Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the NBA- Thursday, January 15, 2008
TNT’s NBA Coverage Continues on Monday, January 19 with a special MLK Day tripleheader beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET featuring the Detroit Pistons @ Memphis Grizzlies followed by the Phoenix Suns @ Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers @ L.A. Lakers
(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Webber on whether or not the Cleveland Cavaliers are the best team in the NBA: “(The Cavaliers) are the most disrespected team in the NBA. I think it comes down to Cleveland and the Lakers (as the best team in the NBA) and I still give the edge to the Lakers. (Cleveland) is a good team and we don’t respect them like we should.”
Smith on Kobe Bryant being the best player in the NBA: “The best player in the league is Kobe Bryant because at the end of the game, he has the track record and every time he delivers. Forget the playoffs, if you just watch (the Lakers) play last week, you’d say, ‘this guy knows how to deliver in the last 30 seconds of a game.’ That’s the kind of assassin that you want.”
Fratello on LeBron James surpassing Kobe Bryant as the best player in the NBA: “You know the car that is always trailing the other car and eventually catches it and goes past it? LeBron James just moved ahead (of Kobe Bryant). This is a different version of LeBron James. The (2008) Olympic experience has made a different player out of LeBron James.”
Fratello on Chicago Bulls head coach Vinny Del Negro not allowing players to eat in the locker room prior to games: “There are rules that are implemented in the team book and are stated in the team book. If the (players) asks you why, you explain to them why. It’s not a cafeteria. There is a time and place to eat your meal and there are also rooms you can go in outside the locker room.”
Webber: “I definitely agree that if a coach sets a rule, you have to do it. But there is a difference between rules for morale and rules for how I operate. If I’m a Ferrari and I put this type of gas in me, that’s what I do.”
Fratello: “You can fill up the gas tank, just don’t do it in the locker room. Do it in the next room over.”
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Game #1: Cleveland Cavaliers (93) @ Chicago Bulls (102) in Overtime
Announcers Marv Albert and Reggie Miller with Craig Sager reporting
Miller on Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas: “That’s the one area that (Tyrus Thomas) has really improved, facing the basket and knocking down the open shot.”
Miller on Cavaliers guard Delonte West: “We talked to (Cleveland Cavaliers head coach) Mike Brown and he said he has found a secret weapon in Delonte West. He told us ‘don’t be surprised if we go down low.’…He has come alive here!”
Miller following a nasty fall that broke the right wrist of Cavaliers guard Delonte West after trying to block a shot by Bulls guard Derrick Rose: “Something I’ve never (seen). Usually when someone is hurt you have two or three, maybe four players come over to him, but the entire bench as well as starters coming over to Delonte West. It shows you how much he means to this team…to Mike Brown to LeBron James to Mo Williams.”
Miller on the high shot output from Chicago Bulls forward Drew Gooden: “Talk about the microwave, Vinnie Johnson, the 6′ 10″ version.”
Miller on the Bulls fans booing Bulls frontcourt players Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas: “That’s not fair of the fans to judge (Joakim) Noah and Tyrus Thomas at the offensive end, they are not offensive players. They need to become better defensive players; block shots and play better defense. Now that the fans can get on, but I think it is unfair for the fans to get on Thomas and Noah for their offense.”
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Halftime
Johnson, Smith, Fratello and Webber
Smith on Mavericks owner Mark Cuban storming the court during the Jan. 13th game to protest an elbow thrown by Denver guard J.R. Smith against one of his Mavericks: “There is a time and a place. Mark Cuban becomes someone who incites things because he’s in street clothes and he walks onto the court, that’s insightful. Antoine Wright can protect himself, he’s in the NBA, not only has he gotten there because he’s skilled but he is a tough guy. Guys can protect themselves, they don’t need the owner coming down…It actually makes you look like less of a player when your owner has to come out…’I'm going to call my owner on you! You keep elbowing me and fouling me and he is going to come down here.’”
