TNT talks Celtics

Here are some pre and post-game notes from last night's TNT broadcast of the Celtics/Pistons game -

TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley

Smith on if the Celtics can have a “statement” game early in the season: “Of course because realistically (the Celtics have) got to beat Detroit and they’ve got to beat Cleveland and they are the three best teams by far in the East. And you always want to have a psychological advantage over the team that you are going to play in the playoff at some point.”

Barkley on the importance of big games during the regular season: “There are very few big games during the regular season. If a team beats you five or six times in a row, it isn’t like you’re going to be confident going to them in the playoffs.”

Smith on the Celtics’ new-found swagger: “I think that when you are successful and if you win a championship like the Celtics have – but Paul Pierce to me has got a swagger. And those guys – Boston to me, Paul Pierce says, “I think I’m the best basketball player in the world.” I don’t think he would have said that if they didn’t win a championship.”

Smith on fans voting for the Cavaliers/Knicks match-up on NBA-TV’s upcoming Fan Night on Tues., November 25: “It’s not really seeing the Knicks, it’s seeing Lebron.”

Barkley with some advice for Shaquille O’Neal regarding his ongoing feud with Kobe Bryant: “I’m going to call out one of my favorite people, one of my five greatest players ever that I love watching, Shaquille O'Neal. Shaquille O’Neal, you know I love you. I know your mom and my mom are best friends and I know I'm going to get in trouble because you're my favorite player.”

“You’ve got to let this thing go, man. You have been one of the greatest players in NBA history and (one of the) greatest players ever. You are one of the nicest (guys) people are ever going to meet and you are great for charity. Hey, man, finish your career as that guy. You don't want to be- when we all lose our talent, you don't want to be a bitter, angry guy going out the game. You are too good of a person. Let this thing with Kobe go. The rap thing last summer, now you’re going back between fields. Hey man, you are too good of a person to finish your career like that. Just be one of greatest players ever, one of the nicest guys ever, let all that crap with the Lakers go and let it go.”

Game 1: Detroit Pistons (80) @ Boston Celtics (98)
Announcers Kevin Harlan and Doug Collins with Cheryl Miller reporting

Collins on the Celtics changing as a team after winning the NBA Championship: “When you win a championship, things are different. Your star players probably are going to come back and be the same. Because they have been stars their entire career. But all of a sudden, guys on the bench who have gotten a little adulation and some acclaim change a little bit.”

Collins on the Pistons’ defensive game: “Detroit was never a team that pressured you a lot. They played very good solid defense, they were a very strong defensive team. But now they're more of a speed team. I expect them to get in the lanes more, and get some turnovers.”

Collins on the defensive intensity Kevin Garnett brings to the Celtics: “(Kevin Garnett’s defensive intensity is) not just in the games. It’s in practice, it’s in shoot-arounds and it’s in talking with your teammates. Look what the Celtics defense is. They are going to swarm you on the strong side. They're going to overload their defense and if you don't move the ball and get it to the weak side of the floor you are going to have trouble scoring.”

Barkley on Celtics guard Tony Allen returning to full health: “You're probably going to get a real estimation of the talent now because last year, the year (Tony Allen) blew out his knee. Last year, he played the knee brace all year. Now he has probably got the full confidence. I hate guys who play with braces. I think it gives you a psychological disadvantage.”

Barkley on the annual Alabama/Auburn college football match-up this weekend: “The Iron Bowl is next week. It's going to be the greatest upset in Iron Bowl history. Auburn is going to Tuscaloosa and we're going to shock the world.”

Collins on the Pistons needing home games to help gel the team: “We talked about how that tough Detroit Pistons schedule, it’s going to ease up a bit. Eight of the next 12 (games) are at home and I think that will be some welcome time for (coach) Michael Curry because really, this team hasn’t had the chance to practice much with Allen Iverson. If you get the team at home you don’t have travel days between and you can get a good practice session in. These next 12 games the Pistons should be able to figure out more who they are.”

Collins on Pistons guard Will Bynum: “Defensively (Will Bynum’s) been doing a pretty good job…he’s a power pack, he’s so strong. The last time these two teams played he was the bright light for the Pistons.”

