NBA on TNT 2011-12 Schedule

If it does happen....

TNT’s 2011-12 NBA Schedule

Four-time NBA Champion Shaquille O'Neal Joins Emmy Award-winning ‘Inside the NBA’ Studio Team of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley

TNT is the Exclusive home of 2012 NBA All-Star Game from Orlando

TNT today announced its 2011-12 NBA regular season schedule, which features 10 scheduled appearances each by the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks and perennial contenders the Boston Celtics and the L.A. Lakers, as well as nine by the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls. Fifteen of the 16 playoff teams from last year, along with eight scheduled appearances each for the New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder and Orlando Magic also highlight the 23rd consecutive year of NBA coverage on TNT. The network is scheduled to air 52 games in primetime, with 44 being part of TNT’s Thursday night exclusive doubleheaders. This marks TNT’s 28th season of NBA basketball coverage.

The NBA on TNT’s marquee roster of NBA announcers includes the studio team featuring two-time Emmy® Award-winning host Ernie Johnson, two-time NBA champion Kenny Smith, four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, along with select studio appearances by five-time NBA All-Star Chris Webber. On-site game announcers include: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), five-time NBA champion Steve Kerr (analyst), Reggie Miller (analyst), Mike Fratello (analyst), David Aldridge (reporter), Cheryl Miller (reporter) and Craig Sager (reporter).

TNT’s regular season coverage is set to begin Tuesday, Nov. 1, with a special half-hour preview show, TNT NBA Tip-Off ’11 presented by AutoTrader.com at 7 p.m. (ET), followed at 8 p.m. (ET) with an exclusive opening night doubleheader. The first game will feature the defending NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks hosting the Chicago Bulls. The Mavericks will be presented with their championship rings in pregame ceremonies prior to taking on the Bulls. The second game of the night will feature the Oklahoma City Thunder against the perennial contending L.A. Lakers at 10:30 p.m. (ET). Opening week continues on TNT on Thursday, Nov. 3, with the night’s first game featuring Orlando traveling south to Miami at 8 p.m. ET followed by Portland playing host to Denver in the second game of the doubleheader at 10:30 p.m.

In addition to the doubleheader on opening night, TNT’s schedule features a number of marquee match-ups, including:

Nov. 17, 2011 – A big night of basketball is in store as the Boston Celtics travel to Orlando for game one of the night against the Magic (8 p.m. ET), followed by the New York Knicks at the Staples Center matching up against the L.A. Lakers in this early-season showdown (10:30 p.m. ET).
Dec. 1, 2011 – The defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat travel to Beantown to battle their Eastern Conference rival the Boston Celtics (8 p.m. ET).
Dec. 8, 2011 – TNT’s first game of the night will feature the L.A. Lakers against the Miami Heat (8 p.m. ET).
Dec. 15, 2011 – The Philadelphia 76ers travel to Madison Square Garden to play the New York Knicks (7 p.m. ET) and Western Conference heavyweights the Dallas Mavericks meet the L.A. Lakers in game two of the night (9:30 p.m.)
Jan. 16, 2012 – This MLK Day doubleheader showcases the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Boston Celtics (8 p.m. ET) and the Dallas Mavericks traveling to play the L.A. Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET).
Feb. 2, 2012 – Old rivalries are renewed in this game between the Chicago Bulls at New York Knicks (8 p.m.).
Feb. 23, 2012 – In the final game leading into the NBA All-Star Weekend and TNT’s exclusive coverage, the New York Knicks travel to South Beach and take on the Miami Heat (8 p.m.) and the Denver Nuggets play host to the San Antonio Spurs (10:30 pm. ET).
Mar. 8, 2012 – The L.A. Lakers stop in Chicago to take on the Bulls (8 p.m.), while Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets round out the evening with an All-Western Conference nightcap (10:30 p.m. ET).
Mar. 29, 2012 – The Dallas Mavericks return to Miami for a rematch of the 2011 NBA Finals with the Heat (8 p.m. ET)
April 17, 2012 – In TNT’s final doubleheader before the start of the playoffs, the Boston Celtics head to New York to play the Knicks (8 p.m. ET) and the San Antonio Spurs travel to the L.A. Lakers in TNT’s second game of the night.

TNT once again will serve as the exclusive home for NBA All-Star 2012 and is slated to air all the action on NBA All-Star Friday, NBA All-Star Saturday and the 2012 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 26, from Orlando. The network also will air 40 or more NBA playoff games including, on an exclusive basis, conference semi-finals and the Western Conference Finals.

TNT is in its 23rd consecutive year of NBA coverage. Sister network TBS aired the NBA exclusively for Turner Broadcasting System from 1984-89, with TNT serving as Turner’s sole NBA cable home from 1990-94. Both networks aired NBA games from 1994-2002. Once again, TNT’s entire NBA preseason, regular and postseason telecasts will air in high definition.

TNT’s 52-game schedule is listed below. All times shown are Eastern.

