We both made it?

TNT exclusively announced the NBA All-Star Reserves. TNT will air the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, February 17.

NBA All-Star Eastern Reserves:

Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons

Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors

Caron Butler, Washington Wizards

Rip Hamilton, Detroit Pistons

Antawn Jamison, Washington Wizards

Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks

Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics

NBA All-Star Western All-Stars:

Carlos Boozer, Utah Jazz

Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns

Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks

Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers

Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns

David West, New Orleans

Smith on Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen not receiving an All-Star selection: “If you’re going to reward winning in this league, I think it also sends a message to everyone else. For a team that is 35-8 (Ray Allen) is just as valuable as Paul Pierce is to the Boston Celtics. If one of those guys goes down they have the same situation. For him not to make the All-Star Game is a disservice to a guy who is winning.”

Barkley on Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu not earning a place on the All-Star roster: “The biggest slight is Hedo Turkoglu. He’s made a lot of game winners. That’s not to disrespect any guys who made it, but Turkoglu deserves to make the All-Star team, and I’m disappointed.”

Barkley on Heat center and perennial All-Star Shaquille O’Neal not making the All-Star roster: “I love Shaquille O’Neal, but he’s not having an All-Star season and we’re not sentimental around here either.”

Toronto Raptors center Chris Bosh joined the TNT studio team via satellite.

Bosh on his YouTube video soliciting All-Star votes: “I just wanted to have some fun with it. It worked pretty well, but I still got on thanks to the coaches and I’ve just been trying to have a great year.”

Bosh on the strong play of the Toronto Raptors: “We are in a good position right now, fortunately with our record we are in the playoff race. Right now there are the little things that are the problem with our consistency, we can rebound a lot better and play defense a lot better and if we can do these things I think we’ll have a lot more wins.”

Bosh on who he felt got slighted in the All-Star selections: “Just like the guys were saying, Hedo Turkoglu. I don’t think a lot of people expected Orlando to gel together as fast as they did and they didn’t expect Turk to have the season that he’s having. He’s come out and is scoring 20 (points) a game and made some big shots and been a big time player for them.”

Bosh on teammate Jamario Moon’s elaborate ideas for the Dunk Contest: “It will be something if he pulls it off. He tried to explain it to me and I said if you make that, man, I tip my hat to you.”

Barkley on Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy making the All-Star team: “It was a no-brainer; if he didn’t make it would have been a travesty.”

Barkley on Denver Nuggets center Marcus Camby being snubbed from the reserve squad: “Marcus Camby didn’t make the All-Star team? That’s a joke, man, that’s a joke. That’s the biggest omission on this list.”

Barkley on his opposition to increasing the amount of All-Star roster spots: “You can’t do that (expand the All-Star teams), because everyone’s not going to get to play. The first time I made the All-Star team, I played five minutes and I said, ‘I’m not coming back here. If you think I’m going to spend my only weekend off playing five minutes, you can forget that, I’m going to Cancun.’ The starters are going to play the majority (of time) because they got voted in by the fans, and two or three guys are not going to get to play. If you expand the roster, guys aren’t going to play.”

Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy joined the studio show via satellite.

Roy on being named an NBA All-Star: “I’m still speechless about the vote. I can’t say I was very confident about it at all, I just tried to go out there and play games to help my team. I worked hard and I just have to thank the coaches for voting me in.”

Roy on Blazers head coach Nate McMillan being a key to their success: “It starts with our head coach (Nate McMillan), he’s an unselfish guy and does a great job of keeping us motivated to win games, we just have one common goal and that goal is to go out and win basketball games. We have to give him credit for keeping this young team together and as long as we listen to him…he hasn’t steered us wrong yet.”

TNT’s John Thompson interviewed Celtics general manager Danny Ainge and head coach Doc Rivers in another installment of Timeout with Thompson.

Rivers on the Celtics including forward Al Jefferson in the trade to acquire Kevin Garnett from Minnesota: “(Minnesota general manager) Kevin McHale decided that he wanted the single best young player that he could get for (Kevin) Garnett. There wasn’t a player better than Al Jefferson that fit that criteria.”

