Interactive NBA telecast planned Thursday with TNT studio crew
Charles Barkley
TNT and NBA Digital will team up at 7 p.m. Thursday for a special interactive edition of TNT NBA Thursday, integrating TNT, NBA TV and NBA.com.
TNT’s Emmy-Award winning studio team of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith will call the Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls game.
A camera will be focused on the crew throughout the game and, for the first time, fans will get live commentary from the trio during select commercial breaks. Smith also will provide a running Twitter commentary from courtside.
Fans also will vote online each quarter to select for one player each from the Bulls and Heat to be the focus of an isolated camera.
NBA TV’s Matt Winer, Kevin McHale and Chris Webber will provide studio coverage from Atlanta.
The second game will feature Dallas at Portland at 9:30 p.m. with announcers Marv Albert, Mike Fratello and David Aldridge.
ESPN’s Todd McShay in Norman for OU Pro Day
ESPN Scouts Inc. Director of College Football Scouting Todd McShay will provide reports on ESPN on Thursday from the University of Oklahoma’s Pro Day, where projected first-round quarterback Sam Bradford and other prospects from the school will conduct workouts for scouts and coaches. McShay will also cover Pro Day at Texas (March 31) and Notre Dame (April 9).
CBS announcers lineup
Here’s CBS announcers for the regional semifinal and final games Thursday through Sunday:
Salt Lake City — Gus Johnson and Len Elmore.
Syracuse — Dick Enberg and Jay Bilas.
St. Louis — Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery.
Houston — Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg.
John Starks featured in new ESPN film about Reggie Miller’s rivalry with Knicks
Reggie Miller drives on John Starks in the 1995 playoffs.
Reggie Miller’s heated playoff rivalry with the New York Knicks and Knicks fan Spike Lee is featured in the entertaining ESPN documentary, “Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks,” which debuts at 8 p.m. Saturday.
It’s a must watch for NBA fans, and another exemplary effort in the “30 for 30″ film series.
Miller’s matchup with Knicks guard John Starks, a former Oklahoma State player and Tulsa native, plays a major role. After Starks refused to shake his hand before a game, Miller said he started taunting him at every opportunity. Starks reached his boiling point when he headbutted Miller during the 1993 playoffs, resulting in his ejection and a $5,000 fan. Starks got the upper hand at other times.
The highlight of the film came in the Game 1 of the 1995 playoffs. With the Pacers facing a 105-99 deficit with 18.7 seconds left, Miller scoring an amazing eight points in nine seconds to pull out the victory. The previous season, he gave Lee the choke sign after he scored 25 points in the fourth quarter of a Pacers’ victory.
TNT analysts rate Kevin Durant as potential MVP
Kevin Durant
In a TNT All-Star game conference call last week, analysts Doug Collins, Kevin McHale and Reggie Miller spoke highly of Thunder star forward Kevin Durant. Here are a few of the quotes from the call.
There are seven first time All-Stars this year, which one are you most impressed with this year?
Doug Collins: Kevin Durant to me has been amazing. This young guy, I mean he scores so easily. He can shoot the ball with range. He’s getting out on the break, running the floor. And more importantly, Oklahoma City is playing well. This is a team that has a winning record on the road. They are in the playoff hunt. Kevin Durant has just been phenomenal. This is a guy if he stays healthy is going to win three or four scoring titles before it’s all said and done. He gets to the foul line now. He can shoot the 3. He’s going to be able add a little post up to his game. He’s the complete offensive player. He’s been terrific.
Fans at the Ford Center have started chanting “MVP! MVP!” for Kevin Durant. What does Kevin have to do to actually get in the diologue with Lebron and Kobe?
