Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the NBA – Thursday, January 12, 2012: Dwight Howard Puts in 45, Grabs 23 and Breaks Wilt’s Free Throw Attempt Record
Dude is concentrating huh? Good for him…
First let me say I’m not surprised. I have high expectations for Dwight. As you all know here, I think 30 and 20 should be his average. It’s not about the stats but more about imposing his being on the opposition. No athlete in the league is strong enough to stop him on the block. LeBron James is his only athletic peer. The Leviathan, as TSF brother The Last Poet calls him, did his thing. I’m hard on Dwight and you all know this from the Lakers/Magic Finals, so I’m glad to see him play to his ability. Do it every night Dwight. Dominate this league. What are you waiting for? Also, I agree with Chuck, Portland is my pick to come out of the west. LaMarcus Aldridge will be in the MVP race.
TNT’s NBA coverage continues Monday, January 16, 2012 at 8 p.m. ET with a special MLK Day doubleheader featuring the Oklahoma City Thunder @ Boston Celtics (8 p.m. ET) followed by the Dallas Mavericks @ Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET). The TNT studio team of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith will be live from STAPLES Center in Los Angles beginning with TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com (7 p.m. ET).
TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith
O’Neal comments on the New York Knicks defense: “If they get timely stops, which enables them to get more easy baskets, they have to continue to score consistently. If they are going to continue to be that dominant offensive threat, they’re going to have to get timely stops to get to that next level.”
Barkley comments on the Memphis Grizzlies chances of making the playoffs: “It’s going to be very difficult for them to make the playoffs. I don’t think they can make up the ground without [Grizzlies forwards] Zach Randolph and Darrell Arthur. I don’t think they’re going to score enough with those two guys missing.”
Barkley comments on how the 2012 NBA Championship could be decided: “Injuries might decide the NBA champion this year.”
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Game 1: New York Knicks (83) @ Memphis Grizzlies (94)
Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Mike Fratello (analyst) with David Aldridge (reporter)
Miller comments on New York Knicks guard Iman Shumpert’s 3-14 shooting with 3:34 left in the first half (he ended up 3-15 in the first half): “This is ridiculous. When you put the ball in his hand and you ask him to create, as a rookie, that’s when things go wrong.”
Miller comments on the Knicks’ offense: “I’m not quite sure this offense by the New York Knicks can be successful. There has got to be a little more ball movement.”
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Halftime
Johnson, O’Neal, Smith and Barkley
Barkley comments on Knicks rookie point guard Iman Shumpert attempting 15 shots and only making three in 19 minutes of play in the first half: “It was flat-out ridiculous. I’m blaming the coaching staff. A rookie should never feel that comfortable to take 15 shots in a half, unless they’re hitting them.”
O’Neal comments on Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay’s 18 first half points on 8-9 shooting: “He’s a fabulous player. If he continues to play like this he will be mentioned with the Carmelos, LeBrons and D Wades – if he plays like this consistently.”
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Fratello comments on back-to-back-to-back successes this season: “Of all the 30 teams in the NBA only two so far won back-to-back-to-back. No surprise, both teams have very, very deep rosters – Chicago and Oklahoma City.”
TNT’s David Aldridge interviewed Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay after the Grizzlies win
Gay comments on his play tonight after scoring 26 points: “I was just aggressive from the start. I knew today I had to be aggressive.”
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Barkley comments on the Western Conference: “The West is up for grabs. The Portland Trail Blazers are the best team I’ve seen so far.”
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Game 2: Orlando Magic (117) @ Golden State Warriors (109)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Steve Kerr (analyst) with Craig Sager (reporter)
Kerr comments on the Orlando Magic this season: “They’re going to win their share of games. They’ve got the best center [Dwight Howard] in the league.”
Kerr comments on the Golden State Warrior’s desire to become an elite team in the NBA: “Golden State needs young talent. To be able to attract big time free agents, they’ve got to build up their talent base before they can get to that point.”
Kerr comments on Warriors head coach Mark Jackson and the experience he received as a broadcaster: “Broadcasting gives you a little different perspective. You get the opportunity to sit down with all the coaches around the league and see different philosophies. There’s no question Mark really benefitted from all those years in front of the camera.”
