Both of these releases are NBA-centric. The first one comes from TNT and the quotage from Thursday's doubleheader.
Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the NBA – Thursday, December 17, 2009
TNT’s NBA Thursday coverage continues on New Year’s Eve, Thursday, Dec. 31 at 7 p.m. ET with a doubleheader featuring the Miami Heat @ San Antonio Spurs followed by the Philadelphia 76ers @ Los Angeles Clippers
CLIP OF THE DAY
(click on link below to watch)
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I never got that high unless I was on a step ladder or an elevator.”
--TNT analyst Kevin McHale on Dwight Howard’s shot-blocking abilities.
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TNT NBA Tip-off
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith
HLN anchor Robin Meade joined the studio show to discuss “With All Due Respect,” a special featuring TNT NBA analyst Charles Barkley, TNT NASCAR analyst Kyle Petty and TBS MLB analyst Dennis Eckersley. The special will air on Sunday, Dec. 20 at 10 p.m. (ET / PT) on HLN.
Meade on what viewers can expect from “With All Due Respect”: “We know these guys as sports commentators and their sports history. It was nice to hear what they have to say about the stories that made us all talk all year. Some of the things that Charles, Dennis and Kyle will say the things that maybe you thought, but were afraid to say. But these three (guys), by no means, are afraid to say it. It kind of illuminates that, as a journalist, there are two sides to one story. They show us that it’s not all black-and-white, it’s not all good and bad, it just is.”
Barkley on Tiger Woods needing to talk about his current situation: “They’ve got to let him speak. He’s got to speak. It’s not like if he stays in the house, it’ll blow over. He has got to speak at some point. I don’t want to give him advice. I want to tell him, ‘I love you. Hang in there.’ I don’t get in other people’s business. I’ve got enough going on.”
Smith on the Tiger Woods situation: “Tiger Woods made that decision. He’s the one who has to live up to it and he’s the one who has to own up to it. Whatever his handlers are advising him to do or not advising him to do, at the end of the day, everyone works for you. You don’t work for anybody. He makes his own decisions like he made those same indiscretions. I think they are putting too much pressure on the people around him. Secondly, I think it’s time for him to figure out what’s going on in his household. When he decides it’s time to come out of his household, then he’ll explain it to you. He doesn’t owe us anything to explain anything.”
Barkley on the recent HGH speculation surrounding Tiger Woods: “That’s very dangerous. I don’t have any idea but if (something) comes out, it could be catastrophic. This first thing is bad, clearly. That’s the thing that sucks when you’re on television and you have to talk about one of your friends. Clearly, this is a bad situation. I hope it was just the blood-spinning thing, which is legal. In today’s society, you’re guilty until proven innocent. I don’t think Tiger did anything but work hard. Those allegations are very dangerous.”
Meade on Barkley wearing a Snuggie backstage: “It’s the only thing that would fit him. It was one-size-fits-all.”
Johnson on Barkley’s Snuggie: “If you look inside that Snuggie, the tag says ‘massive’”
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Game 1: Orlando Magic (86) @ Miami Heat (104)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan, Doug Collins and Kevin McHale with Craig Sager reporting
McHale on Dwight Howard’s shot-blocking abilities: “I never got that high unless I was on a step ladder or an elevator.”
Collins on Magic center Dwight Howard needing to trust his offensive game more: “He just needs to trust it more. We’ve heard so much about him using it in practice but when he gets into the game, it seems like he wants to resort to the power moves with the dunking and the layups. He’s got to start trusting his offensive game a little bit more while the game is going on, not just in practice.”
Collins on Heat forward Udonis Haslem: “(Haslem) is one of my favorite players. He is so consistent. He’s going to get you ten or eleven points every night, seven or eight rebounds and he’ll play good defense. He’s in the right place all the time.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy after the first quarter
Van Gundy on the Magic’s poor play in the first quarter: “Well we’ve got to try (to stop the Heat). We made no effort. No focus. We’re going to get our ass kicked playing like this.”
McHale on Heat forward Michael Beasley: “I thought he’d get to the line quite a bit in (the NBA) because he can put the ball on the floor. He’s kind of a hybrid forward. He drives both left and right-handed and he can draw fouls.”
McHale on the Heat needing total team effort to compete: “They’ve got to get a great bench performance. They need a total team effort. They don’t have the three superstars like the Celtics or Lakers. That doesn’t mean that everyone has to score but everyone has to play good, efficient basketball.”
