The Starting Five

This is the second year I’ve participated in the TNT Playoff Teleconference with TNT’s NBA analysts. Of course I wanted to talk to our boy Webb, but he had an early flight and only fielded a few questions. This is where you understand how intelligent these analysts are because they can dissect the game in ways fans just don’t realize. Chris Doug and Reggie held it down for sure answering questions from a diverse group of beat writers and columnists from across the nation. My questions are near the end.

TNT tips off its “40 Games in 40 Nights” of NBA Playoff coverage on Sunday, April 19^th with a first-round tripleheader featuring the Philadelphia 76ers @ Orlando Magic at 5:30 p.m. ET followed by the Miami Heat @ Atlanta Hawks at 8 p.m. ET.  The New Orleans Hornets @ Denver Nuggets at 10:30 p.m. ET concludes the day’s action before the Emmy® Award-winning Inside the NBA studio team of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley recap the games.

Participants: Doug Collins – TNT NBA analyst, Reggie Miller – TNT NBA analyst, Chris Webber – NBA TV and TNT NBA analyst and Jeff Behnke – Turner Sports executive producer

Miller on the Boston Celtics losing forward Kevin Garnett for the Playoffs: “The Celtics took a big blow without their emotion and fiery leader in Kevin Garnett. Doc Rivers has done a fantastic job and definitely would get a Coach of the Year consideration for again winning 60 games, especially with the loss of Kevin Garnett for 23 or 24 of those games and still finding a way to win 60 of those games.  Can they repeat? That remains to be seen, with everyone healthy like the Cleveland Cavaliers and even with the Orlando Magic a little banged up, it’s obviously going to be tougher.  Doc (Rivers) as well as Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, they have championship experience and they face a team that is young, likes to penetrate, and get into the paint.  Now you don’t have a player like Kevin Garnett who controls the lane going against Chicago. If Kevin was even 80-90% healthy, everyone was thinking maybe 4-1 (series), but now without Kevin Garnett it’s going to be a little more difficult for the Celtics. I still see them advancing past the first round, but anything after that remains to be seen.”

Collins on the news of legendary football broadcaster John Madden’s retirement: “Obviously (John Madden) is a guy who is the gold standard of all analysts in all sports. He set such a standard, the bar was always so high. I think even Dick Ebersol for NBC said he was the one analyst who could increase ratings just by him being on a telecast, which is an incredible thing to say that an analyst could have that kind of impact. The joy and passion he brought to the booth, he lifted everyone else’s standards up.  The way he did the analysis and all that he brought to it, all the different things were incredible.  (He had a) unique style and the ability to capture people and keep them in front of their televisions every night when he was doing a game. As an analyst and a guy who has been in it a long time, I used to listen to a lot of his telecasts and take a lot of things he did with his analysis and fit it to my personality because there was only one John Madden personality-wise.  He will definitely be missed and I’ll always thank him for the entertainment he gave me when I watched NFL football.”

Webber on his former team the Sacramento Kings: “Like any franchise, you have your ups and downs and (Sacramento) is going through their tough times right now, they have a young team.  Both fortunately and unfortunately they have been used to winning the previous seven or eight years, so the community wants them to keep putting a team on the floor that’s capable of that. I know the owners want to put their best foot forward, but you’re competing in the West and you have a young team so it’s not that easy. The problem they have now is the problem that most teams face, they are in a rebuilding session. Geoff Petrie is one of the best GM’s in the game and as long they have draft picks and a fair chance at some other guys, they can make some noise in the future but it’s going to be a two to three to four year rebuilding process.”

Collins on the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers being two teams to challenge the Lakers in the West: “There are two teams who have the personnel to contend with the Lakers. First of all, when you play against the Lakers you’d better have size, and the Houston Rockets have size. The Lakers have a front line now with (Andrew) Bynum back (from injury), (Pau) Gasol, and you come in with Lamar Odom.  You’d better have two or three guys who can run at Kobe Bryant that will compete against him and try to make his life as difficult as possible.  (The Rockets have) Ron Artest and Shane Battier. (Bryant) really did a number on Artest (a few weeks ago), but those guys have the ability to make him work hard every single night. My big concern with Houston is they are very young at one of the most important positions in the game, that’s the point guard position. I know Aaron Brooks is very talented and Kyle Lowry has done a nice job, but that is my big concern with their team is what kind of play they are going to get out of that position.  The Trail Blazers, they have size on that front line, they have been competitive against the Lakers, in fact at the Rose Garden they’ve won eight or nine straight, some very emotional games in there. When I look on paper those are two teams to me who have the personnel to make it tough on the Lakers.”

