Notes from TNT’s NBA Coverage on MLK Day – Monday, January 21, 2013
TNT’s NBA coverage continues Thursday, January 24, at 7 p.m. (ET) with the exclusive announcement of the 2013 NBA All-Star reserves followed by a doubleheader featuring the New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics at 8 p.m. and the Los Angeles Clippers @ Phoenix Suns
***CLIP OF THE NIGHT***
(Please click the text below to view)
Shaq, Kenny and Chris talk about the Lakers’ struggles.
**** **** **** ****
TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Chris Webber
Smith on the impact Martin Luther King, Jr. has had on multiple generations: “If you look at the impact that he’s had on the modern era and the future era, there are so many things [that he said] that people live their lives around. If you look at our show, we have three African-American guys talking about what it takes to be champions, what it takes to be great and what it takes to be successful. That [resonates] throughout the whole nation and throughout the world on how far we’ve come and how much he’s done to participate in that.”
**** **** **** ****
Game 1: San Antonio Spurs (90) @ Philadelphia 76ers (85)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller (analysts) with David Aldridge (reporter)
Barkley on the Philadelphia 76ers: “They don’t get a lot of easy baskets because they don’t have a low-post presence. They are inconsistent because they are a jump-shooting team.”
Miller: “Well, they’re a jump-shooting team without any jump-shooters.”
Barkley on 76ers point guard Jrue Holiday: “I love Jrue Holiday; hopefully he’ll make the All-Star team.”
Barkley on the 76ers’ Jrue Holiday and Thaddeus Young: “Jrue Holiday and Thaddeus Young are two terrific young players. Unfortunately, with the [injured Andrew] Bynum situation, they haven’t had that much team success. But they are two terrific young studs.”
Barkley on 76ers center Spencer Hawes: “Hawes is one of the better backup centers in the NBA. He’s solid.”
Miller on 76ers guard Evan Turner: “Evan Turner has all the skills to be one of those players who can average 12 points, 6-7 rebounds and 5-6 assists. But his inconsistency has hurt him.”
Barkley: “He doesn’t have great speed or quickness so all of his shots are contested. He’s a very good shooter and good, solid player but he doesn’t have a speed advantage on the court.”
Barkley on injured 76ers center Andrew Bynum: “They had great expectations coming into the season. He’s one of the best centers in the league when [he’s] healthy. This is going to be a very tricky situation for [the 76ers] not just for this year but moving forward.”
Miller on how 76ers’ Jrue Holiday and Thaddeus Young need to take more of a leadership role with the team: “[Young and Holiday] are really quiet in the locker room and until they make their voices heard and take over that locker room, this team is going to stay right in the middle. He wants his young players to have a voice, step up and take that leadership role.”
**** **** **** ****
Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, O’Neal, Smith and Webber
Smith on the Spurs offensive execution: “This is what basketball execution is all about. Everybody trusts that the next guy will do; what he’s supposed to do. All of a sudden, you have guys who are wide open, guys making shots and making plays.”
**** **** **** ****
Barkley on Spurs power forward Tim Duncan: “It’s an honor to watch Tim Duncan play. In my opinion, he’s the greatest power forward ever. He does it all.”
Barkley on signing injured center Andrew Bynum when he becomes a free agent after the season: “I like Andrew Bynum but I’m not paying Andrew Bynum. He’s going to be a year older and he’s obviously got bad knees. I can’t give him $100 million.”
Barkley on the 76ers: “If I played on the team right now, I’d be their best big man.”
**** **** **** ****
Game 2: Los Angeles Lakers (83) @ Chicago Bulls (95)
Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play) and Steve Kerr (analyst) with Craig Sager (reporter)
Kerr on Lakers reserve forward Earl Clark: “He’s finally getting a chance to play and this is a good situation for him. The Lakers need his energy. He’s proven to be a really good fit on the Lakers.”
Kerr on the Bulls losing more than just Derrick Rose from last year’s roster: “Losing Kyle Korver and C.J. Watson from last year’s team really hurt the Bulls in terms of its ability to stretch the floor. It wasn’t just about losing [Derrick] Rose, it was losing that bench core of [Omar] Asik, Ronnie Brewer and Korver. Now you have to execute even better without those weapons that they’ve lost.”