Nov. 1	Tuesday	7 p.m.		TNT NBA Tip-Off ‘11 presented by Autotrader.com
		8 p.m.		Chicago Bulls @ Dallas Mavericks
		10:30 p.m.		Oklahoma City Thunder @ L.A. Lakers
Nov. 3	Thursday	8 p.m.		Orlando Magic @ Miami Heat
		10:30 p.m.		Denver Nuggets @ Portland Trail Blazers
Nov. 10	Thursday	8 p.m.		Oklahoma City Thunder @ Chicago Bulls
		10:30 p.m.		San Antonio Spurs @ Portland Trail Blazers
Nov. 17	Thursday	8 p.m.		Boston Celtics @ Orlando Magic
		10:30 p.m.		New York Knicks @ L.A. Lakers
Nov. 24	Thursday	8 p.m.		Philadelphia 76ers @ Atlanta Hawks
		10:30 p.m.		New Orleans Hornets @ L.A. Clippers
Dec. 1	Thursday	8 p.m.		Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics
		10:30 p.m.		Oklahoma City Thunder @ Denver Nuggets
Dec. 8	Thursday	8 p.m.		L.A. Lakers @ Miami Heat
		10:30 p.m.		Boston Celtics @ Portland Trail Blazers
Dec. 15	Thursday	7 p.m.		Philadelphia 76ers @ New York Knicks
		9:30 p.m.		L.A. Lakers @ Dallas Mavericks
Dec. 22	Thursday	8 p.m.		New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics
		10:30 p.m.		L.A. Clippers @ Denver Nuggets
Dec. 29	Thursday	7 p.m.		San Antonio Spurs @ Orlando Magic
		9:30 p.m.		Dallas Mavericks @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Jan. 12	Thursday	8 p.m.		New York Knicks @ Memphis Grizzlies
		10:30 p.m.		Orlando Magic @ Golden State Warriors
Jan. 16	Monday	8 p.m.		Oklahoma City Thunder @ Boston Celtics
		10:30 p.m.		Dallas Mavericks @ L.A. Lakers
Jan. 19	Thursday	8 p.m.		Chicago Bulls @ Miami Heat
		10:30 p.m.		Dallas Mavericks @ Utah Jazz
Jan. 26	Thursday	8 p.m.		Miami Heat @ Orlando Magic
		10:30 p.m.		L.A. Lakers @ L.A. Clippers
Feb. 2	Thursday	8 p.m.		Chicago Bulls @ New York Knicks
		10:30 p.m.		Phoenix Suns @ Golden State Warriors
Feb. 9	Thursday	8 p.m.		L.A. Lakers @ Boston Celtics
		10:30 p.m.		Oklahoma City Thunder @ Sacramento Kings
Feb. 16	Thursday	8 p.m.		Boston Celtics @ Chicago Bulls
		10:30 p.m.		L.A. Clippers @ Portland Trail Blazers
Feb. 20	Monday	8 p.m.		Boston Celtics @ Dallas Mavericks
		10:30 p.m.		L.A. Clippers @ Golden State Warriors
Feb. 23	Thursday	8 p.m.		New York Knicks @ Miami Heat
		10:30 p.m.		San Antonio Spurs @ Denver Nuggets
*********************************NBA ALL-STAR 2011*************************************************
Feb. 24	Friday		NBA Rookie Challenge
Feb. 25	Saturday		NBA All-Star Saturday

Shaq makes it official - joins TNT

We told you it would happen last week and today, TNT Sports makes it official, adding Shaquille O'Neal to its NBA Coverage! Pure genius my friends - must see TV if indeed there is an NBA season.  If there's not, I would just do a reality series following Shaq, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith around.  Here are the full notes from today's announcement.

Notes from Turner Sports Announcement

Shaquille O’Neal Joins Turner Sports

 Thursday, July 14, 2011

Turner Sports announced today a multi-year agreement with 15-time NBA All-Star and four-time NBA Champion Shaquille O’Neal, to serve as an analyst across its portfolio of NBA assets. Beginning with the 2011-12 season, O’Neal will join TNT as a full-time analyst on the network’s Emmy Award-winning studio show, alongside Ernie Johnson (host), Kenny Smith (analyst) and Charles Barkley (analyst), and will be a part of the network’s exclusive NBA All-Star weekend and NBA Playoffs coverage.  In addition, he will be a key contributor to NBA TV and NBA.com, providing analysis and commentary throughout the regular season, as well as for The Finals, All Star Weekend and the NBA Draft. 

                                                         

Participants:

• David Levy, president of sales, distribution and sports for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
• Shaquille O’Neal, Turner Sport NBA analyst

Levy welcoming Shaquille O’Neal to Turner Sports: “On behalf of Turner Broadcasting, I’m excited to formally welcome Shaquille O’Neal to our Turner family. We are thrilled to have Shaquille join Turner Sports and our marquee roster of announcers and analysts. Whether it’s his athletic career, business accomplishments or even his success in the entertainment industry, Shaquille has always been one of the most accomplished people in every field he has ventured into. Certainly for the past 19 years, Shaquille has been one of the most dominant and charismatic players in the NBA. His larger-than-life personality will be the perfect complement to our award-winning ‘NBA on TNT’ studio team of Ernie, Kenny and Charles, as well as our programming on NBA TV and NBA.com. Our NBA studio show on TNT is one of the best in the business. The show resonates with players and fans alike because it’s authentic. We are confident Shaquille’s presence will only enhance the program.”