Webber on the good match-up between the Trail Blazers and the Lakers: “I really like Portland, they have the demeanor, they are young, but what Nate McMillan has done there with their discipline, their attention to detail. They have big guys who are just rebounders, (Joel) Przybilla is a great guy that plays inside. Their guards and their small guys are all guys who can switch and make it easier to try to wear Kobe (Bryant) down while not getting worn down yourself.  (Brandon) Roy is a leader and he comes through at the end. I would think they have the best chance to stop the Lakers from advancing.”

Webber on why the Celtics will not repeat their championship without Kevin Garnett: “I hate to be so frank, but I do not believe (the Celtics) have a chance (to repeat their championship).  KG, as far as how good he is and playing against him and seeing how he energizes the whole team, I don’t care who you are, you can’t do that from the bench. The toughness that he brings and the way that he’s on other players, I don’t see it. I also see everyone being more aggressive because (the Celtics) really don’t have that shot blocker inside. I really can’t see (a championship) happening if he doesn’t play in the Playoffs.”

Miller on not underestimating the defending champion Celtics: “As Rudy Tomjanovich said, ‘you never want to underestimate the heart of a champion.’ (The Celtics) had a bull’s eye on their back all year and still found a way to win 60-plus games.”

Collins on the Celtics missing Kevin Garnett on the defensive side: “The thing about Boston is the change in attitude that Kevin Garnett brought to that team, defensively, and the passion and the energy that he played with.  In the NBA there is one thing you had better be able to defend, you’d better be able to defend screen rolls because that’s going to be the staple especially in the middle of the floor.  There is no team better as a tandem at the pick and roll than KG and Kendrick Perkins. Chicago is going to be team where Derrick Rose is going to throw a ton of pick and rolls at them.  When you think of Boston last year with the way the team came together and played, it was so much fun to watch. It’s going to be very difficult for them defensively to be as good as they were. That is the thing that will prevent them from getting back to the NBA Finals.”

Collins on the Cavaliers’ defensive foundation that allowed their offense to grow: “Cleveland has been an amazing story this year, they were always a good defensive team under (head coach) Mike Brown. He came in from San Antonio and he said, ‘the seeds of defense are going to be planted, that’s what we are going to hang our hat on,’ and he has done that. What Mike Brown has done now is every training camp, he spends a little less time on defense because the defense is in place and the offense has grown.  What you saw is a Cleveland team that used to play a lot of random offense, get the ball to LeBron (James) and let him create something and they would go through offensive droughts which compromised their defense.  Now they have not compromised their defense, but they are much better offensive team, and they have a tremendous amount of depth in shooting.  To me, that has been the biggest difference.”

Collins on the nuances of coaching in the Playoffs and why it’s such an exciting time: “Chuck Daly is a dear friend and the one thing he always said is, ‘it’s the favorite time of the year for players and coaches.’ For coaches it’s so much fun because the players are so locked in and you feel like you have a rapt audience. They want you to help them on every possession, they want every play scouted, they want to know exactly what that other team is doing.  But you don’t try to make it so much bigger than it is, to where there becomes too much pressure. There is enough pressure as it is, so you prepare and you get your guys ready. The beauty of it is the game-to-game, the little adjustments you might make.  It might be moving guys eight inches further out on the floor to make a rotation difference or change the angle of a pick and roll or move some pieces around off your bench. As a coach, that’s why I always love Game #2 in the Playoffs because you see what that team that lost is doing differently to give themselves a chance to win.”

Collins on the Atlanta Hawks returning to the Playoffs for the second consecutive season: “Atlanta is very interesting team. What we saw last year in the Playoffs in Atlanta, that was a very electric building against the Celtics.  That environment was incredibly charged and those players really fed off that energy.  All of us have had the experience of being in Atlanta when the building was quiet, half-filled and that is not the case in the Playoffs.  That team excited the city last year.  I think it’s important for them to win Game #1 to show that city that they have grown from that playoff series last year. It’s always about their discipline.  Are they going to take good shoots at critical times?  They can be very explosive at times.  Mike Bibby’s experience is going to be very important.  Joe Johnson’s big game experience (is important).  I’m a big Al Horford fan, he’s such a rock on the inside.  Atlanta has a chance to play exceptionally well.”

Collins on comparing Dwyane Wade’s Miami Heat to the 1988 Chicago Bulls, whom he coached: “Dwyane Wade reminds me of my ‘88 Bulls team, when we had Michael (Jordan) and Charles Oakley and a lot of younger guys. We played Cleveland (in the Playoffs) in Game #1 and #2 and Michael had 50 and 55 and we won the first two games.  Dwyane Wade is a guy who is capable of throwing up those kinds of numbers.  It’s a very frightening thing for the opponent.”