Kerr on the how Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni’s offensive system doesn’t fit with the Lakers roster: “This system that Mike D’Antoni runs is not suited for two big men…and we’ve known that. We’ve seen the system work so well in Phoenix with a smaller, more versatile lineup. It didn’t work as well in New York with bigger players. The style is just much more suited for playing a guy like [Lakers forward] Earl Clark who can run and guard perimeter players.”
Kerr on what the Lakers should do with recently benched center Pau Gasol: “If the Lakers are going to play with the style over the roster, that means they have to do something with Pau Gasol trade-wise.”
Kerr on the Lakers searching for an identity: “The Lakers don’t really have an identity. They’re not particularly good on defense. Even though they score a lot of points, they aren’t explosive. A lot of times, those points don’t mean much. They’re looking for an identity as a team.”
Kerr on the Lakers’ defense: “For this team to be good defensively, [Dwight] Howard has to dominate.”
**** **** **** ****
Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, O’Neal, Smith and Webber
O’Neal on how the Lakers combo of Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol can work:“They can only work together if one of the big men is dominant.”
O’Neal on why Earl Clark is starting for the Lakers: “The reason why Earl Clark is starting is because he’s got more aggression than Pau [Gasol]. Mike D’Antoni is one of the easiest coaches to play for. He’s offensive-minded and it’s every player’s dream to play for an offensive-minded coach. When you’re set isn’t there, he gives you the ability to make a move and create for yourself. [Gasol is] not being aggressive, so he’s not in the lineup.”
**** **** **** ****
Kerr on what causes the Bulls to struggle: “When Chicago struggles, it’s because teams defend them well and they don’t have anything at the end of the shot clock to bail them out.”
Kerr on Bulls point guard Derrick Rose returning from injury: “There should be no timetable [for his return] other than Derrick’s timetable. When he’s ready to play and he feels confident with what he’s trying to do out there, that’s when you bring him back.”
Kerr on Bulls point guard Kirk Hinrich filling in for an injured Derrick Rose: “What Hinrich has brought to this team with [Derrick] Rose out is really dramatic – not only with his defense, but how he is organizing the team offensively. He’s been a huge pick-up for this club.”
Kerr on Bulls forward Jimmy Butler: “His effort has been amazing. As he develops a jump shot and, judging by his form, he will be able to do that, Butler has a chance to be an excellent player in this league.”
Kerr on Lakers point guard Steve Nash: “He’s such a good shooter. He needs to be more and more aggressive with the Lakers.”
**** **** **** ****
Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, O’Neal, Smith and Webber
O’Neal on what it means to play on MLK Day: “When I think of Dr. Martin Luther…he inspired me. I’ve always been about peace…and it was an honor to work on that day.”
Webber reflects on MLK Day: “The impact he made was just incredible. Thank you very much to Dr. Martin Luther King.”
O’Neal on Lakers forward Earl Clark: “Earl Clark…just goes out there and plays with a lot of energy, doing the small things. That’s why he’s starting over Pau Gasol.”
Smith on the Lakers decision to use Pau Gasol off the bench: “I really disagree with Pau Gasol being on the bench. If he’s not good enough to start on your team, you can trade him because he’s good enough to start on any other team in the NBA.”
Webber on Pau Gasol: “Pau Gasol should average a triple-double playing with Dwight Howard.”
Smith on whether or not the Lakers should trade Pau Gasol now: “[The Lakers] have to trade [Gasol] because of the system they’re running. In this system there is no benefit for having two guys who can make things happen in the box. It’s a difficult situation only because of the system that is in place.”
Smith on how great players adapt to a system compared to less-skilled players: “Great players don’t need to know where to go. Plays are for the guys that don’t really have the skills of the great players.”
Smith on Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph: “Zach Randolph is the best under-the-rim big man…in the last decade.”
Smith on the passion of Sacramento Kings fans: “Overall, they were the best fans when they had the worst teams.”
O’Neal on playing in Sacramento: “It was one of the toughest places to play. That was one of the scariest places to play.”
O’Neal on Hakeem Olajuwon who celebrated his 50th birthday on Jan. 21: “Hakeem Olajuwon was the only guy I couldn’t intimidate. He was a guy you couldn’t study.”
— 30 —
Recent Comments