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Halftime
Johnson, Barkley and Smith
Barkley on Dwyane Wade having to carry the Heat: “(The Heat) are not a very good team. (Dwyane Wade) has to go out and play at an extremely high level of play every night for them to be competitive. They are six, seven or eight seed (in the playoffs). They are one (playoff series) and done. They are not a very good team.”
Smith on the Heat struggling this season: “I just think Miami is not good enough. In the NBA it’s about talent, then it’s about coaching, then it’s about chemistry. They have the coaching and the chemistry part but they don’t have the talent level to compete on a consistent basis.”
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McHale on working a game live versus working in the studio: “This is fun, I love the game but I love Ernie (Johnson). He’s the only one watching the game right now. Charles is watching Crime Scene Investigation, someone is getting shot and Charles is figuring it out. Ernie is great to work with in the studio but it’s fun to get out and work some games and get some live juice in the arena.”
Collins on how the Magic are constructed around center Dwight Howard: “(The Magic) has done a great job of putting the pieces together. If Rashard Lewis comes out of the game, they bring Ryan Anderson in who fills that kind of role. They’ve done a nice job of putting the pieces all around Dwight Howard. You build around your best player.”
Collins on the improvement of Magic guard J.J. Redick: “J.J. has played well. People underestimate him. He puts the ball on the floor now. He’s not just a stand-still three-point shooter anymore.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Heat guard Dwyane Wade following the game
Wade on a recent team meeting sparking the team: “We re-evaluated the game and how much we respect the game, the organization and ourselves. We came in the next day and practiced hard. We’re going to give it a lot of effort and let everything else take care of itself.”
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Game 2: Phoenix Suns (102) @ Portland Trail Blazers (105)
Announcers: Gary Bender and Reggie Miller with Cheryl Miller reporting
Stoudemire on the Suns’ TNT curse losing their last 16 games on the network going into the game versus Portland: “I don’t know what it is. I think for the most part, we definitely try to win. We give 100% (effort) every time we’re on TNT but for some reason, we can’t get it.”
Miller on the development of Suns center Channing Frye: “The longer (Channing Frye) plays and the more time he gets, he’ll learn to play better and get comfortable in different arenas.”
Miller on Trail Blazers center Joel Przybilla: “(Przybilla is) a big body and he plays long. He’s somewhat athletic but he blocks shots. He’s one of the better rebounders in the league.”
Miller on Greg Oden out for the season with an injury: “He was really starting to come into his own. I’m sure everyone likes to make the comparisons to Sam Bowie with the kind of awkward career Bowie had but (Oden) is different. This guy is the real deal. He’s not going to be an All-Star but for this particular team, he works.”
TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Suns center Channing Frye after the second quarter
Frye on playing his first game back in Portland, his former team: “I didn’t want to put extra pressure on myself playing at my summer home in Portland. This is my old team and I didn’t want to put pressure on myself. I wanted the game to come to me. I think we need to push it a little bit more. I’m really upset with myself, I need to become a better shot blocker and become more of a presence at the rim.”
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Halftime
Johnson, Barkley and Smith
Barkley on the Trail Blazers needing an inside scorer: “I like Portland’s talent but they need to find a low-post scorer where they can get some easy baskets. They’ve got Brandon Roy, who’s a stud. Lamarcus Aldridge is really an outside player even though he’s seven feet tall. Until they find a low-post scorer, they are going to be up-and-down and inconsistent. You don’t win by shooting jump shots.”
Smith on the lackluster Knicks/Bulls match-up on Thursday night: “(Cavaliers GM) Danny Ferry is putting a tape of this game in LeBron’s Christmas stocking.”
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TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Trail Blazers assistant coach Monty Williams following the third quarter
Williams on coaching alongside head coach Nate McMillan: “I don’t know if I’m doing a good or bad job but (McMillan) is our leader. We feed off his energy.”
Miller on Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy’s ability to get hot shooting: “Brandon Roy is one
of those guys that, in a two or three minute stretch, can take over a ballgame.”
TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Trail Blazers Brandon Roy and Jerryd Bayliss following the game
Roy on their victory over the Suns: “This is a huge win for us, a conference win. We have four road games coming up and they are all tough games. We’ve got Jerryd (Bayliss) building his confidence and really helping the team.”
Bayliss on making the most of his expanded playing time: “I’ve just been focused and I told the coaches to give me an opportunity and I would do the best I can. Rudy (Fernandez) went out (with injury) and we had a few other injuries. I’m finally getting an opportunity and I’m trying to show what I can do.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, Barkley and Smith
Barkley on Trail Blazers guard Jerryd Bayliss’ lack of playing time for the Blazers: “What amazes me is that Jerryd (Bayliss) can’t get playing time for the Blazers until guys get hurt. Just watching that kid play – and I saw him at Arizona - they can’t find time for that kid? He is better than some of those guys they’re playing. Let’s not kid ourselves. To have to wait for a couple of guys to get hurt to play that guy? Come on!”