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Halftime
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
O’Neal describes what Magic center Dwight Howard has to do to be considered a dominant big man: “For him to dominate he needs to average 28 [pts], 15 rebounds, period.”
Smith comments on Warriors head coach Mark Jackson as a great basketball player as opposed to being a great player in the NBA: “Mark Jackson was a guy who shouldn’t have been in the NBA but played 20 years because he knew how to play basketball.”
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Kerr on the absence of Warriors center Kwame Brown from the lineup and its affect on the game: “The absence of Kwame Brown is really destroying the Golden State game plan tonight.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Magic center Dwight Howard after Howard’s 45-point, 23-rebound night in which he also set a NBA record for 39 free throw attempts.
Howard on his game: “I kept telling myself no matter how many I miss, go up there and shoot and try to dominate the game not just from the free-throw line. And that’s what I did.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Smith on the Warriors: “This team is still competitive against a team that has Dwight Howard. This Golden State team has made some strides.”
Smith on teams effectively using the “Hack-a-Shaq” strategy of fouling an opposing player to send him to the line multiple times throughout the game: “’Hack-a-Shaq was an effective (strategy) because the Lakers were a great team. So to stay with them, that was a good method. The Orlando Magic aren’t a good enough team that you have to foul Dwight Howard every time.”
O’Neal on Dwight Howard’s 45-point, 23-rebound night: “He was dominant and he needs to play like this every night. If he wants to win multiple championships, he has to play like this every night.”
Barkley on the Magic: “They don’t have a lot of athletic ability…they can’t defend any quick guards.”
Smith on players forgetting about bad games and moving on to the next one: “The best players in basketball have the shortest memories.”
Barkley on the Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith: “If Josh Smith could be consistent every night, with his talent level, he would make them a lot better. But he is so inconsistent.”
Barkley on the inconsistency of Charlotte Bobcats forward Boris Diaw: “He is a nice guy that doesn’t have that passion to play. I used to love saying, ‘I’m just going to kick your (tail) tonight and there’s nothing you can do about it,’ (Diaw) doesn’t have that (drive). It’s frustrating when a guy has that type of talent (and doesn’t use it.)”
Smith on Cleveland Cavaliers rookie point guard Kyrie Irving: “Being a point guard isn’t about scoring or getting assists, it’s about making great decisions. He makes great decisions for a young kid.”
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Thanks for the shout out, bra!
And yes, you and Shaq are both right: Howard should be using his size and strength to destroy this league. Problem is he just doesn’t have enough basketball skills, and practicing with assistant coach Pat Ewing seemingly has not helped him in this endeavor. Andrew Bynum has superior footwork and post offense (Bynum’s stats would skyrocket if he didn’t play with Kobe), and so it’s ironic that the Lakers seem so eager to trade one for the other.
Anyway, Howard’s lack of offensive polish shouldn’t keep him from averaging 30 and 20 every night. Not in today’s NBA. Golden State is just a most glaring example of the lack of quality big men that most NBA teams struggle with every night.
By the way, is it just me or does the hype surrounding Shaq’s presence on TNT’s Inside the NBA faaaaaaaaar exceed the reality? I mean, as a studio “analyst,” he basically sucks, right???
@TLP:
It’s not you, bruh. Shaq’s services were all “hype” and “Inside the NBA” veiwers are suffering because of it.
In my Charles Barkley voice: “Shaq is turrible!” (lol)
Having watched the game last night, Dwight’s post-moves seem to be improving. He had a little lefty jump hook and that “sky hook.” Still not a strength but clearly there is improvement there. I also think the hack strategy makes no sense because (1) the warriors are going to be successful with up-tempo and that limits that possibility; and (2) and even of Dwight makes 50% that means they are scoring 2 points every other possession — how does that make sense?
