder (winner)

OJ Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies

Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks

Webber on Kevin Durant’s layup that hit the bottom of the backboard that gave him his first letter, ‘G’: “Is (Dikembe) Mutombo here? Mutombo? Somebody blocked that shot!”

Johnson on Kevin Durant’s reaction after Joe Johnson missed a shot before him:  “Was that a breeze that came through or is that a sign of relief as you walked past me?”

Durant after winning H-O-R-S-E presented by GEICO: “You just have to shoot basic shots. I knew I couldn’t hit those layups Joe was hitting or the shots that OJ shoots, so I shot basic shots and I was praying that they missed.”

Smith on the trophy presentation featuring a toy horse given to H-O-R-S-E champion Kevin Durant: “Are we that cheap?”

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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com

Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Mike Fratello and Kenny Smith with Cheryl Miller reporting

Fratello on his most anticipated event of the evening: “Based on my background and history of athleticism it’s got to be the Slam Dunk competition. I called Spud (Webb) and he said that’s what we’re going for.”

Smith on the anticipation of each night’s events increasing:  “Dwight Howard set the standard (in the Sprite Slam Dunk) last year, but this is a boxing match. Tonight is the light heavy weight, it’s not the heavy weight bout. And Friday night is the bantem weight.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Magic forward Rashard Lewis and Cavaliers guard Mo Williams.

Williams on whether he felt snubbed from not making the initial NBA All-Star team: “That’s past tense. I’m enjoying it. Obviously, I was disappointed and I’m here now and I’m having fun and I’m enjoying every moment of it. It was everything I expected, having fun, camaraderie with the guys, it’s fun, it really is.”

Lewis on not taking his All-Star appearance for granted:  “Signing the balls, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were talking about how they’ve got so many autographed All-Star basketballs that their kids take them outside and play with them.  I said, ‘some of you all can do that, I’m going to cherish my basketball because there aren’t too many I’m going to get.’”

Lewis on his strategy for the Three-Point Shootout after two years of not getting out of the first round: “I’ve figured it out, you’ve got to build a rhythm on the first couple of racks and not try to play against the clock. I felt that I was rushing the shots early and not making shots.  (This year) I’m going to build a rhythm of the first two racks and then speed it up from there.”

Williams on whether teammate LeBron James gave advice and his guarantee of a win: “Just try to make every spot. I think I will do well. I guaranteed a win already, so on national television before the start, I guarantee a win. I guarantee one.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed NBA great Bill Russell, who the NBA Finals MVP Award will be named for, as announced earlier on Saturday.

Russell on whether he had any idea of the plans for the Finals MVP Award to be renamed for him: “Totally, completely I had no idea. David (Stern) called my late wife about a month ago before she died and told her he was going to do this but she couldn’t tell me.  For the last few weeks, everyday I asked her if there was something I could do to help her life experience, and I asked if there was anything she wanted to tell me and she said, ‘nope.’”

Russell on the honor bestowed on him being a result of his teammates: “This is a team award, if my team hadn’t been so successful I wouldn’t be here. Like I’ve said before, one of my proudest achievements as a professional is that I was captain of the Celtics.  This award is an affirmation, so to speak, because you play a team game. To make our team the best team on the planet consistently was so rewarding and this is saying, ‘we noticed.’”

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NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm

Haier Shooting Stars

Kevin Harlan, Mike Fratello and Reggie Miller; Cheryl Miller reporting

Participants

Team Detroit: Aaron Afflalo, Bill Laimbeer, and Katie Smith (winner)

Team Los Angeles: Derek Fisher, Michael Cooper and Lisa Leslie

Team Phoenix: Leandro Barbosa, Dan Majerle, and Tangela Smith

Team San Antonio: Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Becky Hammon

Miller on the form of Bill Laimbeer while shooting the half-court shot in the first round: “It looks like his arches where hurting as he was taking the shot, it looked like he was walking on hot coals.  But he knocks it down!”

Fratello on wavering on his prediction for the Shooting Stars winner, ultimately going with Team Phoenix who lost:  “You know what? I had Detroit picked first.”