Smith on Trail Blazers guard Jerryd Bayliss being a guy who can change the pace of the game: “(Bayliss) is diametrically different from what they have on the floor. He’s a guy who pushes the pace, he’s a scoring threat, keeps pressure on the defense. Their guards at that position really don’t do that. Normally you would bring a guy like that to change the pace of the game. He wouldn’t sit that much and that long, for a year and a half, not playing any kind of major minutes.”
Barkley on working with TNT NASCAR analyst Kyle Petty during HLN’s With All Due Respect: “I really like Kyle. We just really hit it off.”
Smith: “You all going out on a date or something?”
Barkley: “He can drive.”
TNT continued its ‘TNT All-Decade NBA’ showcase to help determine the top performances, games and moments from throughout the 2000’s. TNT unveiled the nominees for ‘Individual Drama: NBA Playoffs.’ A category’s nominees will be announced each week on Inside the NBA. Fans can vote for their top performance on NBA.com at: http://www.nba.com/alldecade
Kobe Bryant: Game #4 2000 NBA Finals
Misses Game #3 with ankle injury. Shaq fouls out in overtime. Kobe scores eight points (game winner with 5.8 seconds left) for 3-1 series lead.
Kobe Bryant: Game #4 2004 West Semifinals
Spends day in Eagle County Colorado Courtroom pleading non-guilty, flies to L.A., arrives two and a half hours before game. Scores 42 points, 15 in the fourth quarter to defeat Spurs 98-90 and even series.
Steve Nash: Game #6 2005 West Semifinals
39-12-9 in overtime clincher at Dallas, the team that let him walk in free agency.
Dirk Nowitzki: Game #5 2006 West Finals
Tim Thomas blows mocking kiss, Dirk scores 15 straight fourth quarter points, 50 points total and 12 rebounds as Dallas takes 3-2 lead.
Derek Fisher: Game #2 2007 West Semifinals
Enters game in third quarter after tending to daughter’s unannounced illness (at that time). Big defense, clutch overtime three-pointer.
Paul Pierce: Game #1 2008 NBA Finals
Apparent knee injury in third quarter, carried off by teammates, returns, leads Celtics to victory.
Barkley on NBA TV’s Fan Night featuring Ernie Johnson, Chris Webber and Kevin McHale: “As Kenny and I like to call it, Nerd Night.”
Johnson: “What do you call (NBA TV) on Wednesday when Kenny’s in?”
Barkley: “The good looking black guy’s show.”
Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams joined the studio show.
Williams on the Jazz’s dismal road record: “It’s been a problem the last couple of years. We seem to get up for the good teams and against the bottom feeders we struggle, they kind of have our number.”
Barkley on whether there is tension in the Jazz locker room due to the uncertain future of
Carlos Boozer: “There has to be tension in your locker room. When you’re on a team, everyone has to buy into ‘we’re trying win’ and you think you’re going to be together for a long time. Clearly the elephant in the room is Carlos Boozer, who is going to be a free agent and who you guys are probably not going to re-sign. Is there talk or tension about that at all?”
Williams; “I think in the offseason there was and maybe early on the season, but not now. The way he came back and played and got along with everyone, there’s really no tension in the locker room. We’ve been enjoying playing with each other and we don’t know what’s going to happen after the season. You don’t know what’s going to happen until it happens.”
Williams on what it would mean to make the NBA All-Star team: “It would mean a lot to me to be an All-Star, especially since it’s in my hometown of Dallas, but it’s not the end of the world if I don’t make it. I’ve been disappointed a couple of years now.”
Smith on why Williams’ should not be focused on making the All-Star team: “Your goals have changed. You’re an All-Star, your goal is to be first or second team All-NBA. He should be thought of as the best point guard or right behind the best point guard. He has the skill level, the work ethic, you see what he’s brought to the game. All-Star is not a goal anymore. If that’s the goal then we’re in the wrong building.”
NBA TV Airs Rematch of Thunder/Lakers on Tuesday’s Fan Night
Fans voted upon the Oklahoma City Thunder @ L.A. Lakers for Fan Night on Tuesday, Dec. 22, the second time these two teams have played each other on NBA TV. Their first faceoff was aired on NBA TV’s first Fan Night of the season on Nov. 3 and was an overtime thriller with the Lakers beating the Thunder 101-98 in the final seconds. The game will air at 10:30 p.m. (ET) with host Ernie Johnson and analysts Chris Webber and Kevin McHale on-hand for the pre-game show beginning at 10 p.m. (ET).
