Archives for February 2011

NBA Action Continues on TNT with an Exclusive Doubleheader Featuring Heat @ Bulls and Celtics @ Nuggets

Special one-hour pre-game show recaps the NBA trade deadline

TNT NBA Thursday continues on February 24 with a special one-hour edition of NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com at 7 p.m. (ET). Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Kevin McHale (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst) will preview the night’s action and will be joined by TNT NBA Insider David Aldridge to break down all the moves made at Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.  Following the pre-game show, the network will present an exclusive doubleheader beginning at 8 p.m. (ET).  The first game will feature LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the Windy City to take on Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls.  Play-by-play announcer Kevin Harlan will call the game alongside analyst Reggie Miller with Craig Sager reporting.  In the second game of the night, Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics visit Nene and the new-look Denver Nuggets at 10:30 p.m. (ET).  Marv Albert (play-by-play) and Steve Kerr (analyst) will be courtside with Cheryl Miller reporting.  The Emmy® award-winning studio show Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai with Johnson, Barkley and Smith will recap the games.

Through 38 games, the NBA on TNT is averaging a 1.5 U.S. rating (+26%, 1.2 U.S. rating), 2,377,000 total viewers (+30%, 1,832,000 total viewers) and 1,770,000 households (+27%, 1,390,000 households) over last year’s corresponding coverage.  In addition, this season is +26% on total viewers compared to Turner’s next best regular season audience from the 1995-96 season (total viewer average 2,377,000 vs. 1,885,000).

Exclusive content, analysis from TNT announcers and replays of Inside the NBA are available on TNT OverTime on NBA.com. The broadband channel gives fans the inside scoop on players, coaches and storylines taking place around the league seven days a week.   Check out the NBA on TNT pages on Twitter (http://twitter.com/NBAonTNT) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/nbaontnt) to see the latest NBA on TNT schedule, news updates and special features from TNT announcers.

NBA ON TNT NBA SCHEDULE:

NBA ON TNT UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

Source: Nielsen Media Research. Based on Live+SD.  NBA Regular Season on TNT STD; 38 games vs. 37 games. (10/26/2010-2/17/2011) vs. (10/27/2009-2/18/2010).

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Notes from TNT’s Coverage of 2011 NBA All-Star – Saturday, February 19, 2011

The 2011 NBA All-Star weekend concludes on Sunday, February 20 at 8 p.m. (ET) with the NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com followed by TNT’s exclusive coverage of the NBA All-Star Game at 8:30 p.m. (ET).

CLIPS OF THE DAY

(click on link below to watch)

Blake Griffin’s winning dunk in the 2011 Sprite Slam Dunk

Shaquille O’Neal Joins the TNT Set and Makes Himself Comfortable in Kenny Smith’s Seat

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Hey Mama, I found out what happened to your curtains.”

–Barkley on Darryl Dawkins’ suit.

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NBA All-Star Game at 60

Ernie Johnson, Kevin McHale, Chris Webber and Charles Barkley

Barkley on playing with the legendary ‘Dr. J’ Julius Erving: “It was an honor and a pleasure playing with Dr. J. I was so excited thinking about my rookie year in ‘84 when I went into the locker room. The night before training camp I was thinking, ‘what do I say to Dr. J?’ I could not sleep the night before my first training camp, but Doc made it easy. He came up and said, ‘Hey, I’m Doc’. I love watching those highlights and I love giving some love to my man Paul Westphal, one of the great people I’d ever been around in the NBA.”

McHale on remembering Dr. J’s hairstyle: “The thing I remember about (Julius Erving), the first time I met him and I played against him, in 1980, he had a great big afro. It had its own orbit.”

Barkley on the 1991 game when Magic Johnson played months after announcing he was HIV positive: “It was awesome. Magic Johnson, who I have great admiration and respect for, it was really cool the way the players embraced him because we didn’t know a lot about HIV at that time. I give the NBA credit, they brought doctors in to say that just hugging guys and sweating is not going to get you HIV positive. It was just really an awesome weekend, Magic was fantastic, Isaiah (Thomas) was a great leader during that time and the fans in Orlando were fantastic.”