In regards to: “Barkley comments on how the 2012 NBA Championship could be decided: ‘Injuries might decide the NBA champion this year.’” Why isn’t the media making connections between these various injuries and the compressed schedule. It is yet another example of how the lockout hurt the game and the players more than anything else
Mr Leonard,
You’re right, of course. Howard’s offense is improving. In my opinion, however, he will never be a great offensive post player, or even a “good” one. Put it this way: a young guy like DeMarcus Cousins already has more offensive firepower than Howard will ever have. Footwork can be taught, of course, strength and balance can be gained in the weight room, etc., but there is much about the post game that is predicated on “feel,” and I just don’t think home boy has the “touch,” you know? I mean, he’s 25-26 years old now, right? If he had “it” we’d have seen “it” by now, no? None of this means he shouldn’t be destroying the likes of DeMarcus Cousins every single night because cleary he should be!
And I’m also with you on the intentional fouling. I’ve never liked it no matter who the target. This kind of “coaching” ruins the game on an aesthetic level, i.e., I simply don’t think that is the way the game should be played. Put your five against my five and let’s see which team is better, feel me? Wish I could tell Mark Jackson, who also emplyed this yechnique against the Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan in another nationally televised game (and his team lost that one, too), that he’s “better than that…”
Re your comment on connections between injuries and the compressed schedule: I watch a lot of League Pass and the local media certainly makes these connections when their team’s star player goes down. Case in point: Derrick Rose, who’s injury was more fluke-ish than it was schedule-related, but that didn’t stop the local crew from lamenting the fact that this injury may impact more games (due to DNP’s, or playing but at less than 100%) than it would under a regular schedule – and rightfully so. But the national media has been silent on this issue up to now. Let’s see what the new year brings…
And GrandNubian – no doubt, I’m glad I’m not the only one who sees it. If Fred G. Sanford was watching the show, he’d call Shaq “A big dummy” and be done with it!
Great write up Mizzo……man its great to have the NBA and you back to writing these articles after the Thursday night TNT games.
Whats up GN and LP you guys make a great point about Howards post game.
@LP – If you remember I said last year that Cousins had a better post games then 85% of the players in the NBA and he only played 1 year in college. Funny how those kats on TNT last night only mentioned that the reason that the post game in the NBA is lacking is because of high school players. What ever it has more to do with the influx of the European game. Al Jefferson had post moves fresh out of high school. While people like Andrea Bargnani still have no post game….and how many years did it take for Dirk to learn how to post up????
Howard has gotten better over the last 4 years with his post up moves. But his issues are 1.) He isn’t a great passer out of the double team so he often times gets stripped or turnsover the ball 2.) He can’t really dribble the ball well 3.) Stan Van doesn’t go into him enough so that he can practice his moves during game situations and late in the 4th.
Think of people like David Robinson and Alonzo Mourning who both didn’t have great post moves. But they were able to get to any spot on the floor because they could dribble the ball in tight areas and get to there sweet spot.
Now in saying this, Howard does perform better in games (you can see this in the playoffs) as he gets more touches and the team calls his number. You can see his confidence get better during the game and some of his hook shots and bank shot begin to go in the bucket (like last night).
So the Magic need to just feed the BEAST!!!
Another thing you will never ever ever see this much intelligence and common sense when analyzing players (whether NBA or NFL) on ESPN. This is why TNT is the best…..now if we can only get the NBA off ESPN and back on NBC.
@ DL – Yes the schedule is causing majr issues with injuries. It is also causing issues with the sloppy play that we are seeing due to players not being able to practice or enough rest between games. The turnovers are extremely high this year along with scoring being down and outside shooting being horrible.
@Origin, I’m with you on getting the NBA back on NBC because ESPN/ABC has the driest damn broadcasts. Back in the day on NBC (and even CBS), made the games feel like events, must-see television, that made the excitement level rise. I never used the mute as much as I have since Disney got the NBA. Blaaah.
True Harvey……Stern and the owners are idiots. ABC is so negative and they really hurt the NBA product. If you look the ratings have been bad to avg. for all the finals on ABC except 2 (2004 and 2011) and that was because of the hate for Kobe because of the the Colorado incident and the hate for Lebron last year.
IMO nothing has tarnished all the work that was done for the league (80s and 90s era) more then the fact that the league went from NBC to ABC/ESPN.