With today being Media Day across the NBA, we have quotage from an NBA TV special from earlier today.
Notes from NBA TV’s Coverage of NBA Media Day – Monday, September 27, 2010**** **** **** ****NBA Game Time: Media DayMatt Winer, Chris Webber and Craig SagerWebber on Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony and his ability to handle trade rumors: “I think he has done a great job of handling this as a player because he hasn’t said anything. He’s a great basketball player but he’s not an actor. You can tell he doesn’t want to be there. But he is being great about it. He’s not saying anything to upset the team or the fans. I think he has done a good job of not saying what he wants but he you can read his face so well.”NBA TV analyst Steve Smith interviews new teammates Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh from Miami Heat’s Media DayJames on looking forward to NBA Media Day: “It is a chance for people to get an initial report on how your team is going to be or how your summer has been. I think everyone knows that this has been a different summer for all three of us. Do I look forward to it? Yes, because it is one step closer to training camp. We look forward to that point.”Wade on Miami Head Coach Erik Spoelstra’s coaching style: “One thing I love about Coach (Spoelstra) is that he is real. What you see is what you get. He has a philosophy and sticks to it. He understands today’s players and the game that we play. He is the guy that you can go to in the middle of games and talk to. He is going to let us have some freedom in our style of play but he sticks to his principles so it is a good combination.”James on his comparison of the new look Miami Heat to legendary teams of the ‘80s and ‘90s: “I see us like Magic (Johnson), James Worthy and Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar) but I don’t know who would take the skyhook. But like I said, I love the history of the game. You’ve seen those teams back in the day and it wasn’t just one guy. It wasn’t just Magic (Johnson) by himself it wasn’t just Isiah (Thomas) or (Michael) Jordan or (Larry) Bird. They may have gotten all the headlines and the praise but they had other Hall of Famers with them. Not just guys that were All-Stars or could come off the bench and score 20 points but guys that could really go get it by themselves if necessary.”Bosh on his biggest contribution to the Heat: “I rebound the basketball that is what I do. I’ve always done that. Being with these guys, I can look forward to more offensive rebounds because I’m not going to take as many shots as I did in Toronto. That is going to be our backbone, the defensive end.James on the chances of winning six rings with his new teammates: “I hope we do. That is the only reason I came down here.”Wade on the team to beat in the NBA: “The Lakers hands down. They are the Champions.”Webber on the Heat’s 2010-2011 season: “I think they are going to be the most exciting team in basketball that we have seen in a long time. They can get up and run and dunk and play a great game. For the fans of basketball, we are going to be excited to see this. I do think it will take time for them to gel. You have three strong leaders but they will have to go back to following. It will be slow to develop in the beginning because they are figuring things out. But when they take off, they are going to be the most exciting team to watch.”Webber on the backlash the new Miami Heat will receive from fans: “I think they are going to get boo’d. But who cares? I used to love getting boo’d on the road. They don’t boo people that can’t play. That’s backward applause. Go ahead and be some bad butts on the court and let everyone know how tough you are. Don’t apologize for signing together. Go out there and beat everyone and tell them I told you so.”Webber on the L.A. Lakers’ potential for the 2010-2011 season: “I believe in these guys. I believe in their system and I believe in their coaching staff and attention to detail.”Webber on the Boston Celtics as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference: “This is the most underrated team in the NBA. We all know the potential of other teams but when we look at the teams in the East that can really win we look at the Boston (Celtics), Orlando (Magic) and Miami (Heat). Everyone is familiar. You know they can win, but you don’t believe they can win. You think they are old. I think they are the most underrated because everyone thinks they are old. I think they are going to make it to the Finals.”NBA TV Analyst Brent Barry interviews Jason Kidd from Dallas Mavericks Media DayKidd on teammate Tyson Chandler: “He’s in shape and ready to go so he’s going to be a big part of our team. I look forward to big things from Tyson.”Kidd on the Mavericks’ seasoned roster: “You look at Shawn Marion and Caron Butler; those guys are veterans and know how to play. I think they are the “X” factors. I think if they have great seasons, then we will be right there with the top teams in the NBA.”NBA TV Correspondent and current Phoenix Suns player Jared Dudley interviews teammate Josh ChildressChildress on his varying style of play after returning to the NBA: “I do have a little Euro in my game now but I still have the majority of the States in my game play. The fans will see a lot of that.”Winer on Dudley’s novice reporting skills: “He is going to be so disappointed when he finds out what our per diem is compared to the NBA pier diem. Wait until that check arrives.”Webber on playing for former Golden State Warriors Coach Don Nelson: “When you think of Don Nelson, you have to think of the style of play that he infused in this league. There are many rule changes that are because of him.. I’ve seen Don Nelson take his advantages and increase them. He was a proponent for no matter what size you are being able to play all positions.
More stuff coming up. Really.
