Notes from the TNT NBA Season Launch Conference Call
Participants:
Marv Albert, TNT NBA play-by-play announcer
Reggie Miller, TNT NBA analyst
Doug Collins, TNT NBA analyst
Jeff Behnke, Turner Sports executive producer
I took part in the annual TNT NBA Season Launch Conference Call. My quotes are at the bottom.
TNT will tip-off the 2008-09 NBA season on Tuesday, October 28 at 7 p.m. ET with a special one-hour preview show, NBA Tip-Off presented by Autotrader.com, with studio host Ernie Johnson and analysts Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith, followed by an exclusive opening night doubleheader. The first game will feature the defending World Champion Boston Celtics hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers at 8 p.m. ET, while game two will feature the Portland Trail Blazers visiting the Los Angeles Lakers at 10:30 p.m. ET. The night will conclude with the Emmy® award-winning studio show Inside the NBA with Johnson, Barkley and Smith.
TNT NBA analyst Reggie Miller’s Eastern Conference Breakdown
Boston Celtics: “James Posey (leaving the Celtics and) going to the (New Orleans) Hornets (as a free agent) is my only question mark with the Celtics. Who is going to be the guy coming off the bench to supply all that energy, that defense and take the big shots for the team?”
Philadelphia 76ers: (Head coach) Mo Cheeks got (free agent) Elton Brand and they re-signed Andre Iguodala. Now they have a player (Brand) in the closing moments who you can throw the ball down (to), command a double team, get fouled, make free throws and can make big plays.”
Toronto Raptors: “(The Raptors have) the twin towers in Chris Bosh and Jermaine O’Neal. The only question mark is ‘how many games will Jermaine be healthy for?’”
New Jersey Nets: “(The Nets) have a brand new team. Gone are Jason Kidd (Mavericks) and Richard Jefferson (Bucks). Is Vince (Carter) finally going to be able to lead (the Nets) on his own?”
New York Knicks: “(New head coach) Mike D’Antoni isn’t afraid to run. There is drama with Stephon (Marbury), is he going to start or come off the bench? How are Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph going to fit into this system?”
Cleveland Cavaliers: “My MVP pick this year is LeBron James. I think he is ready to take the next step. Watching the Olympics this summer, you can see the maturation process of LeBron. Picking up Mo Williams (from the Bucks) was huge.”
Detroit Pistons: “The act that (new head coach) Michael Curry has to follow after (former Pistons head coaches) Rick Carlisle, Larry Brown and Flip Saunders is tough. Is it going to be too much pressure? If Rasheed Wallace shows up, then the Pistons could make a seventh trip back to the (Eastern) Conference Finals.”
Milwaukee Bucks: “(The Bucks) went out and got (new head coach) Scott Skiles and traded for Richard Jefferson (from the Nets) and Andrew Bogut signs a big deal. They are one of my sleeper teams in the East (Conference) to make the playoffs.”
Indiana Pacers: “The Pacers are one of my sleeper teams in the East (Conference) to make the playoffs. They’ve got a brand new team with nine new faces. I think it was a breakout year for Mike Dunleavy and Danny Granger is an up-and-coming young player.”
Chicago Bulls: “(The big question) is if Derrick Rose is ready to lead (the team) as the number one pick (in the 2008 NBA draft). All eyes are going to be on first-year (head) coach Vinny Del Negro.”
Orlando Magic: “(The Magic) are my second best team in the East (Conference). ‘Superman’ (Dwight Howard) is ready to lead. They’ve got Tony Battie coming back and he is going to take a lot of pressure off of Dwight down low.”
Atlanta Hawks: “Was the (2008) playoff run a fluke taking the Celtics to seven games (in the first round)? Josh Childress went to Greece (as a free agent) and there are already grumblings that Mike Woodson and Josh Smith are at odds with one another.”
Charlotte Bobcats: “I heard (new Bobcats head coach) Larry Brown wants to trade everyone except Jared Dudley. So things are right on cue for Charlotte and Larry Brown.”
