Denver Nuggets Defeat Phoenix Suns 77-72 In Outdoor Game at Indian Wells
Denver Nuggets (77) vs. Phoenix Suns (72)
Announcers Marv Albert, Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller with Cheryl Miller and David Aldridge reporting
Miller on whether or not the Denver Nuggets have regressed with the departure of center Marcus Camby:
“Obviously, with (the Nuggets) losing (Marcus) Camby (traded to L.A. Clippers) and (Eduardo) Najera to the (New Jersey) Nets there is going to be a big adjustment. (Nuggets forward) Carmelo Anthony is saying all the right things. I think he picked up something other than a gold medal in Beijing (at the 2008 Summer Olympics) being around Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade and their championship swagger that starts in the defensive end. (Nuggets head coach) George Karl and Carmelo Anthony are all saying the right things and it’s a work in progress.”
TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Suns center Shaquille O’Neal before the game.
O’Neal on the outlook for the Phoenix Suns:
“Everyone is starting off on the same page. It takes at least a year of everyone playing together to be able to win a championship ala Boston (Celtics in 2008). Everyone is here and in-tune to what’s going on so hopefully we can get it done.”
TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin before the game.
Martin on what the Nuggets have focused on in the pre-season:
“Defense and intensity - two things that weren’t there last year. We are playing hard all the time and making stops on the defensive end. That was the focal point for the team.”
Barkley on the most interesting teams to watch in the upcoming 2008-09 season:
“(The Suns and Nuggets) are two of the more intriguing teams to watch this season along with the Houston Rockets. It’s going to be a work in progress (for these teams). I’m looking forward to seeing the Nuggets, Suns and Rockets to see who gets better throughout the season.”
Barkley on what Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony needs to do to lead his team:
“Any team is only as good as their best player leading by example. (Carmelo Anthony) is (the Nuggets) best player, Allen Iverson is a great player but it’s Carmelo Anthony’s team. Until he makes an effort on the defensive end, night-in and night-out, they are just going to be very talented.”
Barkley on Nuggets forward Nene going by one name:
“First of all we have to start calling him Nene Hilario because he hasn’t done enough in the NBA to go by one name. Come on now, no disrespect, but he has not done enough to go by one name.”
Albert: “He did make the (name) change legally.”
Barkley: “I know but that doesn’t mean anything, Marv. I suppose you think we should call (Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver) Chad Johnson (by his nickname) ‘Ocho Sinco’?”
Albert: “No, that’s a different story.”
Barkley on who are the best point guards in the NBA entering the season:
“(New Orleans Hornets point guard) Chris Paul and (Utah Jazz point guard) Deron Williams are the two best point guards in the NBA right now. I love (Suns point guard) Steve Nash but this is Chris Paul’s and Deron Williams’ league right now. I always say that Chris Paul is driving and Deron Williams is in the backseat.”
Miller: “Where’s Steve Nash?”
Barkley: “He’s in the trunk.”
Suns point guard Steve Nash on the influence of new head coach Terry Porter:
“Defense has been a big focus of (Suns head coach) Terry (Porter) which is great. I think he is also working on things that we weren’t strong on in the past. Whether it be defense or half-court offense. We’ve always been good on offense but we’ve been working on getting comfortable in half-court sets.”
TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Nuggets head coach George Karl after the first quarter.
Karl on what the Nuggets have improved on going into the new season:
“There’s a no-nonsense mentality about getting better. In a weird way we’ve played ‘cool’ basketball and not ‘serious’ baseketball. All the guys respected that commentary on how we played last year and we’re going to work more this year.”
Miller on his pick to win the Western Conference in 2008-09:
“(The) Houston (Rockets are) my pick to win the West (Conference). If (Rockets forward) Ron Artest does not implode and (Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming) stay healthy, there’s no better team.”
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Barkley on what impresses him with Suns rookie Robin Lopez:
“You have to be excited with how active (Suns rookie Robin Lopez) is. Playing against Shaquille O’Neal and Amare Stoudemire every day in practice has got to have a huge effect on him. I love how active he is and he plays with great energy.”
Miller on how the relationship between Nuggets head coach George Karl and forward Carmelo Anthony is similar to his relationship with former Pacers head coach Larry Brown early in his career:
“My fifth year (with the Indiana Pacers) is when (former Pacers head coach) Larry Brown came and he was one of those coaches that was older and constantly on (his players). I had scored 25 points (per game) my first five years and we always went out in the first round (of the playoffs). Once Larry Brown got there, he treated everyone the same and he got on me as much as any coach in my career and he made me a better player. I think that is what (Nuggets head coach) George Karl is trying to do with Carmelo Anthony. Sooner or later, something has to click. Larry Brown was the best thing that ever happened to me in my career. I think a light has gone off with Carmelo and he understands that he isn’t going to win by scoring 25 points a game.”
TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Suns center Amare Stoudemire during the third quarter.
Stoudemire on what new head coach Terry Porter is bringing to the team:
“(Suns head coach Terry Porter) has been great. He wants to take our time offensively and defensively. Our approach defensively is pretty serious and we all know what we have to do and we have to execute that.”
TNT’s Marv Albert, Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller interviewed Suns general manager and former TNT analyst Steve Kerr during the fourth quarter.
Kerr on the changes he made to the Suns in the off-season:
“We needed to get deeper for sure, I felt like we needed some help depth-wise. We feel like we’ve done that between Robin (Lopez) and Matt Barnes, we feel good about (Louis) Amundson, we’ve got some guys who can play but this is going to be a process. We’re going to be a different team and it’s going to take some time. There are going to be nights when we aren’t going to be able to score like we used to but in the long run, we’ll be more balanced and hopefully have a nice run.”
Kerr on rookie back-up point guard Goran Dragic:
“(Goran Dragic) a typical rookie and he’s trying to feel his way through. Obviously, point guard is the hardest position to master. We’re very happy with Goran, he works hard and he’s very talented. I think it’s just a matter of time before he gets some confidence and starts playing looser.”
Highlights of the game:
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