Miller: “I know you told me that today.”

Fratello: “I need to go talk to Dan Majerle, Dan played for me in Cleveland. I’ve got to go talk to him.”

Playstation Skills Challenge

Kevin Harlan, Mike Fratello and Reggie Miller; Cheryl Miller reporting

Participants

Devin Harris, New Jersey Nets

Mo Williams, Cleveland Cavaliers

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls  (winner)

Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

Miller on Mo Williams’ approach to his first round of the Skills Challenge: “(Williams) is out here being too pretty, you can’t be pretty. You want to win this? You’ve got to bust through this!”

Fratello on Tony Parker’s poor performance in the Skills Challenge: “(Spurs coach Gregg) Popovich must have called him and told him I don’t want you to do two rounds of this, get out and get rest.”

Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout

Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller and Kenny Smith, Cheryl Miller reporting

Participants

Rashard Lewis, Orlando Magic

Mike Bibby, Atlanta Hawks

Daequan Cook, Miami Heat  (winner)

Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers

Roger Mason, Jr., San Antonio Spurs

Jason Kapono, Toronto Raptors

Smith on the Three-Point Shootout field: “It’s the most even field, but these guys are not great three-point shooters.  The only guy who is a great three-point shooter is Jason Kapono, and I’m not sure in a different era if he would be a two-time champion.”

Miller on his pick for the Three-Point Shootout winner: “My dark horse is my Pacer Danny Granger, if there is anyone to beat Jason Kapono tonight it’s going to be Danny Granger.”

Smith: “No, if there is anyone it’s going to be Roger Mason, he’s the one guy that can prove himself the same way Jason Kapono did.  No one had really heard of (Kapono) in the NBA circles, he came here and he made a name for himself, Roger Mason can do the same thing Jason Kapono did.”

Smith on the chances of Mike Bibby to win the Shootout: “Mike Bibby, if it was one step in he would win this contest. He’s like one step out of his range to win this contest.  If he could step on the line he would win this contest easy.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Three-Point Shootout champion Daequan Cook.

Daequan Cook on winning the Shootout: “I was focused, it was very important for me to be focused. I felt this was my opportunity to show a lot of people that I can be considered one of the leading three point shooters in the game.”

Sprite Slam Dunk Contest

Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller and Kenny Smith, Cheryl Miller reporting

Participants

J.R. Smith, Denver Nuggets

Rudy Fernandez, Portland Trail Blazers

Nate Robinson, New York Knicks (winner with 52% of the vote)

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

Smith on Dwight Howard’s impressive showing in the Sprite Slam Dunk last year: “(Dwight Howard’s) creativity didn’t just come from the cape, he has more things because he is an outstanding leaper.  It wasn’t a gimmick, that cape was just the icing on the cape.”

Smith on the athleticism of Dwight Howard:  “(Dwight Howard) does things that mortal men cannot do.  I don’t know anyone in the NBA that dunks like him right now, LeBron James doesn’t jump the way this guy does.”

Miller: “Yes he does.”

Smith: “No he does not. Then tell him to get in the contest and stop playing.”

Miller:  “If LeBron wants to go to the next level and be MJ (Michael Jordan) he’s got to get in this contest.”

Miller on Rudy Fernandez getting an assist from Lakers forward Pau Gasol: “I think (Pau Gasol) is doing it on purpose, he understands the Lakers are the top dog in the West and he’s trying to sabotage the up and coming young Blazers.”

Smith on Nate Robinson’s step-up dunk off the back of teammate Wilson Chandler: “I like the step-up dunk. I give it a 43, I like it.”

Miller: “I don’t. It’s like someone picking you up, a trampoline. I ain’t rolling with this, Nate. You had me with your first dunk, you had me at hello.”

Miller on Nate Robinson returning in a green uniform:  “Lex Luther is in the building.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Cavaliers forward LeBron James during the contest.

LeBron James declaring his entry for the 2010 Sprite Slam Dunk: “Right now I’m preliminarily putting my name in the 2010 Dunk Contest on Saturday night. LeBron James is saying that in 2010, in Dallas Stadium, preliminarily I’m putting my name in the Dunk Contest.”