Doug Collins: I put him in my top five. I also had Lebron, Kobe, Durant, Steve Nash and Carmelo Anthony. The thing I go on is what has he brought to that franchise. I mean those people are so excited about basketball in Oklahoma. It’s an incredible environment, what they’ve done there. … He’s consistent. He’s fun to watch. He plays with great energy. And Reggie and Kevin you guys know, a big part of being a star is that charisma, that energy you bring where you walk out on the floor and you can just feel it. You bring a presence and he has that. At the same time, I think he is incredibly humble. His team is winning. They have done a nice job of putting pieces around him and they have a lot of draft picks. They are in the thick of things in the playoff race. As long as they are, I think have to start talking about him now. Is he probably going to win over Lebron or Kobe, the chances are probably not. Now that he is an All-Star and you are starting talking about the breadth of what he does for his team, I just love the young guy and they way he plays the game.
Kevin McHale: I talked to Rex Kalamian, their assistant coach there and I know Rex pretty well, and Rex was saying what he did this year that was different from previous years. Granted he is such a young player, but he came in with a real mental and physical commitment to the defensive end. Where he was going to try on the defensive end. He was going to work hard. He was going to get better defensively. … I think as he gets better on the defensive end, their team improves, they start getting better, he will be talked about as an MVP candidate. I personally believe he will win a couple of MVPs. You’re talking about a guy at this stage in his career in Doug’s top five, which I agree with, those are great players. I think he will win MVPs. There is a time for all things and right now is not his time to win a MVP. But it his time to shine and his time to really put Oklahoma on the map as far an NBA team.
Reggie Miller: Look, will he win an MVP this year, no. That’s obviously going to go to one of the big two in Kobe and Lebron. This is my magic number. If they can get to 50, 55 games (on his 25-point streak), you certainly have to strongly consider this guy if he continues to play like this. I go back to what Doug touched upon earlier, when you talk about these teams, how do they perform on the road, Oklahoma City is winning huge games on the road. What is scary when a young athletic team finds a way to win on the road. So 50 to 55 games and he can continue to play like this and score and elevate his team, you absolutely have to put him in the same breath with Carmelo, with Lebron, even Dwyane and Kobe. You have to put him in that same conservation. I agree with Kevin, It probably will happen more so later on his career because these guys are at the pinnacle of their career right now. I hate to muddy the waters, can you imagine if the Portland Trail Blazers, if hindsight looking back and I hate to say that because I love Greg Oden, but can you imagine him with Brandon Roy and LeMarcus Aldridge and that young team as well. That’s even scarier. You can definitely put him in the same breath, 50 to 55 games.
NBA TV analyst dubs Durant ‘The Icicle’
Kevin Durant cheers on his teammates during win over Trail Blazers.
Here are some of the postgame comments from NBA TV analysts Kevin McHale and Chris Webber after the Thunder’s 89-77 over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night. It was the Thunder’s fourth appearance this season on the network’s “Fan Night.”
McHale on a new nickname for Kevin Durant, as compared to Basketball Hall of Famer George ‘The Iceman’ Gervin: “He’s ‘The Icicle.’ Long, skinny and cold-blooded.”
Webber on the Thunder’s defensive effort against the Trail Blazers: “This year, out of all the games we’ve watched, this is one of the best defensive efforts I’ve seen by a team.”
McHale: “They are confident and they know they can play defense.”
Webber on the Thunder: “This team is mature. This doesn’t happen much in the NBA with a team jumping like this. This is really something special to see.”
McHale on Thunder guard Kevin Durant’s scoring ability: “He scores very easily like any great scorer. What makes him unique is that he can make the long jump shot and he makes contested shots. There are times when you are up on him and you’re playing great defense and he rises up and knocks it down right in your mouth.”
Webber on Kevin Durant: “He’s one of the smoothest players I’ve ever seen. Every game he continues to break down this myth. I remember when he came into the league, people said, ‘he needs to lift weights. He needs to gain 50 pounds.’ For what? He’s going by you, he’s not going through you. This guy is a beast. When it comes to scorers in our league, (Durant) and Carmelo (Anthony) are right there at the top of the list for who can score the easiest.”
Webber on Oklahoma City fans watching the Thunder grow up together as a team: “(Golden State) had a young team that grew (together) and they beat Dallas (in the first round of the playoffs). That whole fan-base got to watch that team grow. Oklahoma City fans better take advantage of this because, believe me, it does not happen often when it grows (like this). I’m a (Detroit) Lions fan and you see where I am today. This Oklahoma City team is young, they’re good and hopefully they can stick with the plan of youth.”
