Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the NBA – Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012
TNT’s NBA coverage continues Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012 at 8 p.m. ET with the TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com with Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith
Following the pre-game show, TNT’s doubleheader will feature the L.A. Lakers @ Boston Celtics (8 p.m. ET) followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder @ Sacramento Kings (10:30 p.m. ET)
***CLIP OF THE NIGHT***
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Charles Barkley sends a personal message to LeBron James about his hairline
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Game 1: Chicago Bulls (105) @ New York Knicks (102)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
Miller comments on New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony playing the point-guard position with Baron Davis out: “He can score any time he wants on the floor and I like it. He is going to command double-teams and he’s a willing passer. He gets other guys involved which will make scoring for him easier.”
Miller comments on Knicks guard Baron Davis returning to play: “It will be interesting to see what Baron Davis does once he comes back.”
Miller comments on Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony’s scoring ability: “He’s one of the top scorers in the league. He can get points in bunches.”
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Halftime
Johnson, O’Neal, Smith and Barkley
Webber comments on the Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose: “The best player on the team [Rose] is either scoring or trying to get others involved. When you have a guy that’s going to score or get you involved, the team plays better.”
Webber comments on the Knicks offense and what they need to do in the second half: “They need to attack the basket and help [Amar’e] Stoudemire with the pick and rolls because that’s the best way he scores.”
Barkley on what the Knicks offense needs: “They [Knicks] need a point guard because if they don’t play faster, they’ve got no chance.”
O’Neal on what the Knicks need to do to create a better offense: “Carmelo [Anthony] needs to look for Amar’e [Stoudemire] first. If he does that, he can get into the offense better. If he’s [Anthony] just taking crazy shots and everyone is out of rhythm, it’s not going to work.”
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Miller describing Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose’s penetrating “floater” shot: “It’s more like a running push shot.”
Miller comments on Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau and his use of the Bulls’ bench: “Coach Tom Thibodeau has a lot of confidence in his rookie out of Marquette Jimmy Butler…guarding Carmelo Anthony in crunch time. Chicago is going to be there at the finish line is because Thibodeau is developing his bench.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviews Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose following the Bulls win
Rose comments on the win: “We lost to a great team [Philadelphia 76ers] yesterday and we just tried to redeem ourselves tonight.”
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Game 2: Denver Nuggets (112) @ L.A. Clippers (91)
Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and David Aldridge (reporter)
Kerr comments on the Denver Nuggets offense without Carmelo Anthony who was traded last season to the N.Y. Knicks from the Nuggets: “They share the ball [now]…they’ve got shooters all over the floor.”
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Halftime
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal, Smith and Webber
O’Neal comments on Clippers Blake Griffin’s development: “For a third year player he’s doing fine. He probably needs three definite post moves. Him stepping out shooting the jumper, I don’t agree with that. You can dominate by just dunking and shooting high percentage shots in the post. The closer you are to the basket, the better your percentage is.”
Webber comments on Clippers Blake Griffin: “Griffin has a great game, but if you’re really honest, in the post he cannot get his own shot. In the post he cannot get his own shot without a spin move.”
Smith comments on the Denver Nuggets transition game: “They [Denver] are the best, the best from defense to offense.”
Barkley comments on Denver: “They [the Nuggets] are two deep in every position.”
Barkley comments on the best teams in the West this season: “OKC [Oklahoma City], Portland and Denver are the three best teams I’ve seen in the West.”
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Kerr comments on the Denver Nuggets play in the 2011-12 season: “Denver is a fun team to watch. This is a club that shares the ball, they push it in transition. It’s going to be really interesting to see if they’re a real force in the West.”
TNT’s David Aldridge interviewed Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari following his 21 pt. effort in the Nuggets’ victory.
Gallinari: “I have to be aggressive. We have a lot of energy especially on defense. It’s tough to catch us.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Webber on the Denver Nuggets pace of play on the court: “In the playoffs when you slow the ball down you have an advantage, but Denver is never going to slow down whether it’s the playoffs or regular season. When the bench comes in with their speed, it’s hard to control them.”
Barkley on the Denver Nuggets style of play: “The Denver Nuggets might be the deepest team in the NBA. They have a style. They are two deep at every position and they are going to try and run you out of the building.”
Smith’s assessment of the Clippers at this point in the season: “We understand what they can do with the fast break. We understand what they can do with the lobs. When they are smacked in the mouth back, they haven’t responded all the time. That’s the question as to what you can do when teams like Denver smack you back in the mouth. They [Clippers] can’t go to the bench to get scoring in the low post and they can’t go to the bench to get anything other than guard play.”
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