Barkley on the 1997 All-Star Game in Cleveland in which the NBA’s 50 Greatest were assembled: “That was the highlight of all my All-Star Games, that was a who’s who. It was very unique because the only one who was not there was Pete Maravich. But to have all those guys together and everybody was fantastic. Kevin (McHale) knows this better than anybody, Bill Russell is the funniest human being in the world. To sit around with him and listen to him tell stories, it was really awesome to be there.”

Barkley on the impact his former teammate Moses Malone had on him and the importance of veteran players to act as mentors in the NBA: “My grandmother is the greatest influence in my life, Muhammed Ali is the second greatest, but the third greatest is Moses Malone. I wasn’t playing a lot my rookie year and I went to him in private and I said, ‘why am I not getting to play?’ Moses said, ‘well, number one, you’re fat, and number two, you’re lazy.’ I’m like, ‘I’m fat and I’m lazy?’ He took me under his wing, I played in college right around 300 pounds, and at that point, I was 290. Moses worked out before, got me down to 250 (pounds) and I became a great player. I called him Dad because I wanted to give him the respect that he deserves. There were a bunch of guys on that team, but Moses got me in shape. Doc (Julius Erving), Moses (Malone), Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, Bobby Jones, Clemon Johnson and Clint Richardson. I think that’s one thing missing from the NBA today, these teams need to have a veteran liaison. I wish these kids stayed in college for two years, we had been drafting high school players, but they need an older guy on the team to teach them about the game, but also to teach them about life.”

Webber on the first time he ever stepped into the locker room at the NBA All-Star Game: “The first time I went into the All-Star locker room, I looked for someone I knew because I was nervous. After that, I took my jersey around and I asked everyone for their autographs. This is the time to be reflective. You realize you don’t get to see guys like this all of the time that you watched All-Star Games and based your career off of.”

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NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kevin McHale

McHale on Clippers forward Blake Griffin being the favorite in the Sprite Slam Dunk: “It would be so easy to take Blake Griffin and say if you do the dunks you do in the game you might win the Slam Dunk contest.”

Barkley on his pick for the Sprite Slam Dunk: “I’m going with JaVale McGee. You go back and look at all of (Blake Griffin’s) great dunks, they are just power dunks. I’m not sure he can do any finesse type stuff.  The other guys can do more finesse type things that will get the judges on his side.”

Celtics center Shaquille O’Neal joined the pre-game show live on the set.

O’Neal on taking over for regular studio analyst Kenny Smith: “First of all, I’m not a guest. I’m taking Kenny’s position. I’m so glad to be in Kenny’s seat right now, it feels good. You’re not getting it back, Kenny!”

O’Neal on his gratitude to McHale and Barkley and enjoying All-Star Saturday Night: “First of all, I’d like to thank these two guys for making me who I am. I can remember as a youngster watching the great Kevin McHale, one of the greatest big men, and the great Charles Barkley…in my room in San Antonio (I was) trying to be like these guys. These guys inspired me to come in and work hard.  I’m here at the end of my career, I live in Los Angeles, I’m just here to have a good time. I’m actually here to watch my son’s favorite player, Blake Griffin. He’s a monster, he reminds me of a young Charles Barkley. I’m here having a good time. Again, fellas, Hall of Famers, thank you very much. You inspired me as a youngster to be here and you inspired all these other players.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Bulls guard Derrick Rose.

Rose on Barkley declaring him the mid-season MVP: “It’s great, it’s an honor that he said it. If anything, it will make me work harder. If anything, it will make my teammates come at me a little differently in practice and push me harder. If it weren’t for them I wouldn’t be in this position.”

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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 Atlanta: NBA TV’s Steve Smith, Al Horford and Coco Miller (winner)

Team Chicago: TNT’s Steve Kerr, Taj Gibson and Catherine Kraayeveld
Team Los Angeles: NBA TV’s Rick Fox, Pau Gasol and Tina Thompson
Team Texas: TNT’s Kenny Smith, Dirk Nowitzki and Roneeka Hodges

Miller on Bulls Taj Gibson’s half court shots: “If I’m any of the players on the Chicago Bulls, some of his (half court) shots were embarrassing!”