Before the game, Webber on OKC’s formula for a winning team: “You have to give the coaches and GM’s credit. There are some teams that win because you have a great player and a great coach. This team wins because they have great players, but they have a great system. If you are playing good, you can be thrown in any spot and still get your game off so it is really a great system team.”
TNT analysts pick Kevin Durant to be All-Star reserve
Kevin Durant
Although the reserves for the NBA All-Star Game have not been announced, Thunder star forward Kevin Durant is a unanimous choice of TNT studio analysts to be picked for the West team. The team will be announced at 6 p.m. Thursday on TNT’s pregame show.
Durant, Mavericks center Dirk Nowitzki and Trail Blazers guard are unanimous choices of TNT analysts Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Chris Webber.
Barkley said he didn’t pick Lakers forward Pau Gasol because he has missed 17 games due to injury. He said he didn’t pick Hornets guard Chris Paul because he felt Rockets guard Aaron Brooks should be rewarded for his excellent play and the Rockets have a better record than the Hornets.
Unanimous picks for the East team are Celtics guard Rajon Rondo, Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace and Raptors forward Chris Bosh.
Here are their selections:
TNT’s West All-Star picks
Chris Webber: Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, Brandon Roy, Chris Paul, Zach Randolph, Carl Landry, Chris Kaman
Kenny Smith: Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, Brandon Roy, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Aaron Brooks, Pau Gasol.
Charles Barkley: Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, Brandon Roy, Zach Randolph, Deron Williams, Aaron Brooks, Chris Kaman.
TNT’s East All-Star picks
Chris Webber: Rajon Rondo, Gerald Wallace, Chris Bosh, Mo Williams, Jamal Crawford, Paul Pierce, Shaquille O’Neal.
Kenny Smith: Rajon Rondo, Gerald Wallace, Chris Bosh, Mo Williams, David Lee, Paul Pearce, Chris Rose.
Chris Webber: Rajon Rondo, Gerald Wallace, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, David Lee, Joakin Noah, Joe Johnson
TNT analyst Mike Fratello launches Web site
Mike Fratello
Turner Sports Interactive and TNT NBA Analyst Mike Fratello have launched MikeFratello.com, a Web site that will be regularly updated with exclusive information, analysis and insight from the “Czar of the Telestrator.”
Exclusive features on the site include:
Fratello fundamentals – Mike puts on his coaching hat to explain basketball strategies.
Mike’s fantasy pick – The Czar gives his expert advice on which player is in store for a big fantasy week.
Question of the week – Mike answers some of the bigger questions surrounding the NBA.
From the booth – The Czar shares what he and fellow broadcasters are up to in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
Czar’s week in review – Mike analyzes the previous week of NBA action.
Weekly polls – Mike asks a new poll question every week and allows fans to answer.
Top telestrator moments – Mike breaks down NBA footage in a way only the “Czar of the Telestrator” can.
Stories from an NBA coach – Mike recounts episodes from his NBA coaching career spanning over two decades.
Fired up – Mike voices his opinion on issues around the league.
Short takes
–TNT will present a Martin Luther King Jr. Day tripleheader on Monday — Phoenix at Memhpis, 4:30 p.m.; Dallas at Boston, 7 p.m.; Orlando at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.
–CBS’ “60 Minutes,” 7 p.m. Sunday, goes to American Samoa to find out how a territory with a population less than the capacity of a pro football stadium sends more players to the NFL than any similarly populated place in America.
–The NHL returns to NBC at 11:30 a.m. Sunday with Chicago at Detroit. Mike “Doc” Emrick, Eddie Olczyk and Pierre McGuire (inside-the-glass reporter) will call the action.
–Brad Faxon, a winner of eight PGA Tour events, has joined NBC’s golf coverage as an outer tower commentator.
–The next edition of HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,” which debuts at 9 p.m. Tuesday looks at concussions in the NFL and the collapse of the Dallas Cowboys practice facility.