Washington Wizards: “(Injured) Brendan Haywood is out three to five months. Gilbert (Arenas) could be back as early as December or January. They are saying that Antawn Jamison could be ready at the start of the year but they’ve got too many starters out. I don’t think they’ll make the playoffs.”
Miami Heat: “The Erik Spoelstra era begins in Miami. Michael Beasley, who everyone thought should have been the number one pick (in the 2008 NBA Draft), will have all eyes on him. If they get a healthy Dwyane Wade, we saw what dividends that paid for the U.S. Olympic team in Beijing.”
TNT NBA analyst Doug Collins’ Western Conference Breakdown
Los Angeles Lakers: “I think they are absolutely loaded. If Kobe (Bryant) stays healthy, coming off the brilliant season he had last year. They get Andrew Bynum back. I’m looking forward to seeing Bynum and (Pau) Gasol together. Imagine a team that is able to bring Lamar Odom off the bench, a bench that I think is the best in the NBA. They are my favorites to win the Pacific (Division).”
Phoenix Suns: “(The Suns) are going to be very interesting with a new style. How many games will Steve Nash miss, they are talking about him playing in 70 games. Instead of cutting his minutes, have him miss some games along the way. How many games will Shaq (O’Neal) miss? This is an older team with a new coach and a new style. They are going to very interesting to watch.”
Los Angeles Clippers: “One of the teams that I think could be a surprise is the Clippers. They have a lot of talent with Baron Davis and Marcus Camby. If that group can stay healthy, (rookie) Eric Gordon is a young player that can score along with Al Thornton. The big thing (with the Clippers) is how are the pieces going to fit? Can they get it up-tempo and get out and play?”
Golden State Warriors: “The Warriors are going to suffer losing Baron Davis (to the Clippers) and with Monta Ellis’ injury.”
Sacramento Kings: “The Kings are still very young. I think they are still a team in transition who have re-loaded with some young, talented players.”
New Orleans Hornets: “(The Hornets have) Chris Paul and they added James Posey (from the Celtics) to go along with David West, Peja Stojakovic and Tyson Chandler. They are very, very talented. I think they are going to learn from their experience last year in the seventh game (of the playoffs) when they lost at home to San Antonio (Spurs).”
Houston Rockets: “The Houston Rockets get (forward) Ron Artest (from the Kings) and anytime you bring him to your team, you never question his talent. Chemistry is the word that is always at the forefront (with Artest). If the team is healthy with Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Shane Battier and Luis Scola, they can be one of the most talented teams in the NBA.”
San Antonio Spurs: “The Spurs still have their core of three stars (Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili) but they’ve lost Manu Ginobili to an injury. How long will he be out? I worry about their energy and production coming off the bench. (Head coach) Greg Popovich has always done a great job of managing his star players’ minutes and having them ready for the playoffs”
Dallas Mavericks: “The Mavericks will be interesting. (New head coach) Rick Carlisle is taking his tremendous coaching ability to Dallas. Jason Kidd will be there for the long haul. They are going to have a change in style and it looks like they will play up-tempo with Jason Kidd. With the core of Jason Terry and Josh Howard, that group of players is a very potent team. They are going to be wrestling with some playoff demons. The last three years, they looked like they were going to win the championship and (lost in the playoffs).”
Memphis Grizzlies: “The Grizzlies are rebuilding.”
Utah Jazz: “I like the Jazz. Their core is back led by (head coach) Jerry Sloan.”
Denver Nuggets: “(The Nuggets) lost their best defensive player in Marcus Camby (to the Clippers) and Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson can give the team 50 points (a night) but their frontline is going to have to come up big. Nene is going to have to stay healthy as well as Kenyon Martin.”
Portland Trail Blazers: “Can the Blazers take the next step? Greg Oden and Rudy Fernandez are two tremendous talents who were added to the team. Can they find a way to make it into the playoffs?”
Minnesota Timberwolves: “(The Minnesota Timberwolves) are young and improving. They have a great nucleus with Al Jefferson, who’s a great, young forward (along with) Kevin Love and Mike Miller, so they are moving in the right direction.”