Ainge on the domino effect of assembling a team around the Big Three: “Getting Ray (Allen) set the tone for (Kevin Garnett) wanting to come to Boston. He didn’t want to come to Boston before Ray was there. It wasn’t anything with Boston, it wasn’t anything with (Celtics head coach) Doc (Rivers), it wasn’t anything with (Celtics guard) Paul Pierce it was just that he wants to win. All of a sudden, K.G. shows up and now James Posey has interest (in joining the Celtics), and then Eddie House has interest.”

Rivers on the Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce meshing well together: “I thought we had them at the right time in their lives, I thought I had a chance. You look at their careers and what they’ve been through, all the individual honors and then the tough teams the success they haven’t had of late, and I just thought we are getting them at the right time in their lives. I didn’t know how quickly we would win, but I thought those three would mesh because they needed it to, they needed this to work.”

Rivers on the Celtics not having the team experiences together to rely on: “I use this with my players all the time- San Antonio and Detroit, they’ve gone through every issue that you can go through, game 7 situations, losing streaks, winnings streaks, tough losses, big losses, big wins. We haven’t gone through that so they have an advantage, we have to do it more through with continuity, and team, and trust. We can’t catch them in that experience.”

Barkley on a graphic on him wearing a speedo: “I need bigger body parts if you know what I mean.”

Smith: “A bigger belly. And man boobs.”

TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed New Orleans Hornets players Chris Paul and David West who were named All-Star Reserves.

Paul on being named an All-Star: “It’s an honor to have the All-Star Game here in New Orleans and having my teammate David West made it makes it every more special.”

Paul on what has led to the success of the Hornets: “We are playing together every night, we go out and we want to see each other succeed. It’s not about the All-Star game or individual achievement, it’s about playing together.”

West on Barkley’s assessment that he’s an underrated player: “I don’t mind, I want to go out and play basketball and I don’t worry about the other stuff.”

Smith: “You’re not underrated once you get named an All-Star.”

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Game 1: Dallas Mavericks (90) @ Boston Celtics (96)

Announcers: Kevin Harlan, Doug Collins and Cheryl Miller reporting

Collins on Mavericks coach Avery Johnson focusing on playing in the paint: “One of the things you are going to see from Dallas, is that coach Avery Johnson said on the road they are too much of a jump shooting team, but the last seven games they’ve been better. They want to look to attack the paint offensively and defend the paint defensively. That is what they feel their prescription for success is.”

Collins on Celtics guard Rajon Rondo: “(The Celtics) like the way Rondo is playing, but the big question is come playoff time is he going to be the answer for this team? Can he play against Chauncey Billups and the people he needs to face to get where they want to go (in the postseason)?”

Collins on the players not selected to play in the All-Star Game: “There is always someone that is going to be left off the team, Marcus Camby, Josh Howard, Baron Davis, Tyson Chandler. There are so many guys with the ability to make the team, but (as a player) you just have to continue to play to a very high level, and hopefully, through time, you’ll get an opportunity to make the All-Star team.”

Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki on the progress of his team: “It’s early, and we made some progress defensively over the months. We want to be a great team when it comes down to April and May. That’s what really separates the good teams from the great teams; the great teams know how to win on the road, and we’ve got to get back to it.”

Collins on the Mavericks schedule of playing the Celtics, Pistons and Magic in their three-game Eastern road trip: “They like these kind of challenges, the better teams like these kinds of games; the coaches do, they know they have their players ears, they know these guys recognize the importance of going out on the road and playing these better teams. If they are able to make it to the NBA Finals chances are they are going to meet one of these teams, so might as well find out where you are right now.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell.

Russell on being happy about the acquisition of Kevin Garnett and resurgence of the Celtics: “I watch the guys and I despaired for a couple of years, but I love this team. What’s surprising is I think they are a better defensive team than offensive team. Ever since (Garnett’s) second year in the league, I said he was the player I liked to watch the most. He’s got great skill and great enthusiasm and he brings it out every night to play and I just love that in a player.”