On Tuesday, Dec. 29, NBA TV will air a special Fan Night telecast, with Johnson, McHale and Webber, as well as sideline reporter Craig Sager, courtside to announce the Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks game from Philips Arena. Fan Night voting will resume on Dec. 29 for the network’s game to air on Tuesday, Jan. 5.
The Jump on NBA.com, the site’s popular weekly live, interactive show, streams each Tuesday on NBA.com at 1 p.m. (ET), followed by its re-air on NBA TV at 5 p.m. (ET). The show features host Kyle Montgomery, analysts Dennis Scott and Brent Barry and NBA.com blogger and ‘chat master’ Sekou Smith, who take fans’ questions and comments from NBA.com, Facebook and Twitter.
In addition to the Fan Night game, NBA TV will also feature live games on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. (ET) with the Portland Trail Blazers @ Orlando Magic, Sunday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. (ET) with the Charlotte Bobcats @ New York Knicks, Monday, Dec. 21 at 9 p.m. (ET) with the Cleveland Cavaliers @ Phoenix Suns and Wednesday, Dec. 23 with the Houston Rockets @ Orlando Magic.
Every Saturday at 1 p.m. (ET), NBA TV features a Euroleague Game of the Week. This Saturday, Dec. 19, the game will feature a match-up between Zalgiris with Marcus Brown, (formerly of the Trail Blazers and Pistons) against Regal FC Barcelona whose roster includes Ricky Rubio (2009 Timberwolves draft pick), Juan Carlos Navarro (formerly of the Grizzlies), Fran Vazquez (11th overall 2005 NBA Draft pick by Magic).
NBA TV PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE:
DECEMBER 19 – DECEMBER 20
SATURDAY, DEC. 19
1-3 p.m. Euroleague Game of the Week: Zalgiris vs. Regal FC Barcelona
6:30-7 p.m. Pregame Show Kyle Montgomery, Eric Snow
7-9:30 p.m. NBA Regular Season: Portland Trail Blazers @ Orlando Magic Local Announcers
9:30p.m.-12 a.m. NBA GameTime Kyle Montgomery, Eric Snow
SUNDAY, DEC. 20
7-7:30 p.m. Pregame Show Marc Fein, Steve Smith
7:30- 10 p.m. NBA Regular Season: Charlotte Bobcats @ New York Knicks Local Announcers
10-11 p.m. NBA GameTime Marc Fein, Steve Smith
DECEMBER 21 – DECEMBER 27
MONDAY, DEC. 21
12-1 p.m. NBA.COM FANTASY INSIDER Rick Kamla, Dennis Scott
7-8:30 p.m. NBA GameTime Rick Kamla, Eric Snow, Brent Barry
8:30-9 p.m. Pregame Show Rick Kamla, Eric Snow, Brent Barry
9-11:30 p.m. NBA Regular Season: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Phoenix Suns Local Announcers
11:30p.m.-12:30 a.m. NBA GameTime Rick Kamla, Eric Snow, Brent Barry
TUESDAY, DEC. 22: FAN NIGHT
1 p.m. (NBA.com) The Jump on NBA.com Kyle Montgomery, Dennis Scott, Brent Barry
5-6 p.m. The Jump on NBA.com (NBA.com Re-Air) Kyle Montgomery, Dennis Scott, Brent Barry
6-6:30 p.m. THE BEAT Marc Fein, David Aldridge
8-10 p.m. NBA GameTime Ernie Johnson, Kevin McHale, Chris Webber
10-10:30 p.m. Pregame Show Ernie Johnson, Kevin McHale, Chris Webber
10:30 p.m.- 1 a.m. NBA Regular Season: Oklahoma City Thunder @ L.A. Lakers Local Announcers
1- 2 a.m. NBA GameTime Rick Kamla, Steve Smith
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 23
4- 4:30 p.m. NBA D-League Central Rick Kamla
4:30- 6:30 p.m. NBA D-League Regular Season: TBD Local Announcers
6:30-7 p.m. Pregame Show Marc Fein, Eric Snow
7-9:30 p.m. NBA Regular Season: Houston Rockets @ Orlando Magic Marc Fein, Eric Snow