Oklahoma Thunder: “Oklahoma (Thunder) has a new home (moving from Seattle) and I think they are heading in the right direction but they are too young to make a dent in the very difficult West (Conference).”
Miller on Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony taking on a bigger leadership role on the team: “Having the chance to do that outdoor game in Indian Wells (after hearing) comments throughout the summer (that Nuggets coach George Karl) was going to be tough on Carmelo (Anthony) and A.I. (Allen Iverson) and start with defense. Listening to what Carmelo had to say, ‘I need to be a better leader,’ maybe it had something to do with being over in Beijing and being around Kobe (Bryant) and Dwyane (Wade) and LeBron (James). Maybe Carmelo picked up something from those guys that’s going to help him become a better leader. I know they are trying to instill and it’s easer said than done, but they are trying to do the right thing.”
Collins on Nuggets coach George Karl: “Through the years George (Karl) has been a great basketball mind, but I thought last year they were so loose with everything and I thought their lack of attention to detail would come back to hurt them in the playoffs, especially on the defensive end. It’s going to be interesting to see that team because Marcus Camby was the one guy back there who could block shots and rebound and now he’s gone. The big thing for George is if he still has the passion and love to do it. If you’re going to coach in the NBA, than you’d better have a tremendous burning in your gut and love what you’re doing, otherwise it’s just going to beat you down. The question for him is can his team be competitive and win and for him to look down the road and have a chance to be in the playoffs and be pretty good. I have them fighting to be in the playoffs this year, it’s going to be tough for them to make the playoffs.”
Albert on the Cavaliers offseason acquisition of guard Mo Williams: “(Acquiring Mo Williams) is a tremendous move when you consider what was out there and what they were capable of dealing for. (Williams) is a shooter and so offensively geared, and LeBron (James) is extremely excited to have Mo Williams added to Delonte West. I think the Cavaliers are better than ever, I see them challenging to make it to the Finals. I think they are much stronger, I’ve always liked Mo Williams. He’s in a better situation and you’ll see other parts of his game playing alongside LeBron.”
Collins on Cavaliers guard Mo Williams adding versatility of the team: “(The addition of Mo Williams) gives the Cavs great versatility, this gives (coach) Mike Brown the opportunity to play LeBron in the hybrid four position which he played for the U.S. Olympic team which causes nightmare matchups for opponents. He becomes a guy who defensively sees the floor in different situations and his voice resonates through his team. If you’ve got Mo Williams who can handle the ball and run your team and you got LeBron on the wing, you could have three shooters, LeBron and a big and I love the versatility that gives Mike Brown.”
Collins on Heat guard Dwyane Wade having the potential to contend for the MVP award: “Watching Dwyane Wade play this summer was a real treat for me, seeing this guy who many people had given up on very quickly have such a brilliant summer. I can see him, if he stays healthy, being in the mix as an MVP candidate for the regular season.”
Collins on his prediction for the Western Conference champions: “If the Lakers are healthy I don’t see any weakness. The one knock on them last year was their front line, toughness, against Boston, but it’s been my understanding that (coach) Phil Jackson has put them through one of the toughest training camps that they’ve had to show them how hard it is to win an NBA Championship. Unless something would drastically change, I think the Lakers are the best team.”
Miller on the why he likes the Houston Rockets in the West: “There are going to be a lot of ‘ifs’ with all these teams, and there are a lot of ‘ifs’ with Houston as well. Can Tracy (McGrady) and Yao (Ming) stay healthy for most of the season? Which Ron Artest is going to show up, the Ron Artest when he was first traded to Indiana when he said, ‘all I care about is winning, I don’t care what it takes?’ That is very much what he’s saying in Houston. Or is it going to be the Ron Artest where any little thing that triggers him, he’s going to be leftfield? I’ve seen both sides of him and I know what he’s capable of doing. If the ‘good’ Ron Artest shows up and those other guys stay healthy than I think they have enough scoring and defensively they’ve got two players, in Artest and Shane (Battier) you can put on Kobe to wear him down. If all these guys can stay healthy and the ‘good’ Ron shows up, I like Houston (in the West).”