Miller on Kenny Smith hitting his first half court shot to eliminate Steve Kerr and Team Chicago during the first round: “There’s been a lot of trash talk going back and forth between Kenny Smith and Steve Kerr. If you watched the Fantasy Draft Show, Steve Kerr was really giving Kenny Smith a lot of jabs. A little bit of payback for Kenny (tonight).”

Miller on Kenny Smith’s physique: “Kenny needs to get in the gym, you see the gut on Kenny? Wow. Get on an exercise bike. Kenny. He and Chuck have been hanging out. What is going on on that set in Atlanta? What are they serving?”

Taco Bell Skills Challenge
Kevin Harlan, Mike Fratello and Reggie Miller; Cheryl Miller reporting

Participants:

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (winner)

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

John Wall, Washington Wizards

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
Miller on the field’s participants: “This may be the best field ever put in this competition. You’re getting a chance to see the young up and coming point guards of this league.”

Fratello on the long outlet pass on the obstacle course: “What’s interesting about this longer pass is they are not used to these outlet passes. They are used to receiving them.”

Miller on Bulls guard Derrick Rose taking his time during the obstacle course and getting eliminated in the first round: “You can’t be too cool in this event, (Derrick Rose) is just chilling. He knows he’s in the All-Star Game tomorrow.”

Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout
Kevin Harlan, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller and Kenny Smith; Cheryl Miller reporting

Participants:

James Jones, Miami Heat (winner)

Daniel Gibson, Cleveland Cavaliers

Ray Allen, Boston Celtics

Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Dorell Wright, Golden State Warriors

Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
Smith on the participants not being accustomed to being the only player on the court: “The one thing about the contest that is always different, very rarely are you on center stage in front of 22,000 by yourself, without your teammates. So when you walk onto the floor it’s always a little uncomfortable. But as Reggie does, when you shoot you shoot, after that first rack goes down that’s when everyone starts finding their comfort zone.”

Miller on his pick for the winner of the three-point competition; the player who recently broke his all-time three-point record Ray Allen: “Ray (Allen) shoots the basketball the same way every time. A lot of these other guys are makeshift shooters, they learned how to shoot along the way. Ray shots the same way every single time. I’m going to go with him in this competition.”

Smith on liking Thunder forward Kevin Durant in the shootout: “I like Kevin Durant, his mentality of making buckets, he always wants one more. Sometimes a shooter kind of psyches himself out.”

Smith on the better shooter between Reggie Miller and Ray Allen: “We always have the argument on the better shooter, (is it) Reggie or Ray Allen? Every basketball camp or barbershop (you debate it).”

Barkley: “I would take Reggie Miller. I mean no disrespect to Ray Allen, he’s a great player, but I can’t remember one big shot he’s hit. I can remember a bunch of big shots Reggie Miller has hit.”

Barkley on the best scorers in the NBA: “I think Carmelo Anthony is the best flat-out scorer in the NBA, but this guy, Kevin Durant, to me is second.”

Miller on the approach to the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout being similar to the Homerun Derby: “This is like when you go to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, and those guys are doing the Homerun Derby, they switch up their swing just for that. They will tell you, when they come back to play in regular baseball their swing is messed up from participating in the h

Homerun derby. Same thing here, that’s not (Kevin Durant’s) normal gait when he’s taking threes during the game.”

Sprite Slam Dunk Contest
Kevin Harlan, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller and guest analyst Dwight Howard; Cheryl Miller reporting

Participants:

DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors; coached by Darryl Dawkins

Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder; coached by Kevin Durant

JaVale McGee, Washington Wizards; coached by TNT/NBA TV’s Chris Webber

Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers; coached by TNT’s Kenny Smith (winner)

Howard on his first experience in the Sprite Slam Dunk: “I was a little nervous. I’m not going to lie. I was like ‘what am I going to do to get the crowd’s attention?’ People always say the same thing, ‘he’s a big guy, it’s easy for him to dunk, what is he going to give us?’ You’ve got to get the crowd going, if you don’t get the crowd into it you’re just a sorry dunker.”

