TNT’s NBA coverage continues Thursday, Nov. 29, at 8 p.m. ET with doubleheader action featuring the San Antonio Spurs @ Miami Heat followed by the Denver Nuggets @ Golden State Warriors at 10:30 p.m.
***CLIP OF THE NIGHT***
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Charles Barkley on the Chicago Bulls’ chances without All-Star Derrick Rose
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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith
Smith on the Knicks/Nets rivalry in New York: “This is not like the Lakers and Clippers. When you see the Brooklyn Nets, they have a chance to steal fans. When you’re a 12 year old, or 22 year old, you don’t know the Knicks have a great franchise. You just know them as a team that has lost a lot in the first round or didn’t make the playoffs. The Nets could own their borough and make the Knicks be called the Manhattan Knicks.”
Barkley on the best team in New York: “The Nets are the best team. You take away Carmelo Anthony, the Nets are better at every other position. Also, they’ve [Nets] got a better bench than the Knicks. They’ve got a better team.”
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Game 1: New York Knicks (89) @ Brooklyn Nets (96) – OT
Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
Kerr on Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez: “You have to get a hand up on Lopez, even if he’s 18-20 feet from the basket.”
Kerr on New York Knicks forward Rasheed Wallace: “Rasheed [Wallace] has looked fantastic after taking last year off. Rasheed has been a huge addition at both ends of the floor to this point.”
Kerr on how the season might play out for the Knicks and Nets this season: “We’re going to see both these teams in the playoffs barring anything unforeseen. These are both really good teams. Miami will be the No. 1 seed [in the East]. The two seed will be coveted.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Smith on the New York Knicks bench: “[Steve] Novak and J.R. Smith are more explosive. J.R. Smith is the ‘x factor.’ The Knicks have a better bench.”
Barkley on the Brooklyn Nets bench: “Brooklyn has a better bench. I love Reggie Evans. To me, the ‘x factor’ is Andray Blatche.”
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Kerr on the Nets Gerald Wallace guarding the Knicks Carmelo Anthony: “Wallace is probably as physically-equipped to guard Anthony as anybody in this league. His skill set is so impressive. Defensively, he’s one of the smartest players in the league.”
Kerr on Nets forward Reggie Evans: “He’s as good as anybody in the league on the offensive glass. Evans has changed this game entirely with his work.”
Kerr on the Nets defense: “I have been very impressed with the physicality of this Brooklyn defense.”
Kerr on the Brooklyn Nets search for an identity in the early stretch of the 2012-13 season: “They are a relevant part of the NBA now. They are a tough defensive club and I think they’ve found it [their identity] tonight.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
O’Neal on Nets forward Reggie Evans: “Reggie Evans is a hard working guy. He gets every rebound. He reminds me of a young Dennis Rodman, he gets every rebound, doesn’t want to shoot and doesn’t want to score. He works hard and the people of New York and Brooklyn will appreciate his hard work.”
Barkley on the Nets roster: “They put a good team together and I want to give [Nets general manager] Billy King some credit…they’ve got a lot of weapons.”
Barkley on veteran Nets forward Jerry Stackhouse: “They brought him in to be a leader so it’s a bonus when he scores. He’s going to be a great mentor. He’s always been a great player and he’s going to do a fantastic job.”
Barkley on the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder: “Memphis and Oklahoma City are the two best teams in the West [Conference].”
Barkley on the Chicago Bulls’ chances without Derrick Rose: They’ve got no chance without Derrick Rose. They work hard and they play great defense. There’s a chance they could probably make the playoffs without Derrick Rose but they aren’t a threat whatsoever.”
O’Neal on the Bulls: “If the Bulls are playing well enough without Derrick Rose, when he comes back, they have a chance. They will make the playoffs…right now they don’t have a chance.”
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