TNT’s NBA coverage will continue Thursday, Jan. 15, at 8 p.m. ET with a doubleheader featuring the Oklahoma City Thunder @ Houston Rockets followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers @ Los Angeles Lakers at 10:30 p.m.
**** **** **** ****
TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith
|
|
O’Neal on Rockets forward Dwight Howard: “I don’t know if I like Dwight Howard deferring to James Harden so much. I know James is playing great, but I know from experience if you want to win a championship you have to dominate. It’s not good enough to be a good/great big man; you have to dominate.”
Smith on the Rockets playoff chances: “They are going to win the same amount of games in the regular season without Josh Smith or Corey Brewer. During the playoffs, they will have seven guys that at any night can explode. That actually moved them up.” Barkley on Houston’s Josh Smith: “At this stage in Josh Smith’s career, he’s never going to get it.” |
| Barkley on the players the Cleveland Cavaliers recently acquired: “This makes the Cavs relevant. They were way out of the conversation. You got the Bulls, Wizards and the Raptors. I didn’t even count the Cavaliers. The addition of those two guys…getting [Timofey] Mosgov and [Iman] Shumpert makes the Cavs relevant again. | |
**** **** **** ****
Houston Rockets (120) @ New York Knicks (96)
Marv Albert (play-by-play) and Reggie Miller (analyst) with Rachel Nichols (reporter)
|
|
Miller on guard Trevor Ariza: “Ariza has played fantastic for Kevin McHale and his Rockets.”
Miller on Josh Smith: “There’s no question this guy has talent…his athletic ability and what he can do on the floor. If you are Kevin McHale you have to put him in the right situation to thrive with this team.” Miller on James Harden: “His MVP play really started this summer under Coach K and that team. When [Kevin] Durant and Paul George didn’t play on that team, I think the responsibility of being team leader went to James Harden and he accepted that. I think that play has come over to the regular season for Houston.” O’Neal on his criticism of Dwight Howard: “A lot of people may think I’m picking on him. I’m not picking on him. I have to stay on the big man like the forefathers stayed on me.” |
| Miller on the Knicks center Cole Aldrich: “One of the winners in the trade is Cole Aldrich. This gives Aldrich a chance to play major minutes. He’s very serviceable, has good hands around the basket and is a pretty good passer in this triangle offense, which you need. You need bigs that are able to pass the basketball.”
Miller on the Knicks roster: “I want to see more of Cleanthony Early and Tim Hardway, Jr. If you are going to rebuild, play the young guys. Let’s see what we have here.” |
**** **** **** ****
Miami Heat (83) @ Portland Trail Blazers (99)
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Greg Anthony (analyst) with Lewis Johnson (reporter)
|
|
Anthony on center Hassan Whiteside: “He gives them size and versatility on the front line. He has the ability to finish in traffic which is an added skill and asset for any team.” Barkley on Miami: “They are the Heat without LeBron James…every game is challenging.” |
| Anthony on center LaMarcus Aldridge: “He has found his groove as an elite player.”
Anthony on Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts: “He has matured as a head coach and really has the attention of this team.” Anthony on Portland becoming a legitimate contender: “Last year they were in the top 10, defensively; now they are in the top five defensively and they are getting better bench play.” Barkley: “If I had to pick two teams to represent their conference right now, I would pick the Trail Blazers and the Bulls.” Anthony on the Trail Blazers: “They are high octane offensively, but also very proficient on the defensive side of the ball. “ |
**** **** **** ****
Inside the NBA presented by Kia
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
| Barkley on the Cleveland trade: “I love the trade. J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert need to play well in Cleveland…they need to get better on the perimeter. The Cavs were irrelevant last week but now they are back in the conversation.” |
|
|
|
Smith on his choice between Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers: “Sustainability…Portland has it. They can play likes this for the rest of the season. I don’t think Golden State can win the West; I think Portland is more consistent.” Barkley on the Trail Blazers: “[Right now] they can get baskets down low and they have two of the best shooters but, at some point (going into the playoffs), they need to find out how to get easier baskets.” |
Visit the Turner Sports online press room for additional press materials; follow Turner Sports on Twitter at @TurnerSportsPR
-30-
Recent Comments