Chris Paul featured on ESPN ‘homecoming’ show
New Orleans Hornets star guard Chris Paul returns home to Winston-Salem, N.C., on the next episode of “Homecoming with Rick Reilly,” which airs at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, on ESPN. Hosted by Reilly, an 11-time Sportswriter of the Year, the show challenges the old adage, “You can’t go home again.”
In the episode, Paul is interviewed in front of nearly 2,000 at his alma mater, Wake Forest University. Paul’s former coaches and teammates, including Mo Peterson, were in the audience, as well as his family members and other supporters. The most poignant moment was when Paul was moved to tears talking about the murder of his grandfather the day after he signed with Wake Forest and how he forgives the teenagers who committed the crime.
Former Hornets coach Byron Scott (now an ESPN analyst) shares how Paul was the key to saving the New Orleans franchise after Katrina, and that he knew he’d be rookie of the year in 2006 when the team played in Oklahoma City.
Paul also took Reilly back to his grandfather’s old gas station where they faced off in a Squeegee competition. Paul is so well liked that sometimes even visiting players such as San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker and Memphis Grizzlies’ Rudy Gay stay at his house when in New Orleans.
Paul on his poem about his grandfather written while at Wake Forest University: “My best friend goes by the name Nathaniel Frederick Jones, also known to his grandchildren as Pa-Pa Chile. In the 17 years I was blessed to have him by my side, he taught me more about life than I could ever learn with a Ph.D. or a bachelor’s degree. To him life was a gift that should be cherished and used very wisely, because tomorrow is never promised.”
On his Uni-Brow: “I’m going to tell you the truth, my grandma, used to tell me about my uni-brow, she said that that meant I was going to be rich. Better start praying for a uni-brow.”
ESPN The Magazine’s NEXT Athlete award huge for Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant celebrates in Thunder's victory over Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 27,
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant has reached the summit of ESPN The Magazine as its 2010 NEXT winner – the athlete destined to make the biggest impact on sports in the coming year, and for years to come. The double-cover NEXT/ESPN 100 issue will hit newsstands Friday.
At 6-foot-9, Durant has a delicate touch, lightning speed and rare work ethic is looking to blaze his own trail to the top. He also is being billed as a rare kind of player: The superstar nobody has the heart to hate.
Quotes from the article:
Shane Battier of the Houston Rockets, on Durant: “No matter how talented a young player is, his first year is sink or swim. Can he survive in a man’s league? Obviously Kevin did, and he did it pretty well.”
Houston Rockets coach Rick Adelman, on Durant: “He’s got all the ability in the world. And he keeps getting better.”
Durant: “I want to win more than anybody. I want to be one of the greatest players of all time. I want to be remembered. But I don’t think you have to be a bad person to be a great player. I think I can be one guy on the court and another guy off.”
2010 NEXT runners-up:
2. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans tailback
3. John Wall, University of Kentucky basketball
4. Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals pitcher
5. Melanie Oudin, Tennis
Quotes from analysts, Thunder players on NBA TV telecast
Kevin Durant
The Oklahoma City Thunder put on a show with their 104-94 victory Tuesday night on NBA TV. Here are a few of the comments from NBA TV analyst Kevin McHale and Thunder stars Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, who were interviewed on the broadcast.
During the pregame show, McHale on the Thunder’s improvement: “They are starting to defend better. That is the key to that team. They have to be able to stop people. Young guys in our league, they are trying to establish their career on the offensive end saying ‘I want to score the ball,’ and defense comes second. They are playing good on the defensive end and that is what is going to have to carry them through.”
The Fan Night crew interviewed Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant on Arena Link.
Durant on becoming a veteran: “I didn’t know what to expect on that first night playing against A.I. (Allen Iverson) and Carmelo (Anthony) for the first time (as a rookie). Year two and year three I was calmer and knew what I needed to do for my team to win. Each year, I got more comfortable.”
Durant on his goals for the season: “I have one goal and that is to get better. Every game, every shoot-around, every practice just to go hard and get better and I think everyone on our team has that mindset. So if we continue to think like that, I think the sky is the limit for us.”
