I have a couple of releases for you before I do the regular stuff for today.
These are quotes and notes from NBA TV’s Fan Night on Tuesday.
Notes from NBA TV’s Fan Night – Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Denver Nuggets (90) @ Chicago Bulls (89)
Voting is open on NBA.com for next week’s Fan Night match-up that will air on Tuesday, Nov. 17. Fans can select between the following games:
Warriors @ Cavaliers
Suns @ Rockets
Thunder @ Heat
Raptors @ Nuggets
Pacers @ Nets
Clippers @ Hornets
Bulls @ Kings
Pistons @Lakers
CLIP OF THE DAY(click on link below to watch)
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Pre-Game Show
Ernie Johnson, Dennis Scott and Kevin McHale
McHale on Nuggets guard JR Smith and what he is bringing to the team: “Shooting and more shooting. He helps spread the court. He rises up and shoots the three effortlessly.”
McHale on Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin: “Kenyon Martin is one tough customer. He gives them a real physical presence. He’s not afraid to hit you and when he is hitting people and him and Nene are playing aggressively, that makes them a whole different type of team.”
Scott on the progression of Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony’s game: “He loves contact. He is one of the few guys in the NBA that really relishes taking the ball to the basket and getting to the free-throw line. George Karl talked about his focus and how he is looking for the double-team and always looking for the right things.”
McHale on Carmelo Anthony: “The amazing thing to me is that he gets to the free throw line 11 times a game. He puts pressure on the defense and makes you foul him.”
Scott on Bulls forward Taj Gibson’s energy in the game: “He’s the energizer bunny. When he comes in the game he’s diving at loose balls. I think he may be kin to (Joakim) Noah the way they both play, they go for everything.”
McHale on Allen Iverson’s current situation with the Grizzlies: “First of all, if you are looking at Memphis, they are very disjointed right now. Is A.I. going to play, is he not going to play, what is going to happen? So right away it hurts the team. When you are in our league it has to be the team first and that is the one thing about Allen he is so talented but does he put the team first. Is it more about you or the Memphis Grizzlies?”
McHale on Suns guard Steve Nash’s performance so far this season: “He is doing what he has always done which is to take the ball in his hand and make plays and make shots. Right now it is fun to watch him play. (Channing) Frye gives them that spreading the floor, which is so good for Steve. Steve needs court spreaders.”
Abdul-Jabbar on finding out that he had been diagnosed with leukemia: “For me, it was scary. I have had to live with cancer in my family. My grandfather died from colon rectal cancer. My uncle died from it. My dad almost died from it. I have the gene for it. Cancer is a scary thing and is part of what I was dealing with already so when I heard the word leukemia I was scared and very concerned.”
Abdul-Jabbar on his current health status and his ongoing treatment program: “I feel great now. I have been dealing with it under the instruction of my oncologist. That is the key – to stick with the regimen. You have to see a healthcare specialist that understands this type of situation and you have to take your medication and get your blood checked regularly. If you do that, with early detection and treatment you have a good chance of managing this condition and not having to change your life drastically.”
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Halftime Report
Johnson, Scott and McHale
McHale on Carmelo Anthony’s ability to score at will: “He scores the ball very easily. He scores in such a myriad of ways that it is hard to keep him off the line and off the box score.”
Scott on Carmelo Anthony’s improved game: “I’m amazed at his patience this year. Really under control, really focused and waiting for the double-team. Ya’ll not coming; I’m taking my man, so ya’ll better come get me.”
McHale on the maturation process for players in the league: “When I first got the ball in the post, I was so excited to get it. I went so fast, I would end up shooting a seven footer at the basket. As you get better, you don’t look at the guy defending you, you look at where you are going. He is looking at where he is going. When you are a good low-post player, it is the patience that makes the difference.”
McHale on Bulls center Joakim Noah: “I love this kid. He works so hard. I loved him at Florida. He is just a winner; He does a lot of little things and he is really fighting hard for them (Bulls).”
Scott on Noah’s passion: “I love his energy coming out of Florida. A lot of people said they didn’t like his game. But with two national championships in college, he is bringing that same energy and same passion to the game and it is rubbing off on the rest of his teammates.”
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NBA GameTime
Johnson, Scott and McHale
Scott on Chicago’s loss to the Nuggets: “I have to give Chicago a lot of credit. They didn’t shoot the ball well but they stayed scrappy. Noah with 21 rebounds. I thought Taj (Gibson) did an excellent job filling in for (Tyrus) Thomas but throughout the game, they could not make the wide open shot out of the pick and roll.”
Scott on the Bulls’ offense: “Until they find another guy off the bench to come in with some offensive fire power like (Ben) Gordon, it could be a long year unless they score by committee.”
Nuggets guard Carmelo Anthony joined the Fan Night crew via Arena Link.
Anthony on his improved play: “I feel real good, I feel real focused. I’m trying to make the free throw line a friend of mine again. Getting out in open court is something that I’ve been focusing on. ”
Anthony on JR Smith’s request to be called Earl Smith: “I think I’m going to stick with JR.”
Anthony on new teammate Ty Lawson: “I love him; I love what he is bringing to our team and what he is bringing off the bench. He is brining that momentum that we are looking for.”
And the finale of HBO’s 24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto is on Friday.
24/7 PACQUIAO/COTTO
NOV. 13 EPISODE
Episode #4 (series finale)
Debut: FRIDAY, NOV. 13 (9:30-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Both camps wind down and the pressure builds as Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) and Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) attend mandatory fight week activities preceding their Nov. 14 megafight in Las Vegas.
Prior to the debut of the final episode of 24/7 PACQUIAO/COTTO, the first three episodes will be seen back-to-back, starting at 8:00 p.m. In addition, all four episodes will be seen back-to-back on HBO on Saturday, Nov. 14, starting at 9:30 a.m. The series is also available on HBO On Demand.
On Saturday, Nov. 14 at 9:00 p.m. (ET)/6:00 p.m. (PT), HBO Pay-Per-View presents “Pacquiao vs. Cotto,” live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The executive producers of 24/7 PACQUIAO/COTTO are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; coordinating producer, Dave Harmon; producers, Scott Boggins and Bentley Weiner; writer, Aaron Cohen. Liev Schreiber narrates.
To the Primetime and Late Night Viewing Picks next.