Russell on what he’d like to see from the Celtics: “I’d like to see them continue to play the same way they are playing. I like to see how they develop as a unit. It’s going to take two-thirds of a year before you find out what they really are like.”

Collins on Celtics guard Ray Allen being behind TNT’s Reggie Miller in all-time 3-point shooting: “(Allen) is still No. 2 to our Reggie Miller in all-time 3-point shooting. And yes Reggie, we are going to kidnap him if he gets close (to your record).”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Celtics guard Ray Allen at halftime.

Allen on playing against Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki: “He’s such a great mismatch, he’s going to shoot over us every time. We want to give him some different looks and make him question when he takes shots and make him uncomfortable, but he’s still going to take shots and make shots.”

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Halftime

Johnson, Barkley and Smith

Smith on Celtics guard Ray Allen having a dominant first half after not making the All-Star team: “A snub makes you focus a little more, ‘I have the credentials, we have the winning record and I’ve been snubbed so I’m gong to show you that I’m the guy who should be there. He’s looking for opportunities, his shot selection has picked up tremendously; that’s the Ray Allen of the Seattle SuperSonics.”

Barkley on the Dallas Mavericks: “If (the Mavericks) can’t beat the Celtics without Kevin Garnett, they can’t win the Championship.”

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Collins on Celtics forward Kevin Garnett bringing a great amount of energy to his team: “That guy (Garnett) is always up and he’s always got energy and he’s always pushing his teammates every single possession, Doc has to find the energy to put this away tonight because it’s in the balance.”

Collins on great road teams needing to stay in the game: “The good thing about great teams on the road, you don’t have to play great all the time, maybe just a period of time where you hang around long enough and get one of those eight to ten minute spurts that can change the game.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Celtics coach Doc Rivers after the third quarter.

Rivers on why Paul Pierce had a better second half than first half, after Ray Allen exploded in the first half: “I told him we counted the (All-Star) vote wrong and it was Ray, not Paul (that made it), so then he got mad and decided he had to start playing.”

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Game 1: San Antonio Spurs (84) @ Phoenix Suns (81)

Announcers: Marv Albert, Reggie Miller, Mike Fratello and Craig Sager reporting

Fratello on San Antonio acquiring former Memphis Grizzlie Damon Stoudamire: “San Antonio picked up a great teammate, a guy who just loves basketball. (Stoudamire) makes huge three point shots at the end of the game, he’s an 84% free throw shooter for his career, he knocks them down. And without question, at 13 years in the league, they get a guy with a lot of leadership capabilities, a good scorer, but also a good person.”

Steve Nash on the Championship expectations of the Phoenix Suns: “I think last year was the first year that we felt that if we don’t win (the NBA Championship), it’s an unsuccessful year. Maybe that’s the wrong attitude to have but last year we set that standard for ourselves to win a Championship and when we didn’t last year, it was an unsuccessful year. We feel the same, if not more, this year.”

Miller on Suns guard Steve Nash’s frustration with not winning an NBA Championship: “There is a hint of frustration in his voice when you’ve knocked on the door for so many years only to have it shut, you get frustrated a little. This year, they’ve been amazing going 18 - 2 against the East, but against the teams that are currently in the Playoffs in the West, they are 4 - 8. They are going to have to raise their level of play because the championship goes through San Antonio this year and they are going to have to find a way to beat San Antonio.”

Miller on the Suns style of play: “I don’t think (the Suns) would like a low post threat, they like this high octane open court. Styles make fights in boxing and everyone has started copying this (Suns) style. Now does it win championships? That remains to be seen.”

Fratello on Miller’s assertion that playing a ‘run and gun’ style is more entertaining and attracts fans: “Winning puts people in the stands, you take the players you have and play the best style suited for your team and then people will show up.”

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Halftime

Johnson, Barkley and Smith

Barkley on the Spurs not allowing the Suns to set a fast-paced tempo: “The Spurs have a great game plan against the Suns. They do a fantastic job of making that extra pass, they don’t shoot jumpers. The Suns are easy to score against and it’s easy to get a good shot so you feed that fast break by rushing and getting more jumpers, but the Spurs take their time.”

