TNT’s NBA coverage continues Thursday, February 23, 2012 with an exclusive doubleheader featuring the
New York Knicks @ Miami Heat (7 p.m. ET) followed by the Los Angeles Lakers @ Oklahoma City Thunder (9:30 p.m. ET)
TNT and NBA TV will be in Orlando for live exclusive coverage of NBA All-Star 2012 on February 24-26. On Friday, February 24, TNT will present the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge at 9 p.m. (ET). Beginning at 8 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, February 25, TNT will have exclusive live coverage of NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm. TNT’s exclusive presentation of the NBA All-Star Game presented by Kia Motors will tip off at 7:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, February 26.
***CLIP OF THE NIGHT***
(Please click the link below to view)
The Inside crew discusses the state of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Pau Gasol trade rumors
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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith
Smith comments on recently seeing New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin play in person at Madison Square Garden: “The energy in the building was ridiculous. It felt like a playoff atmosphere. I had to see how good [Lin] is in person. He’s fearless and he doesn’t back down from adversity. That’s what has stood out to me more than anything after watching him play.”
O’Neal comments on how the return of Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony affects Jeremy Lin’s game: “With the return of Carmelo, if [Lin] keeps the game simple and doesn’t try to do too much, the Knicks will be fine.”
Smith comments on the impact of point guard Baron Davis making his season debut with the Knicks: “Now they have a true backup point guard [in Davis] who knows what he’s doing coming into the game. The Knicks now have talent.”
O’Neal comments on Atlanta Hawks reserve guard Jannero Pargo: “He’s a great shooter, great role player and if he gets going, he’s hard to stop.”
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Game 1: Boston Celtics (73) @ Dallas Mavericks (89)
Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Steve Kerr (analyst) with Craig Sager (reporter)
Fratello comments on the Boston Celtics struggling offense: “The Celtics don’t do anything to help themselves by making the easy points. They have to find ways to get extra points.”
Kerr comments on Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki: “I wonder if we’ll ever see another player like Dirk Nowitzki? He’s got the perfect combination of size, ball skills and a shooting ability. He’s so unique with what he does. I don’t think we’ll ever see anyone else like him.”
Kerr comments on the Mavericks keeping up their defensive play despite losing Tyson Chandler in the off-season: “Without Chandler last year, there’s no way they win the title. He really changed this team. So the fact that they’ve kept up their defensive numbers keeps them as a real factor in the West [Conference]. I think the Mavs have a real chance to win the West and get back to the Finals.”
Kerr comments on Mavericks’ reserve forward Brandon Wright: “Dallas has been a good fit for Brandon Wright. He runs the floor, he’s got long arms and is a versatile defender. He’s been a really nice addition to the bench. When you can run and jump like Wright can, you can find a couple of easy hoops now and then.”
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Halftime
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
O’Neal comments on the Celtics struggling without Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo in the lineup: “The great Vince Lombardi once said: ‘The strength of the group is the strength of our leaders.’ Right now without their two leaders, they are struggling. They don’t have any defensive presence whatsoever without Kevin Garnett. And without [Rajon] Rondo, they don’t have a flow to their offense.”
Barkley comments on Celtics head coach Doc Rivers: “Doc Rivers is one of the most-underrated coaches in the league. He does a great job of motivating his team.”
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Kerr comments on Mavericks forward Shawn Marion: “He’s one of the best defenders in the league because of his versatility.”
Kerr comments on Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle: “He’s one of the best in the league, no question. The way Dallas plays with their execution, their use of the bench…he uses his guys perfectly.”
Kerr comments on the Celtics playoff positioning: “If you’re the Celtics, you want to get to six [seed in the playoffs] because you want to avoid Miami and Chicago in the first round. The problem with that is you have to stave off New York and try to catch Indiana and Philadelphia. There are some really good teams in that bunch.”
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Game 2: Portland Trail Blazers (92) @ Los Angeles Lakers (103)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Reggie Miller (analyst) with Cheryl Miller (reporter)
Miller comments on how the trade rumors surrounding Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol are affecting the team: “Kobe [Bryant] feels that [the trade rumors] are affecting Pau’s play. He can’t compete at a high level on the court because he’s thinking: ‘Why should I give so much to this franchise that I helped win two championships when I could be out the door the next day.’”
Miller comments on the possibility of the Lakers trading Pau Gasol: “There aren’t many teams in this league that have two legit seven-footers [Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum] that are very active down low, they can pass and score. If they are going to trade Pau Gasol, and I hope they don’t, they better get a lot back in return.”
Miller comments on the emergence of Portland Trail Blazers guard Nicolas Batum: “He really plays well at both ends of the floor. He came into the league as more of a defensive player but he’s really worked on his offense. [Blazers head coach] Nate McMillan has started to run more plays through him because of that.”
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Halftime
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Barkley comments on the Portland Trail Blazers limitations on offense: “The one problem with the Blazers is their best player [LaMarcus Aldridge] is still technically a jump shooter. They haven’t really been healthy all season but they don’t really get a bunch of stuff going to the basket. So when they start missing jumpers, that basket starts getting tighter and tighter.”
Barkley comments on the Lakers offense: “The Lakers are a much better team when they pound the ball inside. A lot of times they start jacking up a bunch of jumpers. When they start using Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum together, they are tough to match-up with on the offensive end.”
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Miller comments on how the Blazers should run more on offense: “The Blazers should run more especially with [guards] Raymond Felton and Jamal Crawford on the wings. I would like them to get out more and run to put more pressure on the other team’s defenses. Sometimes they walk the ball up like they’re the Lakers or the Spurs or Dallas…like they’re an older team. They’ve got young guys who can really run the floor. They need to use that athleticism to their advantage.”
TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Lakers guard Kobe Bryant following the game
Bryant on the “other” team in Los Angeles: “We were pretty entertaining tonight. We throw alley-oops and lobs…just not as explosive as that other team [Clippers] here.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
O’Neal comments on the Lakers Kobe Bryant addressing the Lakers’ front office about Pau Gasol trade rumors: “As a leader he did a great job standing up for him. We all know, it’s part of the business. Pau needs to figure out what type of player he’s going to be – is he going to complain about it or is he going to dominate the way he did when they [the Lakers] won those two championships? If he plays like that [being dominant], [Lakers general manager] Mitch Kupchak and the management will stall the trade.”
Barkley comments on the Pau Gasol trade rumors: “This is a business and when they are paying you $12 million a year, if they want to ship you away, they pretty much can.”
Barkley comments on New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith: “If he had [gone] to the Clippers, I might have made them the favorites in the West.”
Barkley comments on the San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich: “Greg Popovich is the best coach in the NBA. I don’t know how he does it but he’s just a great coach.”
Smith comments on New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin: “I think it’s real. He has a fearless attitude. He makes plays…he’s not afraid to fail.”
O’Neal comments on how high the New York Knicks could finish in the Eastern Conference this season: “They [the Knicks] can get up to number six.”
Barkley comments on the Eastern Conference: “There’s only two scary teams in the East – that’s Miami and Chicago. The Miami Heat will only go as far as LeBron James will carry them. He’s the best basketball player in the world. He’s going to take them [Miami] to the promise land [NBA championship] if they get there [to the Finals].”
Smith comments on the play of the Washington Wizards: “I’m just waiting for the bucket with the confetti to come out one night.”
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