Fratello on the addition of guard Chauncey Billups to the Denver Nuggets: “(Chauncey Billups has) brought them instant credibility at that position as a point guard who can take you to a championship and win. He’s a guy who is a good decision maker with the ball, he has size to defend at that position…He’s a big shot maker and big times in the game.”
Webber on what the addition of former teammate Chauncey Billups has meant to his new team: “I played with (Chauncey Billups) and he changed the mentality of an organization, which is very hard to do. Denver was known as a team that plays no defense and was ready to shoot, and what I think Chauncey came from a team that had five starters that averaged double figures. I know him, he is making sure that guys are staying involved, whether they are starters or on the bench.”
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Miller on the poor defense on Cavaliers guard Mo Williams who scored nine straight points on three 3′s: “Note to the Chicago Bulls – Mo Williams is a three-point shooter.”
Miller following Tyrus Thomas’ fourth block of the game, this one on a layup attempt by LeBron James: “Tyrus Thomas’ energy has been contagious! Those are the little things that he, along with (Joakim) Noah, needs to do to stay productive and stay on the floor.”
Albert on LeBron James who missed his last 12 shots heading into overtime and had eight turnovers in the game: “It has been a most unusual night for one of the game’s best players, LeBron James.”
Miller on Bulls rookie guard Derrick Rose: “When Derrick Rose gets into the open court and starts to get steam it is tough to guard him because he’s long, he’s athletic and he can finish well.”
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Game #2: Phoenix Suns (113) @ Denver Nuggets (119) in Overtime
Announcers: Kevin Harlan and Doug Collins with Cheryl Miller reporting
Collins on the decision by the Suns to rest center Shaquille O’Neal on the front end of a back-to-back against the Nuggets instead of against Minnesota on Friday night: “I’m surprised (Shaquille O’Neal’s) not playing tonight. This is an important game, you’re talking about a potential tiebreaker or a position game come playoff, maybe a homecourt advantage. Resting him tonight to play Minnesota at home tomorrow, that’s going to make him play three games in four days.”
Collins on the Phoenix Suns reverting back to their offensive-minded style of play with the addition of guard/forward Jason Richardson: “They decided ‘we are going to go back to that offensive mentality, that’s what we are built to do.’ This team is never going to be a defensive juggernaut, they just don’t have that personality or personnel. So what do you do? You do what you do best which is put the ball in the basket.”
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Halftime
Johnson, Smith, Fratello and Webber
Webber on Nets guard Vince Carter: “It’s good to see that athletic ability come back (in Vince Carter), many people thought he was done but he’s having a pretty good year.”
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Collins on Denver’s physically imposing lineup: “Look at the size of (Denver’s) players…Nene, Kenyon Martin, Chauncey Billups, Dantay Jones, JR Smith, that’s a very physically strong team.”
Collins on a dangerous pass by Denver’s Chris Anderson that was almost picked off: “(Chris) Anderson got away with one there, that was a high risk no reward pass.”
Collins on helter skelter pace of the game: “This has not been one of those games where you could say it was an artistic success, whoever wins you are going to say ‘they survived.’”
Collins on Suns guard Steve Nash: “(Steve Nash) makes some amazing shots, it looks like he’s not even looking at the basket, just great rotation.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, Smith, Fratello and Webber
Webber on Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony showing off his wardrobe: “It’s funny how guys when they’re hurt love to sit up and clap at the end of the bench so you can see their new suit, you know what I mean? You look good Carmelo, we see you baby.”
Webber on Suns center Shaquille O’Neal taking the night off to rest against the Nuggets: “In the West, it is so close so one or two games a season can make your seeding and home court advantage. I understand that Shaq is so important they need to rest him if he needs it, but I’m worried that this could backfire with chemistry and backfire with his rhythm.”
Smith on his pick for Rookie of the Year between Bulls guard Derrick Rose and Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo: “(Derrick Rose) and O.J. Mayo are going back and forth. Mayo is on a worse team, but I’m going to with Rose.”
Webber: “I’m going to go with Rose because he has the ball in his hands and to be a point guard, it’s harder for him to be that successful.”
Fratello’s been breathing exhaust fumes from his runaway toupee.