Smith: “You get fooled into taking a good shot when you can actually get a great one (by making one extra pass).”

Barkley on the key to the Suns playoff success lying with center Amare Stoudemire: “The big question always is can Amare (Stoudemire) stay out of foul trouble? Deep in the playoffs, he’s got to play Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan and Carlos Boozer, but can he stay out of foul trouble and play good defense? I still say right now the answer is no.

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Miller on preferring to shoot when guarded as opposed to wide open: “That was always the toughest shot for me, when you’re wide open, because everyone in the building expects you to make it because you’re wide open. I always had more success when guys were on me or closing to me because it’s just a catch and shoot reaction.”

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Suns coach Mike D’Antoni.

D’Antoni on Sager telling him that the Suns are 27 - 1 with a lead going into the fourth quarter. “What do I have to do, cross myself or something? We just need to keep playing hard and hopefully the guys will come up with some big baskets.”

Miller on the Suns shutting Spurs forward Tim Duncan down in the fourth quarter: “How nice would it be to have (injured Spurs guard) Brent Barry here, someone else to spread out the floor and knock down shots.”

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Spurs forward Tim Duncan after the Spurs win over the Suns.

Duncan on how the Spurs pulled out a victory against the Suns: “I honestly don’t know. We kept fighting and just found a way to get it done. The feel of the game didn’t feel like it was going our way right down to the end. Our guys never gave up and then we made a defensive stand at the end.”

Duncan on the Spurs annual rodeo road trip: “It’s a great time for us; we come together as a team. We didn’t start off well, so this was a big win for us, hopefully we can build on that and make it last.”

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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai

Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley

Barkley on the Spurs game-plan against the Suns: “It’s easy. (The Spurs) attack (Suns center) Amare (Stoudemire), they usually attack (Suns guard) Steve (Nash) with (injured Spurs guard) Tony Parker. (The Spurs) are, by far and away, the smartest team in the NBA. They stick to their game-plan, they do not get rattled. They play the best defense in the NBA. You’ve got to be impressed. I hear some of these reporters tell me they are boring to watch…not if you like great basketball.”

Smith on the Spurs playing without injured guard Tony Parker: “(The Spurs) don’t panic regardless of the situation. They are going to execute and stick to the game-plan. They are disciplined. Most teams don’t have the discipline to make sure that the right people touch the ball or that the right rotations happen defensively.”

Barkley on the why the Suns should beat the Spurs who are without injured guard Tony Parker: “The Mavericks (have) got to beat the Celtics without (injured center) Kevin Garnett. I use the same analogy with the Suns. The Suns (have) got to beat the Spurs without (injured guard) Tony Parker. From a psychological stand-point, when San Antonio comes to Phoenix, (the Spurs) feel comfortable. The Suns have to make them uncomfortable; especially when (the Spurs) are the team they have to beat.”

Barkley on how the Lakers have been affected by center Andrew Bynum’s injury: “You’ve got to feel for the Lakers when they lost (Andrew) Bynum. They were playing fantastic.”

Smith: “They were playing the best basketball in the West (Conference).”

Barkley: “(Lakers guard) Kobe Bryant would have definitely been the M.V.P. if Bynum would’ve stayed healthy and they had the best record in the West.”

Barkley on Kenny’s sleeper team in the Western Conference: “Kenny said that Sacramento is a sleeper team and I told him to wake up.”

Barkley on the Portland Trail Blazers: “As much as I like (Blazers guard) Brandon Roy, the Blazers are too young and the water (is) going to get deep on them. They are not going to make the playoffs.”

Barkley on free agent Chris Webber signing with the Golden State Warriors: “I think Chris Webber is one of the most underrated players in basketball history. But I am very disappointed in him signing with Golden State. If you’re a guy like that, you’ve accomplished everything in basketball; you’ve got to sign with a contender. The guy’s been a winner; he’s been a great college player and a great pro player. I think he’s a future Hall-of-Famer, he’s won everywhere he’s been. But if I’m him and I’m on the downside of my career…he’s got to sign with a contender.”

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