NBA On TNT Notes: The Boston Celtics Stop The Houston Rockets’ 22 Game Winning Streak
(AP Photo/Bob Levey)
Boston got up for last night, Houston didn’t
Barkley on the historical significance of the Houston Rockets’ 22-game winning streak: “I’ve been in the NBA since 1984. The Rockets streak is the second best thing I’ve ever seen. When the Bulls won 70 games (I thought) there’s no NBA team that can win 70 games. But to win 20 games, and (the Rockets) have won 22 games, this is remarkable and I’m going to enjoy it.”
TNT analyst Doug Collins weighed in with the studio crew on the Celtics/Rockets match-up.
Collins on the Rockets persevering following Yao Ming’s season ending injury: “When (the Rockets) lost Yao Ming it was doom and gloom. Were they even going to make the playoffs? This team has pulled tighter, Rafer Alston has played tremendous basketball, Shane Battier defensively and Tracy McGrady has been the star everyone expected him to be. This team is the toast of the town.”
Collins on Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo being a key piece of the Rockets: “The thing you love about (Dikembe Mutombo) is that he loves basketball. He doesn’t play much, and last year when Yao Ming missed 34 games and he started 33 of them he kept this team afloat and gave them a chance to win 52 games. He’s now started 10 games, he comes out, he plays defense, but this will be a tough game for him.”
Barkley in response to Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor making comments that former Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett tanked the last five game of last season: “Glen Taylor has got a lot of money and doesn’t know anything about basketball…If you ever watch Kevin Garnett play, you can’t ever say he tanked a game. As much as KG has done for the Timberwolves and the trash they put around him, when they got Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell they got to the Western Conference Finals.”
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Boston Celtics (94) @ Houston Rockets (74)
Announcers Kevin Harlan and Doug Collins; David Aldridge reporting
Collins on the Rockets adding high energy players to their roster: “If there is one thing I see in this Rockets team that I haven’t seen in Rockets teams in the past (is that) they play with so much energy. They’ve added energy players to their roster and it has revived Tracy McGrady. He’s not really a high energy guy, but he’s been sucked into this energy that they have in Houston now.”
Collins on Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett setting the tone for the team: “(Kevin Garnett) came in and brought tremendous energy and an MVP kind of talent (to the Celtics). Their defense and everything they do everyday in practice, he sets the tone for everything they do and everybody else follows.”
Collins on Celtics coach Doc Rivers having a better season: “It’s amazing what a great coach Doc (Rivers) is with great players, I think they lost 18 straight at one point last year.”
TNT’s David Aldridge interviewed Celtics head coach Doc Rivers after the first half.
Rivers on playing a new offense in Houston: “We’re trying to play an offense we haven’t seen before, so we’ll settle down, get some sets and some extra juice and I think we’ll be fine.”
Rafer Alston on the Rockets not getting credit for winning despite missing a superstar in Yao Ming: “The part that amazes me is that they say we are playing teams without (Mavericks) Dirk Nowitzki (in the match-up on March 6). We’re without Yao Ming and no one wants to give us credit. We’re playing without a superstar. New Orleans came in and people said they were without David West, but he’s not a superstar, he might be a star player on his team but we are down a superstar.”
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Halftime
Barkley on the shoving that occurred between Rajon Rondo and Rafer Alston at game tip: “That’s the perfect example of two guys (Rajon Rondo and Rafer Alston) that can’t fight just pushing each other. They should kiss next time, it would be more aggressive.”
Barkley on Western Conference match-ups: “It’s so beautiful watching the West right now because every game is a playoff game.”
Barkley on the poor performance of the Seattle SuperSonics in their 168-116 loss to the Denver Nuggets: “Those Seattle SuperSonics…I was so disappointed, I understand a lot of teams are out of it, but you have to have some sort of pride, you can’t give up 170 points. The Nuggets were pulling up for threes (when they were) up 50 points. If a team is pulling up for threes you’ve got to take them out.”
Smith on the Rockets involving the entire roster during their 22-game winning streak: “The Rockets have figured out a way in this streak to have everyone involved between Tracy McGrady, (Luis) Scola, Rafer Alston, Shane Battier and Mike Harris off the bench. All of these guys are contributing so it doesn’t matter right now if T-Mac has a 50-point game.”
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Collins on the Celtics gaining control in the second half of the game: “Boston has done what Doc Rivers asked them to do, they’ve settled down and they are playing at a much better rhythm on the offensive end. They were very frenetic in that first half.”
Collins on the Celtics allowing head coach Doc Rivers to keep his position: “I’m so happy for Doc Rivers that he was able to stick around. (GM) Danny Ainge recognized that there is no way that Doc Rivers could win with that team last year, he gave him a chance to coach this year and I think it’s great.”
Collins on the comments by Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor that Kevin Garnett tanked games last season: “Especially for a guy who gave his heart and soul for that organization, and not only that, but every single night if there is a guy who has played hard in this league it’s Kevin Garnett. I like that he didn’t respond, there is no response necessary. His body of work speaks for itself. Kevin, keep doing what you’re doing and let people respect what you do on that floor.”
Collins on the Rockets needing to rebound from this loss that broke their 22-game winning streak: “(The Rockets) are so concerned that if they lose a game, or two or three in a row, what it going to do to their psyche. This is a team that has such great belief in themselves and each other. The word I use for them is ‘synergy;’ it’s when the result is greater than the sum of the parts, it’s created when things are work in concert together to create an outcome that is in some way of more value than the total of the individual input. They are a synergistic team. Once they lose a little confidence, it could be disastrous for them. They are really going to have to fight themselves through this period of time.”