Albert on the Hornets being his pick in the West: “I’m leaning towards the Hornets. I feel like they are at the next step where they can win in the West. I love the acquisition of James Posey, they were solid without him but they needed some help off the bench. With the combination of Chris Paul, David West and Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic who had an excellent season (last year), I think they will be the surprise club.”
Michael Tillery: The acquisition of Elton Brand obviously has energized Philly, how good are they and where do you see them finishing in the league and more importantly, the Eastern Conference?
Reggie Miller: “Anytime you get Elton Brand–a guy that is going to command a double team, can face you up and knock down the 15 footer and will get fouled and go to the free throw line because he’s a smart player–you team him in a style that suits him. Up and down. You saw that Mo Cheeks went to the running style with point guard Andre Miller. You’ve got a fantastic young wing player in Andre Iguodala. You’ve got players who are gonna sacrifice and do all the dirty work in Sammy Dalembert–who will rebound and block shots.”
“Obviously the East has gotten better. I have three other teams ahead of them–Boston, Orlando and Cleveland–but I do have them ahead of Detroit. I just think picking up Elton…he’s just one of those special players. We always talk about ifs…but again…everybody has to stay healthy.”
“If Philadelphia learns to get on the same page quickly, they can upset any one of those three teams ahead of them just for the simple fact of having Elton Brand down low.”
Doug Collins: “You know, being a former 76′er, it’s great to have the Sixers relevant once again and being talked about like last year when we started talking about the Boston Celtics. Hopefully that rivalry will be rekindled. I like what Eddie Stefanski has done there with their talent. My one concern with that team is their lack of perimeter shooting. This is a team that is going to have to create a lot of offense for their defense–shot blocking and defense…what Reggie talked about. They need to get deflections, get out in the open court and get steals.”
“If they are going to play Andre Iguodala at the two and Thaddeus Young at the three, with Elton Brand, Andre Miller and Sammy Dalembert, they got no shooting on the floor.”
“All those double teams that Elton is going to see, there’s not gonna be anybody making shots.”
“In crunch time are they going to go with Lou Williams as a shooter? Are they going to move Thaddeus Young to a four or Donyell Marshall?”
“You have to have shooting if you are going to have a post game–especially in the half court of the playoffs. It’s going to be up to Maurice to find a team that’s going to close out games defensively but also has enough shooting on the floor so they just can’t pack it in.”
“We saw Detroit do that a little bit in last year’s playoffs. When they couldn’t make shots or score off their defense, they really struggled to score.”
Michael Tillery: With so much recent emphasis on the Western Conference, do you sense a shift in the balance of power from West to East?
Doug Collins: “I think the East has gotten better. The way I always look at it is there are two kinds of parity. Is the bottom going towards the top and closing the gap or is the top going towards the bottom? I see the lower teams getting better and starting to move to the top. You are no longer beating up on those teams in the fourth and fifth positions–but they’re tough teams to beat on their home court.”
“I don’t think there is any question that with Boston being back in winning the championship. They are the favorite. Philadelphia…Orlando is much improved. Cleveland…what Marv talked about them being the best they’ve ever been with LeBron. Detroit–who I think is still going to be a very good team.”
“The East has got a lot of good teams. Last year, we got lost with how good the West was playing and sort of forgot about some of those teams in the East until we saw Boston in the playoffs.”
Reggie Miller: “How we are going to gauge the East is how teams like Indiana, Milwaukee, Washington, Toronto and Atlanta fare when they go out West. We know Boston, Orlando, Cleveland and Detroit can win the road, but to me it’s how those lower teams fare when they go into L.A., New Orleans, the Texas triangle (Dallas, Houston and San Antonio) and Phoenix. How are those teams going to be on the road? If they are competitive that shows that the East has taken a step forward.”
Marv Albert: “I think also, when you look at the East, the top four teams are going to be stronger. The Celtics can’t be any stronger than they were, but I’m talking basically about the other clubs. I don’t think when it comes to the other spots that you are going to have teams with records of 40-42 or 39-43 making the playoffs. I thought that added to the feel of the weakness of the East with under .500 teams making the playoffs. I really don’t think that will be the case again.”
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