Notes from NBA TV Preseason Game: December 21, 2011
Miami Heat vs. Orlando Magic
NBA TV tips off its 96-game 2011-2012 NBA regular season schedule on Dec. 26 with the Houston Rockets @ Orlando Magic
NBA GameTime studio team: Vince Cellini, Greg Anthony and Dennis Scott
Onsite announcers: Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, Craig Sager
Fratello on Heat forward LeBron James’ off-season workouts with Hakeem Olajuwon: “The staff wanted him to work on a few things; they felt they needed him down on the low post more.”
Sager on his conversations with Orlando Magic Center Dwight Howard, GM Otis Smith and new chairman Rich DeVos: “I am convinced Howard doesn’t know what he wants to do. Smith does have offers, and feels they will get better as they near the March 15 trade deadline. DeVos is convinced he will re-sign Dwight Howard. No one in the organization wants Howard to leave before the All-Star Game.”
Fratello on the trade rumors surrounding Howard: “If Howard gets traded to another team that would instantly make that team one that could compete for the championship in people’s minds and that would certainly tear the hearts out of the local fans once again… Who lost Shaquille O’Neal a few years back.”
Fratello on Howard’s future: “If Dwight Howard played it out until the end of the year and became a free agent and went to another team, he could only make the mid-level exception. He couldn’t get a contract from another team for $16 or $18 million dollars. He would not be able to.”
Sager interviewed Miami Coach Eric Spoelstra courtside:
Spoelstra: “They (Orlando) are a team that can go on runs and turn it just like that. We want to play hard and get into our game and force them to try and miss some of those shots. “
Albert on James’ mentality this season: “He (LeBron James) admits he had a difficult time of dealing with the mental stress of last season that he realizes he created himself. It seems like things are on the calm side as compared to a year ago. The lockout might have been a positive for the Miami Heat.”
Fratello on last year’s Miami Heat: “They have been through so much last season- the expectations were so high, the pressure from the outside, the pressure they put on themselves trying to handle those types of situations – Bosh and LeBron had not been in that situation before. Now you come back and you tweak and adjust a few things. Why shouldn’t they have an outstanding season this year?”
Sager interviews LeBron James on the Heat this season:
James: “Preseason is a time for teams to get better, and that’s what we are trying to do – get better every quarter and carry that over to the regular season.”
****GameTime Halftime Show****
Studio Team: Vince Cellini, Greg Anthony and Dennis Scott
Scott on the poor play of the Orlando Magic: “Orlando fans, ya’ll may be in more trouble than we thought. I know its preseason, but there is no continuity, nobody working together…”
Anthony on the Heat this year: “The biggest adjustment I think they are going to make this season is you are going to see more post play from LeBron and Dwyane Wade.”
Anthony on the Knicks this season: “I think they have the best front line in the Eastern Conference. I think their front line is going to be spectacular. The question is are they going to get enough out of the back court? I think Amar’e (Stoudeire) and Carmelo (Anthony) have to be playmakers for this basketball team.”
Sager interviewed Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith on the other offers made in regards to Howard:
Smith: “(We are) Not entertaining anything at the moment. We like our team, we like the team on the floor and we’d like to keep Dwight in the uniform for a long time.”
****GameTime Postgame Show****
Studio team: Vince Cellini, Greg Anthony and Dennis Scott
Scott on what he expects from LeBron James this season: “LeBron is trying to turn the page this year. He took a page out of Kobe’s and Dwight Howard’s book and was working with Hakeem Olajuwon in the off-season. It’s not deep-post, it’s mid-post where he can create space and have more room to operate. That’s what the Miami Heat look forward to.”
Anthony on Howard’s role on the team: “He’s going to carry a lot of responsibility, he’s a leader on the team. Right now, he’s on the Magic. He’s got to get his teammates to buy in to him being there and keep the focus on winning basketball games.”
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