TNT’s David Aldridge interviewed Celtics forward Kevin Garnett after the Celtics win over the Rockets.
Garnett on breaking the winning streak: “The Rockets have been playing some unbelievable basketball, 22 wins in any sport is hard to do. This (Celtics) team has a lot of depth, people don’t give our bench a lot of credit. We are a team in progress, but it’s good to have a consistency to what we’re doing, it feels good.”
Garnett on the comments made by Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor: “I’m in Boston. I (could) care less what Glen Taylor thinks of Kevin Garnett, that’s nonsense. I don’t know why he would bring that up, but it shows the taste of some people.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley
Barkley on Garnett’s comments about Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor: “I like what (Kevin Garnett) said about Glen Taylor, he let that go…That’s the difference between me and Kevin Garnett, I can never take the high road.”
Smith on the Houston Rockets 22-game win streak: “You not only applaud what (the Rockets) did but how they did it. With all of the different injuries, with all of the different games they had played together. The streak started when Tracy (McGrady) was coming back from injury so they didn’t have a great team in terms of all (players) there, all the time. You have to applaud what the Rockets have done, 22 (wins) out of 23 (games) doesn’t sound bad.”
Smith on how the Rockets need to assess their team: “Are they the Rockets before the (22 game win) streak? Are they the Rockets during the streak? Or are they going to be the Rockets after the streak? I think that you really have to assess your team before and after the streak…because during the streak, so many great things happened. However, we’re not sure who they are.”
Barkley on the possibility of injured Lakers center Andrew Bynum not re-joining the team until the playoffs: “I think that’s really going to hurt (the Lakers) because I don’t think they can win (the NBA Championship) without Andrew Bynum. I think with Pao Gasol and Kobe (Bryant), they are a good team. I think Andrew Bynum can make them a great team.”
Rockets forward Shane Battier joined Inside the NBA via satellite from Houston following the Rockets’ 94-74 loss to the Celtics.
Battier on the Rockets’ 22-game win streak: “It was a great run, great basketball. We still have a heck of a lot to play for. The great thing about the NBA is you usually have a game the next day and now we’ve got to play the Hornets in New Orleans. This loss will be forgotten pretty quickly. That’s the way our team rolls; we come to work every day and do the best we can. If we don’t do well that day, (we) go on to the next day.”
Battier on how the Rockets make up for the injured Yao Ming: “Obviously without Yao (Ming), our best post-presence is not there. We have to manufacture points the old fashioned way and we have a lot of shooters on this team, a lot of guys with confidence in their shots. We’re at our best when we get balance and we’re at our best when we get to our second and third options in our offense and make the defense play everybody honest. That allows Tracy (McGrady) a lot more room to operate.”
Battier on what kind of team are the Houston Rockets: “We are a team that plays hard every single night. We’re a team that plays with our heart. When we play with our heart and we trust each other and the coaches, that’s who we are. That’s when we’re really, really good. When we don’t do that and try to be someone else, we’re a very flawed team. That’s the story of the Rockets this year.”
Battier, a Duke alum, on his NCAA Tournament prediction: “I always respect the North Carolina Tar Heels. I don’t love them very much, they aren’t going to get a Christmas card from me, but I respect them a lot. I think they are the best team. I believe it will be a UCLA/North Carolina final (in the NCAA Tournament). But I think (UCLA star) Kevin Love is going to do it this year and the Bruins will be cutting down the nets in San Antonio.”
Barkley on the Philadelphia 76ers: “(Head coach) Maurice Cheeks has done a great job. They fired (general manager) Billy King, he did a better job than people gave him credit for. They’ve got a lot of good young players, some good draft picks and they are in the playoffs.”
NBA Playoff Madness Starts Early on TNT with an Exclusive Doubleheader
Celtics/Mavericks followed by Lakers/Jazz
The TNT NBA Thursday schedule continues on Thurs., March 20, 2008 with an exclusive doubleheader. The first game features Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks hosting Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Celtics defeated the Mavericks 96-90 the only other time they faced each other this season. Marv Albert (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter) will be courtside. The second game will feature a Western Conference showdown with playoff implications when Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers visit Deron Williams and the Utah Jazz at 10:30 p.m. ET. Calling the action will be Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Cheryl Miller (reporter). The night will conclude with the Emmy® award-winning studio show Inside the NBA with Ernie Johnson (host) and Charles Barkley (analyst).
TNT NBA THURSDAY SCHEDULE:
DAY/DATE
TIME (ET) EVENT
Thu., March 20
8 p.m. NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson (host) and Charles Barkley (analyst)
8:15 p.m. Boston Celtics @ Dallas Mavericks
Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
10:30 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers @ Utah Jazz
Announcers: Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Cheryl Miller (reporter)
Post-game Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Ernie Johnson (host) and Charles Barkley (analyst)
TNT NBA THURSDAY UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Thu., March 27
8 p.m. NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
8:15 p.m. Miami Heat @ Detroit Pistons
Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
10:30 p.m. Portland Trail Blazers @ Golden State Warriors
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Doug Collins (analyst) and Cheryl Miller (reporter)
Post-game Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
Thu., April 3
8 p.m. NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
8:15 p.m. Chicago Bulls @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
10:30 p.m. Houston Rockets @ Portland Trail Blazers
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Doug Collins (analyst) and Cheryl Miller (reporter)
Post-game Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
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