Durant on being a free agent next year: “I would like to stay with Oklahoma City for my whole career. I love playing here and playing with my teammates and I will leave it at that.”
Durant on the Thunder’s improvement: “I think defensively we have gotten a lot better. We know the concepts and we help each other out. We play hard on both ends and that is the key to winning. We all like playing basketball with each other. We just go out there and have fun. I think that is the key to why we have a better record this year than we did last year and we just have to continue to get better each game.”
Durant on the adrenaline from taking a game-winning shot: “Kids dream about taking that last shot and winning. Everybody thinks that every time you get that last shot you are going to make it. Those times when I don’t make it are going to make me a better player and give me the confidence to take that shot next time and make it. My teammates trust in me that if I’m in that position again they will give me the ball and hopefully I will make it.”
McHale on impact of tonight’s win for the Thunder: “That was a huge win for Oklahoma City. I don’t even think they know how hard it is to win in that place.”
Green on win against the Jazz: “It was real tough to play in this building with the crowd that they have and the guys that have on that team with (Carlos) Boozer and (Deron) Williams. It was a great win for us.”
Green on his overall performance: “I’m feeling good. Three years in playing the four position, I’m getting accustomed to it. I had to put on a little muscle to battle those big guys but it is coming along well. It is putting our team in good position with match-ups on the offense end and it is working for us.”
The telecast also included Durant’s mini-movie produced by NBA Entertainment. Here is the link to it:
http://nba.edgeboss.net/wmedia/nba/turner_dig_del/kevin_durant_mini_movie_11_23_1000.wvx
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Clippers announcers suspended one game for insensitive comments
Clippers announcer Ralph Lawler
Clippers longtime play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler and color analyst Michael Smith paid the price for some insensitive comments about Iranian-born Memphis Grizzlies center Hamed Haddadi on the Fox Sports Prime Ticket telecast last Wednesday. They were suspended for the Clippers’ telecast against the Denver Nuggets after a viewer who e-mailed Fox to complain.
Michael Eaves and Don MacLean, who regularly serve as halftime and postgame analysts, substituted for Lawler and Smith on the broadcast.
“That’s unfortunate. It was pretty strange not seeing them there,” Clippers point guard Baron Davis said after the Clippers’ 106-99 victory. “Ralph and Mike are very classy guys, and they didn’t do it to hurt anyone.
“A lot of times when you’re commenting on games, it’s a source of entertainment. And a lot of times, people may take offense. But the viewers need to understand that it’s entertainment, and people are entitled to their opinion. I stand by Ralph and Mike because they’re great guys and they only want to support and help everybody in the league.”
Lawler, 71, is in his 31st season doing Clippers games, and Smith is in his 12th.
“We regret the remarks made by Clippers announcers Michael Smith and Ralph Lawler during Wednesday’s telecast,” Fox said in a statement before the game. “While we believe that Michael and Ralph did not intend their exchange to be offensive, the comments were inappropriate.”
The transcript of the conversation between Lawler and Smith, which occurred late in the game, was printed on the Los Angeles Times’ Web site:
Smith: “Look who’s in.”
Lawler: “Hamed Haddadi. Where’s he from?”
Smith: “He’s the first Iranian to play in the NBA.” (Smith pronounced Iranian as “Eye-ranian,” a pronunciation that offended the viewer who complained.)
Lawler: “There aren’t any Iranian players in the NBA,” repeating Smith’s mispronunciation.
Smith: “He’s the only one.”
Lawler: “He’s from Iran?”
Smith: “I guess so.”
Lawler: “That Iran?”
Smith: “Yes.”
Lawler: “The real Iran?”
Smith: “Yes.”
Lawler: “Wow. Haddadi that’s H-A-D-D-A-D-I.”
Smith: “You’re sure it’s not Borat’s older brother?”
Smith: “If they ever make a movie about Haddadi, I’m going to get Sacha Baron Cohen to play the part.”
Lawler: “Here’s Haddadi. Nice little back-door pass. I guess those Iranians can pass the ball.”
Smith: “Especially the post players.
Lawler: “I don’t know about their guards.”