Miller on LeBron James’ declaration: “We have Obama as president and we finally have LeBron James in the Dunk Contest.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Knicks guard Nate Robinson after he was announced the Sprite Slam Dunk champion.

Robinson on possibly returning in 2010 to defend his title:  “I already did three, but if they really want me to come back I guess I’ve got to dig in the archives and try to figure out some more dunks I can do. But right now, I’m going to enjoy it, I got the championship back to New York City. I thank my teammates for really being there for me at practice and Wilson Chandler for helping me out with the dunks and I thank God.”

TNT’s coverage of the NBA All-Star 2009 continues on Saturday, February 14 at 5 p.m. ET with Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai featuring H-O-R-S-E presented by GEICO. All-Star Slam Dunk Theater follows at 7 p.m. ET. NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm, which includes the Haier Shooting Stars competition, the Playstation Skills Challenge, the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout, and the Sprite Slam Dunk.  TNT’s coverage of the 2009 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, February 15 begins at 8 p.m. ET.

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T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam

Kevin Harlan and Kenny Smith

Cleveland Cavaliers guard and Eastern Conference All-Star starter LeBron James joined TNT courtside during the first half

James on Oklahoma City Thunder sophomore guard Kevin Durant: “(Kevin Durant) has been phenomenal.  If you add a few more wins to (the Thunder’s) resume, he’s definitely an All-Star for the Western Conference.  I think one thing he’s doing this year that he didn’t really have a good grasp of last year is shot management, (knowing) when to take certain shots and when to create certain shots.”

Smith on Chicago Bulls rookie guard Derrick Rose: “Derrick Rose is one of the premier point guards in the league this year as a rookie.  One of the things he does well is he gets into the lane and he’s able to finish.”

James on Detroit Pistons sophomore guard Rodney Stuckey: “(Rodney) Stuckey is one of those guards in the league that has gotten better.  He’s a really good player and he’s strong.  He takes advantage of some of the smaller point guards in the league with his strength.”

James on where he would have gone to college had he not made the jump from high school to the NBA: “Ohio State was definitely one of my choices and North Carolina was one of my choices too.”

Smith: “You might have been a Tarheel?”

James: “I would’ve looked good in powder blue.”

James on if he thinks its fair that high school players have to attend at least one year of college before entering the NBA: “Being a guy that came right out of high school, I think if a kid wants to make the jump from high school to the NBA, he should have that right.  It’s tough, you tell a kid to go to school for just one year, but what does he get out of one year of college when he wants to go to the NBA anyway?  It’s definitely tough on kids who want to come out but can’t”

James on why he has never participated in the slam dunk contest: “A few times with the dunk contest, I was injured so I couldn’t participate.  I’ve never been a guy who can think about dunks before I do them.  I just get in the air and make it happen.”

James on if he ever compares his game to players who have been in the league before him: “I don’t go back and watch old film of guys who used to play this game to see who my game resembles.  I looked up to Michael Jordan and Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway when I was growing up.  Those were the types of guys that I wanted to be like.”

James on how members of the 2008 Team USA Oympic team are all having successful seasons in the NBA: “I think all twelve guys who were on the Olympic team have put up career high numbers (in the regular season).  It hasn’t affect us a lot or at all.  We definitely approached the season like we’re still staying at a high level in the Olympics.”

James on Oklahoma City Thunder sophomore guard Jeff Green: “(Jeff Green) is really good.  He’s one of those intangible guys; he’s one of those guys that can play the two, three or four.  He can shoot the ball from the outside and he can post up smaller guys.  He’s one of the tough guys in this league.”

James on Memphis Grizzlies rookie guard O.J. Mayo: “That’s one thing that O.J. Mayo has been able to do his whole life…shoot the basketball.  I think that’s why he’s so successful in this league right now, he can really shoot the basketball.”