Griffin on how his dunk coach Kenny Smith has helped him prepare: “He hasn’t really helped me at all. We’ve just been talking and stuff. I guess I’ m on my own. He just told me how to hype the crowd, hopefully that helps me.”

Smith on his coaching of Blake Griffin tonight: “Sometimes the best coaches get out of the way.”

Barkley on Darryl Dawkins’ suit: “Hey Mama, I found out what happened to your curtains.”

Miller on Serge Ibaka marching out with an entourage and Africa banners: “I love it, it’s all about presentation. Win the crowd, you’ll win your freedom!”

Harlan on Serge Ibaka’s dunk, which started behind the free throw line: “Ibaka is behind it, Dr. J didn’t even do that, nor Michael Jordan. That is right behind the free throw line!”

Miller on JaVale McGee’s dunk into two baskets: “I don’t know if there is anyone else on the planet that can do that.”

Miller on Kenny Smith hyping Blake Griffin’s dunks to the judges: “I tell you what, it’s good to have Flavor Flav as your coach. You need a good hype man. That is exactly what Kenny Smith is right now.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Celtics center Shaquille O’Neal during the Sprite Slam Dunk.

O’Neal on the first round of the Sprite Slam Dunk: “It was an impressive first round, JaVale McGee did something that I’ve never seen before. But Blake Griffin, special big man. He’s one of those big men that only comes around every 10-15 years, he’s a joy to watch.”

Barkley on the four dunk participants: “These four gentlemen brought their A-Game today.”

Barkley on Blake Griffin: “When (Griffin) learns how to play basketball, it’s going to be scary. Right now he’s playing 100% on talent.”

Barkley on the final dunk by Blake Griffin where he dunked over a car: “I hate to say this, but that wasn’t the greatest dunk. That’s like when you got a pretty girl and she’s dumb, it doesn’t matter. That kid is impressive, but that wasn’t an impressive dunk.”

Barkley on Serge Ibaka: “Serge Ibaka got robbed.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Sprite Slam Dunk Champion Blake Griffin.

Griffin on his Sprite Slam Dunk experience: “Just being out here and having the experience, this is something I watched growing up, so to be able to be out here with these guys is a lot of fun.”

Howard on the 2011 Sprite Slam Dunk: “The dunk contest is back. I thought it was a great dunk contest this year. JaVale McGee, Blake Griffin, DeMar DeRozen, Serge Ibaka, those guys were very impressive tonight. The two guys who made the finals, it was a great dunk contest. I’m real proud of JaVale.”

Barkley on NBA All-Star Saturday Night being his favorite night: “I love this weekend, but tonight to me is the best night overall. It was fantastic again this year. I’m proud of NBA Commissioner Stern for putting on this great weekend for all these players.”

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2011 NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm on TNT is Most Watched Ever with 8.1 Million Total Viewers Tuning into the Event

TNT’s exclusive coverage of the 2011 NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm delivered 8.1 million total viewers, 5.1 million households and a 4.4 U.S. HH rating, based on Nielsen Fast Nationals. It was the most watched All-Star Saturday Night in the event’s 26 year history, experiencing tremendous growth over the previous record set in 2009.  The 2011 event saw increases of +23% in total viewers (6,554,000), +14% in households (4,466,000) and +13% in ratings (3.9 U.S. HH) over 2009.

Additional highlights from TNT’s coverage included:

• 2011 NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm out-delivered the 2010 telecast by +49% in total viewers (8,090,000 vs. 5,441,000), +43% in households (5,100,000 vs. 3,563,000) and +42% U.S. HH rating (4.4 vs. 3.9).
• The telecast also had double-digit growth in key adult and male demos over 2010, including:
  • A18-34 +23% (3,003,000 vs. 2,439,000)
  • A18-49 +19% (4,845,000 vs. 4,069,000)
  • A25-54 +22% (4,142,000 vs. 3,386,000)
  • M18-34 +17% (2,005,000 vs. 1,711,000)
  • M18-49 +22% (3,267,000 vs. 2,687,000)
  • M25-54 +28% (2,719,000 vs. 2,125,000)

• The telecast peaked during 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) with nearly 10.4 million total viewers and 6.4 million households tuning in to see Blake Griffin’s winning dunk, which featured him dunking over a 2011 Kia Optima, the official vehicle of the NBA, with teammate Baron Davis assisting with a pass from inside the car.
• The 2011 All-Star Saturday Night ranked as the most-watched NBA telecast on cable within the 2010-11 season to-date.