Collins on the strengths of the Celtics and weaknesses of the Pistons: “One of the things that stands out to me about Boston is they’re physically the bigger and stronger team. Come playoff time you know strength, size and depth, how that plays in. My one concern about the Detroit Pistons is their lack of physical strength…they absolutely need (Antonio) McDyess.”

Game 2: LA Lakers (105) @ Phoenix Suns (92)
Announcers Marv Albert, Reggie Miller and Mike Fratello with Craig Sager reporting

Miller on LA Lakers guards Jordan Farmar and Derek Fisher: “Everyone is wondering when is Jordan Farmar going to be able to take that point guard position, but you need players like Derek Fisher because he runs the triangle offense so well, he knocks down wide open shots and he’s a gritty defender.”

Miller on Suns forward Boris Diaw: “Sometimes in year’s past (Boris Diaw’s) been too unselfish on the offensive end and now he has to be aggressive, especially with Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash on the bench.”

Barkley on the Suns needing to play an up-tempo game: “The Suns are caught in transition; they need to speed up the pace. Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash can’t play slow, they’re better in a fast paced game. It can’t be Shaq’s team anymore, this team is going to go as far as Amare Stoudemire is carrying them…They are going to have to find a way to play faster, Shaq has to play to their level, they can’t play to Shaq’s level.”

Miller on the foul by Suns center Shaquille O’Neal on Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey on Nov. 16 that earned him a $25,000 fine: “I like what Shaq (O’Neal) is doing because he’s setting a tone for physicality for his team. But, the referees and officials and Stu Jackson’s hands are tied because when I came in the league in 1987 that was just a good foul. You shoot your free throws and you play on:”

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Lakers forward Lamar Odom following the game

Odom on his new perspective on the game as the Lakers’ sixth man: “I get to look at the game and watch how the game is going. I get to see what my role or my position is going to be. I just take my time and fill a role.”

Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, Smith and Barkley

Barkley on why the Lakers are the best team in the NBA: “The Lakers (are the best team in the NBA). Andrew Bynum is the difference on the defensive end with his rebounding. They are a big team with him and (Pau) Gasol and that’s going to be a tough match-up for anybody. I think one really smart move by (head coach) Phil Jackson is putting Lamar Odom on the bench. It solidifies the second unit and it makes them a lot quicker. I think if they (started) Gasol, Bynum and Odom, they would be too slow defensively. It’s going to be tough to beat this team.”

TNT’s John Thompson sat down with New York Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni

D'Antoni on why he left the Phoenix Suns following last season: “I thought I would be in Phoenix for the rest of my career or at least a few more years. It just unraveled really quickly. It got to a point where I didn’t think I could do the owner or the fans the service of coaching them. We weren’t on the same page with management, I’m not blaming anyone, it was just different philosophies. I just kind of wore out my welcome and I had to leave.”

D’Antoni on the situation with Stephon Marbury not playing for the Knicks but remaining on the roster: “A little bit of it is politics and money and you have to take that (into consideration) with where we’re going. We are going on a different road so I went out and got Chris Duhon as the point guard for the next two, three, four or ten years I hope. Because of that, Steph (Marbury) has been pushed to the side. He’s a very good basketball player but my vision of the team in on a different track. I can’t say that we’re going to hold off on that vision and go with Steph for a while and then come back. I thought that would mess everything up. I’m really committed to Chris Duhon at the point (guard position), Jamal Crawford and Nate Robinson. They are taking up the bulk of the minutes. Steph is the type of player where you need to give him a big part of the team or nothing and it wasn’t fair to him to give him spot minutes.”

D’Antoni on the Knicks start to the season: “I’m a little surprised (by the start of the season). I’m surprised at the individual (players), how coach-able (they are) and how they want to come together as a unit. I thought that egos or not wanting to put the extra time in would be the problem. But the guys that are playing are giving me everything. We still make mistakes and take steps back but they’ve been great and if they stay this way I think we can do a lot of things.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Celtics forward Kevin Garnett following the Pistons/Celtics game

Garnett on the Celtics continuing to work to improve as a team: “In order for us to be successful our second unit has to be up to par. We’re not a perfect team but we’ve been working and I think we are definitely getting better. It’s not easy but we are all working at it.”