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Halftime

Ernie Johnson and Chris Webber

Webber on the Miami Heat acquiring Jermaine O’Neal from the Toronto Raptors in a trade: “I know that Jermaine O’Neal is a great shot blocker and a great presence inside and Miami doesn’t have that.  (Heat forward Udonis) Haslem is a great shooter who is even better with a post presence.  Dwyane Wade can now play better defense because he now has a better shot blocker.  When I look at this (trade), I really see (O’Neal) helping that starting core of Miami.”

Webber on Shawn Marion being traded from the Heat to the Raptors: “One way to describe (Shawn Marion) is ‘great player’ another is ‘system guy.’  He belongs in a system.  He never should’ve gotten traded from Phoenix (Suns), he needs to be on a team that can win.  He’s the perfect complimentary player; he’s not a franchise player.  He needs to be where a team is trying to win a championship.”

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Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol joined Kevin Harlan and Kenny Smith courtside for the start of the second half

Gasol on playing against his brother, Memphis Grizzlies forward Marc Gasol, in the NBA: “(Playing against Marc Gasol) is a very unique feeling.  To play against him is emotional.  It’s very emotional to play on the same floor with my brother.”

Gasol on Portland Trail Blazers rookie guard Rudy Fernandez: “(Rudy Fernandez) is so active.  He’s very athletic and he knows how to play the game.  He’s a great shooter and he’s a guy who can do a little bit of everything.  When he gets a little stronger, he can be a great player in this league.”

Gasol on foreign players understanding the team concept earlier than American players: “I think we (foreign players) have a better concept of the team game.  We’re not as athletically gifted (as American players).  We have to develop other strengths to be able to compete at the highest level.  I think the team game (in the United States) is something that they develop later with their maturity and knowing what it takes to go to the championship level.  Most guys who are extremely talented, they come out of college really early and they haven’t developed that team connection and spirit yet.”

Smith on Atlanta Hawks sophomore forward Al Horford: “(Al Horford) is a guy that really understands his strengths.  Once he becomes a better low post scorer, he can have the opportunity to play on Sunday (in the All-Star Game).  I think that’s going to come when he moves to his natural position of power forward.”

Smith on if it feels weird to be courtside for a game instead of in the NBA on TNT studios: “No, not really because I did Knick games last year (for MSG).  That was weird because that didn’t seem like basketball.”

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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai

Johnson, Smith and Webber

Smith on how Commissioner David Stern has made All-Star Weekend a premier event: “He’s been able to take the league to different heights.  He’s taken All-Star Weekend and made it a premier event the same way the NBA Finals are.  He understands that if you encompass the present players with the past players and the future players.  He brings in all of the legends and they are embraced.  He has the rookie game which is the future (of the league) and the All-Star Game.  So you have all of the players that you’ve watched in one place.  Then he has the tech summits so he understands that if you’ve done anything, if you’ve made a basket of any significance or if you’ve made a decision that made basketball relevant you have to be here this weekend.  Then you have the NBA at its best.”

Smith on the trade between the Heat and the Raptors that sent Jermaine O’Neal to Miami: “I was surprised (by the trade) because the Miami Heat took a risk because Jermaine O’Neal has not proven he can stay healthy (in recent years).  It’s like gambling on Tracy McGrady, a guy who is a really active, good player but can’t stay healthy.”

Log on to TNT OverTime on NBA.com for a full replay of Inside the NBA and special features from TNT’s NBA announcers.

TNT is in Phoenix for NBA All-Star 2009 February 12-15

Coverage of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam tips off Friday, February 13 at 9 p.m. ET.  Beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 14, TNT will televise coverage of NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm, which includes the Haier Shooting Stars competition, the Playstation Skills Challenge, the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout, and the Sprite Slam Dunk.  TNT’s coverage of the 2009 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, February 15 begins at 8 p.m. ET.

