TNT NBA Studio Analysts React to 2010 NBA All-Star Starters
TNT’s Inside the NBA studio team of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Chris Webber give their thoughts on the 2010 NBA All-Star Starters and their picks for the All-Star Reserves. The NBA All-Star Reserves will be announced exclusively on TNT on Thursday, Jan. 28 in a one hour pre-game show beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
NBA ALL-STAR CLIPS OF THE DAY
(click on link below to watch)
Webber, Smith and Barkley give their picks for the NBA All-Star Eastern Conference Reserves
Webber, Smith and Barkley give their picks for the NBA All-Star Western Conference Reserves
Eastern Conference All-Star Starters
F – Kevin Garnett (Boston Celtics)
F – LeBron James – (Cleveland Cavaliers)
C – Dwight Howard – (Orlando Magic)
G – Dwyane Wade – (Miami Heat)
G – Allen Iverson – (Philadelphia 76ers)
All-Star starter and Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard joined the studio crew via satellite
Howard on what he’s looking forward to most with All-Star Weekend: “I’m looking forward to interacting with the fans and having fun. Being around the guys is a great experience. As a player, you look forward to going every year.”
Howard on the Magic having a ‘hangover’ from their 2009 Finals appearance: “I don’t think that a lot of us have gotten over the fact that we lost in the Finals. Getting to the Finals is one thing but then playing and losing takes a lot out of you mentally and physically. A lot of the guys are still thinking about losing in the Finals. It was a tough experience for myself and it took me a while to recover from playing in the Finals.”
Howard on if he is going to start demanding the ball more: “I need to (start demanding the ball). I need to but I’m all about team. I just want what’s best for the team. I need to demand the ball more, that’s what I need to do. I want to win so badly. Whatever it takes to take for us to get to the next level, I’ll do that.”
Smith on Allen Iverson’s NBA All-Star selection: “I agree that the fans should have a vote. I think one of the biggest compliments (as a player) is to have the fans recognize what you do as a player. But the greatest compliment of all is when your peers vote for you. To me, that the NBA doesn’t allow it’s players to have a vote in the All-Star process, is a bigger travesty than the fans (getting to vote). The coaches and fans vote but game recognizes game. I think the players should have a vote. If you want the fans to vote, they should be voting for the wild card, for the guys that they want to see in after the players and coaches have voted.”
Barkley on Allen Iverson starting in the All-Star Game: “I think (Allen Iverson) should decline to play in the game. In fairness, Allen started in the West (Conference with Memphis) and now starts in the East (Conference with Philadelphia). That’s not fair. If he was still having a great individual year, that would be totally different. The Sixers have not played well and he has not played well.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed All-Star starter and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James prior to the game
James on playing against Lakers guard Kobe Bryant: “It’s great (to play against Bryant). (We’re) two of the best competitors in the game today and one thing we try to do is lead our teams to victory every day no matter what the stakes are. No matter who we are going against, no matter if it’s on TNT or anywhere else. We just try to win ballgames and that’s why I love going against him.”
James on not participating in the 2010 Sprite Slam Dunk: “I think the NBA has already picked the four guys that they want to be in it. I know my teammate had a great idea but we’ll see how far that’ll go.”
Sager: “How Shaq wanted to (have a charity dunk contest and) give money to Haiti? Do you think that could happen?”
James: “(Shaq) is my guy. He’s great when it comes to having great marketing plans.”
Western Conference All-Star Starters
F – Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets)
F – Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
C – Amar’e Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns)
G – Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
G – Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns)
Smith on Rockets guard Aaron Brooks: “(The Rockets) are not the team (that they are) without Aaron Brooks. If Aaron Brooks get hurt, they can’t contend. He is the glue that makes it happen.”
Smith on New York Knicks center David Lee: “(David Lee) deserves to be a center (on the All-Star team). He is the second best center in the East (Conference) this year.”
Webber on Atlanta Hawks reserve guard Jamal Crawford being a crucial piece to his team: “I think (Jamal Crawford) is the spark on the (Hawks) this year. (He’s made some) game-winning shots. I think the whole team has changed because now you have someone that comes off the bench. When you look at their big games against the Lakers or other teams and Joe (Johnson) hasn’t been able to get it off in the first half. Who do they go to? He’s the savior of this team.”
Smith: “Is he the coffee or is he the sugar? Is he the sweetener to the coffee that was already there? To me, he’s the thing that makes it taste good. But he’s not the coffee…Joe Johnson is the coffee.”
Barkley on why he believes Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace should make the NBA All-Star team: “I would be very disappointed if Gerald Wallace didn’t make it. He’s the reason, no offense to Stephen Jackson, that Charlotte has got the best record since the New Year started.”
Smith on why he believes Celtics guard Rajon Rondo should be an All-Star in the East: “If (Celtics guard Rajon) Rondo doesn’t make it for the first time I would be disappointed because he’s shown he’s more than the glue to the Boston Celtics or just an admirable player.”
Smith on why Rockets guard Aaron Brooks needs to be an All-Star in the West: “Aaron Brooks deserves it. He’s created enough excitement to be on the team with his play, game winnings shots and big games. In terms of explosion in games that they’ve needed 40 points or 30 points, he’s been the guy who has exploded and pushed himself to be an All-Star.”
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