The highly anticipated Sprite Slam Dunk showcased Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers) winning on his home court, defeating runner-up JaVale McGee (Washington Wizards) as well as DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors) and Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City Thunder).  Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) took the title in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge, while James Jones (Miami Heat) won the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout. Team Atlanta, with Steve Smith (former Atlanta Hawks player and current NBA TV analyst), Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks) and Coco Miller (Atlanta Dream) hailed during the Haier Shooting Stars.

Heading into the 2011 NBA All-Star break, the 2010-11 NBA season on TNT is the most watched season in Turner’s 27 years of airing NBA coverage.  Through 38 games, the NBA on TNT is averaging a 1.5 U.S. rating (+26%, 1.2 U.S. rating), 2,377,000 total viewers (+30%, 1,832,000 total viewers) and 1,770,000 households (+27%, 1,390,000 households) over last year’s corresponding coverage.  In addition, this season is +26% on total viewers compared to Turner’s next best regular season audience from the 1995-96 season (total viewer average 2,377,000 vs. 1,885,000).

Turner Sports and the NBA jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA Mobile, the NBA Game Time App, NBADLEAGUE.com and WNBA.com.

Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is an industry leader in televised and online sports programming, airing championship level sporting events on TBS, TNT and truTV, and managing some of the most popular sports sites on the Internet. Turner Sports’ television line-up includes the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, NASCAR and professional golf. The company’s digital portfolio includes SI.com, NASCAR.COM, NCAA.com, PGATOUR.COM, GOLF.com and PGA.com, as well as an accompanying collection of mobile websites and connected device apps. Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA Mobile, the NBA Game Time App, NBADLEAGUE.com and WNBA.com.

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Notes from TNT’s Coverage of NBA All-Star 2011 – Friday, February 18, 2011

TNT’s exclusive coverage of NBA All-Star 2011 continues on Saturday, February 19 at 8 p.m. (ET), with NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm, which includes the Haier Shooting Stars, the Taco Bell Skills Challenge, the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest, and the Sprite Slam Dunk.  TNT’s coverage of the 2011 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, February 20 begins at 8:30 p.m. (ET).

***CLIP OF THE DAY***

(click on link below to watch)

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Nuggets All-Star Carmelo Anthony about meeting with the NY Knicks & NJ Nets during NBA All-Star 2011

***QUOTE OF THE DAY***

“I looked at Blake Griffin and he’s got more muscles on his muscles than I’ve got muscles.”

— Basketball Hall of Famer and NBA TV / TNT analyst Kevin McHale on Blake Griffin’s physique.  McHale was an assistant coach for the Rookie Team and was mic’d up for the game.

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T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam – Rookies (148), Sophomores (140)

Kevin Harlan and Chris Webber with Craig Sager reporting

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed L.A. Clippers rookie Blake Griffin prior to the game

Griffin on playing in the Rookie Challenge: “It’s my home city and I wanted to come out here and play with these guys.  It’s a once in a lifetime experience so I definitely wanted to do it.”

Webber on Washington Wizards’ rookie John Wall: “He’s had a very good rookie campaign and I really like the way he’s handled his frustrations.  Any time you come in and you’re hurt, you’re the point guard and you want to help your team.  He won more games last year in college than he probably will win in a season that has three times more games.  Just being able to handle those losses, I love how he keeps his head up and keeps working hard.”

TNT analyst and Sophomore Team assistant coach Steve Kerr was mic’d up during the game

Kerr on what he told the Sophomores before the game: “All I told them was to play hard and have fun.  It’s basically a pick-up game and when you play a pick-up game, you want to win.  You just want to play hard and enjoy yourself.  You don’t want anyone to get hurt or come in and take a charge but you want to compete and make it fun for everyone.”