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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com (live in Phoenix)

Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Chris Webber

Phoenix Suns general manager and former TNT NBA analyst Steve Kerr joined the crew on-set

Kerr on the Suns trading forward Amar’e Stoudemire before the trade deadline: “I’ve said all week that we are listening to (other teams’ trade offers) because we’re an underachieving team.  We have to figure out a way to get better and we have to figure out a way that we’re going to be successful going forward.  That doesn’t mean that we’re going to move everybody, we might not do anything, but we are listening.  It just so happens that we have a very glamorous team with Amar’e (Stoudemire), Shaq (O’Neal) and Steve Nash.  We’ve got a very high profile team so people are talking about us in the news.”

Kerr on building around an older team: “It was four years of (the Suns) having a really good team but not getting to the (NBA) Finals.  Maybe we were a little ambitious, maybe we were saying, ‘alright, let’s go for it.’  We knew we were going to gamble a little bit and I think there is some honor in that.  You have to go for it when you have a chance.  Unfortunately, things have not panned out as we hoped they would up to this point.  That’s why we have to look at options and see where we are going from here.”

Kerr on who to blame when his team underachieves: “Ultimately, me.  I’m the one who has put this team together.  I’m the ultimate person who’s responsible for that and then everyone else plays a part in it.  We could be coaching better this year, we could be playing better and we’ve had guys who have been up and down a little bit.  We don’t have any excuses, injuries have not been a factor and we just have not come together (as a team).  If the mix isn’t right, ultimately, that’s my responsibility.”

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Game #1:  Miami Heat (95) @ Chicago Bulls (93)

Announcers: Dick Stockton and Mike Fratello with David Aldridge reporting

Fratello on the Bulls’ quick transition game: “Some teams run for layups, other teams run to spot up and hit jump shots.  The Bulls come right at you, they are very athletic and quick in transition.”

Fratello on Suns forward Shawn Marion struggling since changing positions: “Shawn Marion was most effective when he was a four-man because he could outrun the other fours.  When he went to the three-spot, that’s more of a skill position, and some of his deficiencies showed up.”

Fratello on how the return of Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich from injury has improved the team: “(Kirk) Hinrich coming (back from injury) is one of the reasons why this Bulls team is playing better.  Derrick Rose, the rookie, had it all on his shoulders and there wasn’t a veteran (guard) back there with him to teach him the nuances of the NBA.  As soon as Hinrich came back, there was a little more leadership (on the court), they can bring (Hinrich) off the bench to give Rose a break and then they can play Hinrich with Rose together and they have two guys in the backcourt that can make plays instead of just one.”

Fratello on the durability of Bulls forward Andres Nocioni: “(Andres) Nocioni is never a question mark.  He only says, ‘yes, I can play.’  Doesn’t matter if its practice or a game, he is going to play.  (Bulls head coach) Vinny Del Negro can’t get him to take a night off.”

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Halftime

Johnson, Smith and Webber

Webber on who will win the H-O-R-S-E contest which can be seen during Inside the NBA this Saturday, Feb. 14: “I think the younger guys may have an advantage only because they might try some trick shots.  They are all great shooters.”

Smith: “It’s the guy with the most tricks (who will win).  Joe Johnson is steady, Kevin Durant is a great player, O.J. Mayo has tricks.  He is the guy who is going to have the advantage because he has the most tricks.”

Smith on players trying trick shots during games of H-O-R-S-E:  “There’s no basketball player alive that will only shoot jumpers in a H-O-R-S-E competition.  That’s like going to a dance and never doing a swing move.  You gotta’ break it down one time.”

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Fratello on Heat guard Dwyane Wade’s struggles against the Chicago Bulls: “(Dwyane) Wade has always seemed to have a problem when he plays against Chicago.  Many times when guys go back to their hometown and get all the attention from their family and friends, distractions take place.  But for some reason (the Bulls) are a team that Dwyane Wade has had trouble having big games against.”

Fratello on how the Heat utilize guard Dwyane Wade late in games: “(The Heat) put the ball in (Dwyane) Wade’s hands at the end of the game and let him create on his own.  When his perimeter game is going, he’s nearly impossible to guard.”

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Game #2:  Boston Celtics (99) @ Dallas Mavericks (92)

Announcers: Marv Albert, Doug Collins and Reggie Miller with Cheryl Miller reporting

Collins on the Dallas Mavericks’ up-tempo style of play: “With Jason Kidd, (the Mavericks) are looking to run more.  They aren’t as much of a half-court team, they push the tempo.”

