Notes from TNT’s Coverage of 2012 NBA All-Star Game presented by Kia – Sunday, February 26, 2012
Western Conference (152) vs. Eastern Conference (149)
The NBA 2011-12 regular season resumes on NBA TV on Tuesday, February 28, with the Fan Night game featuring the New Orleans Hornets @ Chicago Bulls at 8 p.m. (ET)
And on TNT on Thursday, March 1, with a doubleheader featuring Oklahoma City Thunder @ Orlando Magic at 8 p.m. (ET) followed by the Miami Heat @ Portland Trail Blazers
at 10:30 p.m. (ET)
CLIP OF THE DAY
(click on link below to watch)
Magic Johnson joined the TNT studio team during the All-Star pregame show
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NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Chris Webber
Webber on his five trips to All-Star: “Best thing of my life. It never gets old especially seeing your favorite players and the guys I came into the All-Star games trying to emulate. So, to me, it never gets old and it never will get old.”
O’Neal on entertaining the crowd at All-Star: “When I really started watching the All-Star Game, watching Chuck, watching Karl Malone, watching Michael Jordan those guys put on a show. People paid a lot of money to come here and watch us play so I wanted to put on a show so people would have a good time.”
O’Neal on his entertaining dancing: “I was a break dancer back in the day. You bring in any dancer in the TNT studio and I will battle them. How about that!”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviews Miami Heat forward LeBron James: “I’m going out there to have fun. We go out there to try and play at a high level.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviews Orlando Magic forward Dwight Howard on talk of him leaving Orlando: “I want everyone to enjoy themselves and have fun.”
Smith on his favorite All-Star moment: “My favorite moment as a fan is when Magic Johnson came back after missing half the season and announcing he was HIV positive. That was the best all-star moment for me. It opened up the coaches and people’s minds and it showed how great a player he still was.”
Smith on his one basketball career regret: “I have been fortunate to play on two championship teams, blessed to be named college player of the year. My one regret is not playing in the All-Star Game.”
Webber on if another player will break Wilt Chamberlain’s record: “I don’t think it will be done. We’ve seen 81, but 100 is just so remarkable. I don’t know if we will ever see it again.”
Barkley on meeting Wilt Chamberlain and the comparison between Chamberlain and O’Neal: “It was an honor and a pleasure to play for the great 76ers and that legacy and I got the honor to meet Mr. Chamberlain. Shaquille O’Neal is the first guy where I said: “Man, that’s a big ass dude!” But he was amazing. Watching Shaquille run and jump as big as he was…Wilt is the closest I have ever seen to be the same size as Shaquille O’Neal.”
Magic Johnson joins the studio team during the pregame show:
O’Neal comments on Wilt Chamberlain and the 50th Anniversary of Chamberlain’s
100-pt. game: “He’s the ‘godfather’ of dominant big men.”
Magic Johnson comments on playing the 1992 All-Star Game in Orlando after he had announced he was HIV positive earlier in the year: “I prepared like it was my last chance to play basketball. That’s what the brotherhood is all about when you get into the NBA. It’s guys pulling for each other. I needed that moment. That was my therapy.”
Barkley on working with Magic Johnson and his accomplishments post-NBA: “As great as you were as a basketball player, we loved working with you. I admire you so much for your business sense and what you have done for the inner cities around the country. You have given people the opportunity to be successful.”
TNT’s Kenny Smith comments on Magic Johnson and becoming aware of people with HIV after Magic’s announcement: “That was the single most memorable moment in All-Star history for me. It taught me about sportsmanship and teamwork and made me appreciate people and include people that I didn’t think I could include in my life.”
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All-Star Game presented by Kia
Marv Albert, Steve Kerr and Reggie Miller
Western Conference All-Stars
West Coach: Scott Brooks, Head Coach, Oklahoma City Thunder
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers
Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
Eastern Conference All-Stars
East Coach: Tom Thibodeau, Head Coach, Chicago Bulls
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls
Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers
Chris Bosh, Miami Heat
Deron Williams, New Jersey Nets
Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers
Kerr on the Miami Heat’s big three: “They have been the most dominant team in the NBA so far because of these three – LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. The three of them seem to have the continuity now and the comfort level of playing together. This is a dominant defensive team and they are playing at a faster, high flying pace this season and they are just destroying teams.”
Kerr on the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard potential trade situation: “The story here in Orlando this weekend is about Dwight Howard. He has asked for the trade with the deadline coming up mid-March. So Magic fans may be seeing Dwight play in this building as a member of the Magic for one of the final times tonight.”
Miller on the number of Lakers and Clippers players on the Western Conference team: “There’s a reason they call it ‘Tinsel Town’ there’s something in the water. Four of five starters coming from LA playing in the same building and who would have thought the Clippers would be higher in the standings at the break.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviews New York Knicks Carmelo Anthony on the bench
Anthony on playing with Jeremy Lin: “We are looking forward to the second half of the season. As far as the Knicks go, we get back to business on Monday.”
Anthony gives Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard advice on the potential trade situation: “Keep playing ball, keep your head up. Whatever decision you make, make sure it’s the right decision for you without any regrets and move on. If you want to stay here in Orlando, stay here. Make that decision on your own as long as it’s a good one for your family.”
Kerr on Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant surpassing Michael Jordan’s record as all-time scorer in an All-Star: “Quite a record; 14 consecutive All-Star appearances for Kobe. He loves these games. He relishes coming out here and performing.”
Los Angeles Clippers Blake Griffin talks with TNT’s David Aldridge on the Western Conference bench
What the Los Angeles Clippers need to do going into the second half of the season: “We really have to lock in defensively. We have a lot of road games coming up. We need to make sure we are staying healthy, getting rest. When we are on the court it has to be about defense.”
Kerr on the Dallas Maverick’s chances for a repeat trip to the championship: “If you consider him [Dirk Nowitzki] a four-man, which most people do these last 11 games, he is back to the Dirk we have all come to know. That’s why I think Dallas is a legitimate threat to get back to the Finals. I didn’t think they had a chance when they lost Tyson Chandler, but statistically their defense is better.”
Miami Heat’s LeBron James talks with TNT’s Craig Sager
James on Kobe Bryant breaking Michael Jordan’s all-time All-Star Game scoring record: “I want to commend Kobe on breaking the all-time scorer record in All-Star history passing MJ [Michael Jordan]. It just shows how he has been able to stay healthy and keep his game at a high level.”
TNT’s Craig Sager speaks with Miami Heat’s LeBron James following the game
James on the close All-Star Game: “I had a key turnover. I will get over it, but I am not going to watch highlights of it. I feel like I let my team down. All in all, it was a great weekend. All-Star was a success again and I am happy to be a part of it.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal, Smith, Webber
San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker chats with TNT’s David Aldridge following the game Parker on the comeback of the Eastern Conference to almost win the game: “It was fun to watch and I am glad we got the win. LeBron was on fire and he was getting into it with Kobe and then Kevin Durant was awesome, too, tonight.”
Barkley analyzes the second half of the regular season: “Nothing about the NBA this year is normal. Normally this [All-Star] signals the second half of the season. It’s going to be a very interesting next couple of months in the NBA because, as I have said in the beginning, to win the championship you have to be able to win on the road and teams have to keep their best players healthy and fresh.”
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