Webber on Oklahoma City Thunder sophomore James Harden: “It’s really fun to watch Oklahoma.  To be able to watch a young team start together and grow and develop together is really fun.  (Harden) is a big part of their success.”

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Denver Nuggets All-Star Carmelo Anthony

Anthony on the rumors that he’s meeting with team officials from the New Jersey Nets and the New York Knicks: “No meeting are going to be taking place this weekend.  I’m not even thinking about having a meeting right now.  I just want to have fun and try to enjoy this weekend.”

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T-Mobile Halftime Report

Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith

Barkley on the Carmelo Anthony trade rumors: “I’m sick of talking about Carmelo Anthony and this trade situation.  I wish they would go ahead and do something.  The Denver Nuggets have a good team and we haven’t talked about them from a basketball standpoint in the past month.  Wherever he goes, he’s a terrific player.  To answer all of these different rumors every day is absurd.”

Smith on Carmelo Anthony being traded to a team that might not be as good as the Nuggets: “I don’t understand how he can go to a team that he feels is not as good as the team that he is on (currently).  So whatever that offer has to be, why would you go to a team that’s not as good as the Denver Nuggets when you’re talking about winning championships.”

Barkley on why the Knicks are considering trading multiple players for Carmelo Anthony: “Why would the Knicks give up anything if they can get him over the summer as a free agent?  Why would you give up all those good players and draft picks?  He says he wants to play in New York, let the trade deadline pass and he’ll come to New York over the summer.  I don’t understand why they are giving up half their roster for a guy they can get for free over the summer.”

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Kerr on what the Denver GM is going through with the Carmelo Anthony situation: “Last year (as GM of the Phoenix Suns) we were dealing with all the same stuff with Amar’e (Stoudemire) at the same time.  As a GM, that’s a tough position to be in when he’s such a great player and the future of your franchise.”

Webber on Sacramento Kings rookie DeMarcus Cousins’ frustrating rookie season: “Everybody has ups-and-downs as a rookie whether it’s hitting the wall or frustration.  Cousins is a rookie that’s had some frustration and he’s figuring out who he is, where he is and how to play.  Once he looks in the mirror, takes responsibility and just goes hard…he’s going to be good.  I expect great things from him.  It hasn’t been a great rookie year for him but it’s not too late to turn things around in the second half of the season.”

TNT and NBA TV analyst and Rookie Team assistant coach Kevin McHale was mic’d up during the game

McHale on the lack of defense in the Rookie/Sophomore Game: “One thing I’ve noticed about my squad is, do you remember how your dad would walk to school in the snow, uphill both ways?  Our guys are uphill only on defense.  They are running like crazy on offense but it’s uphill on defense.”

TNT analyst and Sophomore Team assistant coach Steve Kerr was mic’d up during the game

Kerr on how it feels to be away from team management: “I’m sleeping nine hours every night (now).”

McHale on Blake Griffin’s physique: “I looked at Blake Griffin and he’s got more muscles on his muscles than I’ve got muscles.”

McHale on the difference between his generation of players and the current generation: “We just played basketball all the time.  We didn’t spend one minute in the weight room.  So I think that we probably knew how to play basketball (better).  These guys work out and do all kinds of stuff.  In a push-up contest, I wouldn’t like my chances against these guys.  But in a basketball contest, I’d take my chances.”

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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai live from the Staples Center in LA

Johnson, Barkley and Smith

Smith on how Carmelo Anthony would make the New York Knicks contenders in the Eastern Conference: “Chauncey Billups and (Anthony) going to the New York Knicks?  That is a contending team in the Eastern Conference.  If he goes to New Jersey, in my opinion, that is not a contender but it is a playoff team maybe.  Not this year, but next year.”

Barkley: “Excuse me?  If he goes to the Knicks, they are not one of the four best teams in the East.”

Smith: “Chauncey Billups, Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony?  That is a contender in the East.”

Barkley: “They wouldn’t play any defense and they wouldn’t get a rebound.”

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