Collins on Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle: “Rick Carlisle is a really good offensive coach.  He does a great job of going game to game and picking the matchups he wants to attack.”

Miller on his H-O-R-S-E strategy: “You’ve got to be the player that shoots first so you can set the tone.  If it’s me, I’m going behind the arc…way behind the arc.”

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Halftime

Johnson, Smith and Webber

Smith on how Mavericks guard Jason Kidd needs to become more of an offensive threat for his team to compete in the Western Conference: “The Dallas Mavericks are a team that are (currently) a number five seed (in the Western Conference) and in a week, could easily be a number eight seed and on the way out (of the playoffs).  With (injured guard) Jason Terry out, what’s going to have to happen is Jason Kidd has to become an offensive basketball player.  He can no longer be a stand-still, pass (the ball) around guy.  He is a stationary three point shooter and he has to become more offensively aggressive.  He has to average between 12 and 14 points (per game) for them to save their season.”

Webber on players struggling to concentrate on the last day before the All-Star break: “Do you remember when it was the last day of school and the teacher would try to give you a test?  Are you kidding me?  I was ready to go home, it’s been a long season, if I didn’t make (the All-Star team) let me get home and see my family for a couple of days.  If I did make (the All-Star team) let’s hurry up and get it over with so I can get back.  It’s hard to keep your concentration on this day.”

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Miller on what Celtics guard Rajon Rondo needs to work on in the off-season: “You like to see young players, especially during the summer, work on something.  If I’m (Rajon) Rondo, I have to work on a 15 to 17 foot jump shot in my sleep.  If he does that, he’s going to be dangerous in this league because teams aren’t guarding against him, especially off the pick-and-roll.”

Miller on Celtics guard Ray Allen ability to shoot coming off of screens: “I don’t know if there is anyone better in the league right now at running off of screens than Ray Allen.  He gets his feet set, gets the ball delivered and he’s a gamer out here knocking down shots.”

Collins on Mavericks forward Devean George: “Devean George is one of (the Mavericks) better defensive players.  He used to make big shots when he was with the Lakers but since he’s been here (in Dallas), he hasn’t been able to knock down those shots.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Celtics guard Paul Pierce following the game

Pierce on winning the last game before the All-Star break: “(This win) is going to make All-Star Weekend that much sweeter.  This game is the hardest game because you have to focus and you’re thinking about the break.  It’s the last game before the break and it was a big win for us.”

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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai

Johnson, Smith and Webber

Smith on Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle helping to improve the offense of forward Dirk Nowitzki: “I will say this about (Mavs head coach) Rick Carlisle, he’s figured out a way to make Dirk Nowitzki a better offensive basketball player. (Carlisle) has forced him to be a great offensive player on every possession, where he settled for jump shots so many other times.”

Smith on coaches getting tossed out of a game as motivational technique: “I never thought that a coach getting thrown out of the game motivated me that much. The coaches I’ve played for, and I’ve been blessed to play for some great ones, they always had a passion and I always felt that they were in the foxhole with me. So to prove a point that he’s passionate about the game, Doc Rivers doesn’t have to prove that to Kevin Garnett and the rest of the team because they know that already.”

Webber on being motivated by his coaches receiving technical fouls during the game: “Sometimes it’s good to see your coach get out of character, if you’re down 30 points or down two points, we’ve got to see you raise your game too. That ‘win it for the Gipper’ speech, it’s nothing today, we’re going to practice…you’ve got to find some ways to motivate and we like to see our coach get kicked out. We had a rule where we would pay the fines for our coaches if they got technicals for fighting for us.  Sometimes it’s nothing more than a chemistry builder and I’ve seen it work before.”

Smith on Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard “(Dwight Howard) is the Dominique (Wilkins), the Vince Carter, the Michael Jordan of this era.  In terms of dunkers, (he is a) guy who can get up off the floor and be creative and do what he wants in the air.”