9:30 p.m.- 1 a.m. NBA GameTime Marc Fein, Eric Snow
THURSDAY, DEC. 24
Noon- 9 p.m. Top NBA Moments 2009
9 - 9:30 p.m. NBA GameTime: Christmas Day Preview Marc Fein, Eric Snow
FRIDAY, DEC. 25
Noon - 2 a.m. Top Moments of the 2000's
2-2:30 a.m. NBA GameTime Rick Kamla, Steve Smith
SATURDAY, DEC. 26
1-3 p.m. Euroleague Game of the Week: Olympiakos vs. Lietuvos Rytas
7-7:30 p.m. NBA GameTime
7:30-8 p.m. Pregame Show Kyle Montgomery, Eric Snow
8-10:30 p.m. NBA Regular Season: Washington Wizards @ Minnesota Timberwolves Local Announcers
10:30 p.m.- 2a.m. NBA GameTime Kyle Montgomery, Eric Snow
SUNDAY, DEC. 27
5:30-6 p.m. Pregame Show Marc Fein, Steve Smith
6-8:30 p.m. NBA Regular Season: San Antonio Spurs @ New York Knicks Local Announcers
8:30-9:30 p.m. NBA GameTime Marc Fein, Steve Smith
12-1 a.m. NBA GameTime Marc Fein, Steve Smith
NBA TV SCHEDULE (all times ET): Dec. 28-Jan. 3
MONDAY, DEC. 28
12-1 p.m. NBA.COM FANTASY INSIDER Rick Kamla, Dennis Scott
7-7:30 p.m. NBA GameTime Rick Kamla, Brent Barry,Eric Snow
7:30-8 p.m. Pregame Show Rick Kamla, Brent Barry,Eric Snow
8-10:30 p.m. NBA Regular Season: Washington Wizards @ Memphis Grizzlies Local Announcers
10:30p.m.-2 a.m. NBA GameTime Rick Kamla, Brent Barry,Eric Snow
TUESDAY, DEC. 29: FAN NIGHT
1 p.m. (NBA.com) The Jump on NBA.com Kyle Montgomery, Dennis Scott, Brent Barry
12:30 -1 p.m. NBA D-League Central: TBD Rick Kamla
1-3 p.m. NBA D-League Regular Season: TBD Local Announcers
5- 6 p.m. The Jump on NBA.com (NBA.com Re-Air)
6-6:30 p.m. THE BEAT Marc Fein, David Aldridge
6:30-7 p.m. Pregame Show Rick Kamla, Steve Smith
7-9:30 p.m. NBA Regular Season: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Atlanta Hawks Ernie Johnson, Kevin McHale, Chris Webber, Craig Sager
9:30p.m.- 1:30 a.m NBA GameTime Rick Kamla, Steve Smith
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 30
4:30- 6:30 p.m. NBA D-League Regular Season: TBD
6:30-7 p.m. NBA ACTION
7-8:30 p.m. NBA Special: Top NBA Moments 2009
8:30- 9 p.m. Pregame Show Marc Fein, Kenny Smith, Eric Snow
9-11:30 p.m. NBA Regular Season: Boston Celtics @ Phoenix Suns Local Announcers
11:30p.m.-1a.m. NBA GameTime Marc Fein, Kenny Smith, Eric Snow
THURSDAY, DEC. 31
Noon - 2 a.m. Top NBA Moments 2009
FRIDAY, JAN. 1
Noon - 7 p.m. NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Marathon
7-7:30 p.m. Pregame Show Rick Kamla, Steve Smith
7:30-10 p.m. NBA Regular Season: New York Knicks @ Atlanta Hawks Local Announcers
10 - 10:30 p.m. NBA GameTime Rick Kamla, Steve Smith
1-1:30 a.m. NBA GameTime Friday Rick Kamla, Steve Smith
SATURDAY, JAN. 2
1-3 p.m. Euroleague Game of the Week: Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. CSKA Moscow
4:30-6:30 p.m. NBA D-LeagueRegular Season: TBD
7-8:30 p.m. NBA GameTime Kyle Montgomery, Eric Snow
8:30- 9p.m. Pregame Show Kyle Montgomery, Eric Snow
9-11:30 p.m. NBA Regular Season: Denver Nuggets @ Utah Jazz Local Announcers
11:30 p.m.- 1a.m. NBA GameTime Kyle Montgomery, Eric Snow
SUNDAY, JAN. 3
5:30-6 p.m. Pregame Show Marc Fein, Steve Smith
6-8:30 p.m. NBA Regular Season: San Antonio Spurs @ Toronto Raptors Local Announcers
8:30-9 p.m. NBA GameTime Marc Fein, Steve Smith
11:30 p.m.-1 a.m. NBA GameTime Marc Fein, Steve Smith
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