Collins on Chicago Bulls rookie point guard Derrick Rose’s bright future: “(Derrick Rose has) already got an incredibly bright future.  When you look at the top teams, other than the Lakers, they are so point guard driven.  Deron Williams (in Utah), Chris Paul (in New Orleans), what Chauncey (Billups) has meant to Denver and right on down the line, (Rajon) Rondo in Boston and what Mo Williams has done for the Cleveland Cavaliers. When you can put that ball in guys’ hands like that and let them create and make plays. In the Playoffs you might have to get to that third option and still get a good shot.  Derrick Rose has that capability.  He played well in the big stage last year in the NCAA tournament.”

Collins on Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl and guard Chauncey Billups: “What a job George Karl has done this year.  They made a decision (in the off-season that) they weren’t going to pay the luxury tax and basically gave away (Marcus) Camby who was best defender and best rebounder on a team that really struggled defensively.  George Karl has done an amazing job with that team. He’s revitalized and I think he loves coaching this group (of players).  You have to give so much credit to Chauncey (Billups), late in games, he gets the ball to the right spot, makes the right decision, he makes big shots and he has great experience.”

Miller on the factors contributing to the Cleveland Cavaliers improvement this season: “Mo Williams is a big reason why (the Cavaliers improved so much this season).  He’s another guy for LeBron James to stretch the floor when he’s out there.  You can’t say it’s all Mo Williams, other players have stepped up their game as well.  Delonte West was a diamond in the rough for (Cavaliers head coach) Mike Brown.  Offensively, (the Cavaliers) found out they can post (West) more and he stretched the floor with his three-point shooting.  They got a full training camp with Anderson Varejao.  The Cavaliers have always been a great defensive team and now they have shifted a little bit more to offense.  I think Mike Brown watching Coach K (USA Olympic head coach Mike Krzyzewski) and how he utilized LeBron in the Olympics.  All these things are reasons why the Cavaliers have the best record in the league, so much trust and willingness to do the small little things and homework, that’s why this team is where they are right now.”

Michael Tillery: A lot of fans think that Chauncey Billups has lost a step. Do you all think this is the case and if so, does he have an extra gear to help Denver advance in the playoffs?

Reggie Miller: “Especially for guards. I can speak of how I was at 30 vs. when I was 25. You are pressuring. Guys are picking up full (full court defense). The wear and tear. You are gonna lose a step hear and there. Is Chauncey the same player he was when he got to Detroit? Quickness wise…no. Along the way, you pick up ways of how to play the game of basketball…which he has done.

Understanding and knowing your body…as Chauncey does…gives him the advantage most nights…especially in the Western Conference when you are going against a Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash and Tony Parker. Every night point guards are gonna have their hands full. You have to be smarter or as smart as most guards.

Has he lost a step? Yes, but his knowledge of the game and where he has catapulted the Nuggets…

It’s gonna be interesting because last year when Chris Paul…and I hate to say this…destroy Jason Kidd…an older point guard…in the playoff series…I’m curious to see if he is gonna attack Chauncey Billups that same way. Chauncey is a player who can score better than Jason Kidd and can probably take Chris Paul down on the post too and possibly get him in early foul trouble.”

Michael Tillery: Doug could you answer the same question?

Doug Collins: “I don’t think Chauncey Billups is gonna guard Chris Paul. I think it’s gonna be Dahntay Jones. What’s gonna happen is in that situation is a lot of cross matching. What I mean by that is if you are not guarding the guy who is guarding you and that ball is live, it’s very difficult to get back. So you are probably gonna see Chancey on Chris Paul a lot but I don’t think they’ll start out that way unless George Karl changes it up. Normally he’ll use Dahntay Jones to guard their quicker or what you consider the better perimeter player. There’s gonna be a lot of cross matching so players are gonna have to talk and that’s gonna be very interesting to watch in that series.”

Michael Tillery: You guys were here in Philly the other night. Could you access what is going on with the Sixers?

Doug Collins: “I knew (the 76ers) were going to struggle early (in the season) trying to play with two big guys (Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala) because they didn’t have enough shooting.  Philadelphia is a team who is going to beat you in the open court.  They are going to get steals, run, get to the basket and to the foul line.  If they try to play a half court game, they don’t have enough shooting.  Now they get Thaddeus Young back (from injury) and they have a smaller lineup with more shooting on the floor.  Sam Dalembert is in there blocking shots and they have a little bit more shooting on the floor. They are a team that has to run and get on the open court. To me it’s gonna be can they create offense off their defense, make it a running game and get to the foul line because in a half court game, they just don’t have enough shooting.”

Miller on the Detroit Pistons: “Detroit has playoff experience.  Are they the same Pistons that we are used to seeing?  No, but they still have Rip (Hamilton), Tayshaun (Prince), Rasheed (Wallace) and players who understand what it takes to win.  Offensively, Allen Iverson has not clicked all year.  It’s going to be an uphill grind, but those three guys (Hamilton, Prince and Wallace) know how to win.”

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