O’Neal on joining the Turner family:  “I want to thank Turner and TNT for inviting me into the family. It was pretty much an easy decision. I felt this was the place for me. You guys are very fun. As they say in the sports world, ‘Keep it real.’ So I thought it was the best fit for me.”

O’Neal on whether he and Charles Barkley will become the new ‘Kobe and Shaq’ duo of television: “I would say yes, Charles is a funny guy. He is a guy that says what’s on his mind. I’m just honored to sit up there with him, Kenny and Ernie. We are going to make it very fun. We are going to make it more exciting for the fans to watch.”

O’Neal on fitting in with an established group:  “I don’t think it will be hard for me. I’ve always been a people person. [The] good thing about this show, everyone has their own opinion. Kenny has his opinion from a guard’s point of view, Charles has his opinion from a forward’s point of view and I have my opinion from a center’s point of view. I know it will work out very well.” 

O’Neal on being courted by other networks: “I was very blessed to have many people come after me. Out of my respect for everybody I didn’t want to make it a ‘this and that’-type of war. I made my decision very quickly and very professionally. I thought TNT and Turner was the place for me and I’m going to have fun doing it.”

O’Neal on concerns about having time to give his opinion during the time allotted: “It is not a concern for me. I’ve always been a team player. I know when to fit in or sit back and relax. I’m just honored that they invited me and chose me. I’m just going to make it more fun than it already is.”

O’Neal on the career legacy of Houston Rockets forward Yao Ming: “Yao Ming is a first ballot Hall of Famer. He was a great player, a dominated player. The way his career ended was similar to how my career ended – by injury. If he wasn’t injury-plagued those last three years he would have put up more numbers. He’s always been a class act - number one player to come out of China. I’m also glad to call him my friend. Every time I go to China, his parents feed me and bring me gifts. He’s a great guy and I wish him well.”

Levy on the response from the existing Inside the NBA analysts [Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley] on O’Neal joining Inside: “Charles was one of the biggest proponent of bringing Shaquille on board. We have always had four people sitting up there in any way shape or form. I think there will be enough to go around for everybody and certainly Shaquille’s insight will only enhance the overall show. We are always looking for ways to improve the show and we believe bringing Shaquille on will do that.”

O’Neal on what gave Turner the edge over other networks: “It was very tempting. I have a tremendous amount of respect for [the other networks]. I felt that Turner and TNT was the place for me. It has always been my favorite show. I thought that was just the best fit for me.”

O’Neal on committing to a multi-year agreement with Turner Sports: I’m blessed to have the opportunity to have [other networks] and TNT come after me. But it was a deal I couldn’t resist.”

O’Neal on Kenny Smith naming him “The Big Analytical”: “I like that one. Good job, Kenny. That’s pretty good.”

O’Neal on the transition to becoming an analyst and having to criticize players: “I don’ think it will be hard. Some people give unfair criticism.  Some people give fair criticism. I have the ability and backing to give fair criticism. The only time I have a problem with people giving criticism is when they haven’t walked that walk. I have walked many walks in my 19-year career. I think any criticism I give should be fair.”

O’Neal on continuing his law enforcement career: “I still have plans on running for sheriff, but not anytime soon.”

O’Neal on LeBron James and Heat in the Finals: “They just came up against a team and it was their turn. [Dallas Mavericks forward] Dirk [Nowitzki] played unbelievable. They [Dallas Mavericks] played together. I just think it was their turn.   Michael Jordan told me a long time ago that before you succeed you must first learn to fail. This was the Big Three’s first time together and they made it very far and they are going to be together for a long time.  I’m guaranteeing they will get back.”

O’Neal on deciding on the direction of his career after playing:  “Right away, right when I announced my retirement, I got a few calls. I didn’t want to put people in an unnecessary bidding war.  I chose TNT/Turner. I felt that was the best fit for me. I would love to sit up there with Kenny and Charles and have a great time.”

O’Neal on if he watched TNT’s Inside the NBA during his playing days: “I did watch the show. It was one of my favorite shows. As a matter of fact, I watched it after every game. The interaction between [Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley] was very entertaining and very fun, and I’m honored to be able to sit next to those guys.”

O’Neal on whether or not he’ll ever want to come out of retirement and get out there again: “No. One word answer: No.”

O’Neal on how he wants to be remembered as a player: “I want to be remembered as the most dominant player ever or one of the most dominant players ever. One of my goals was to win numerous amounts of championships and another one of my goals was to pass Wilt Chamberlain in points, because I felt like if I passed him in points then I would be alone by myself as the most dominant player. Because of injury, that didn’t happen. Hopefully, I’ll be touted as the most dominant or one of the most dominant players ever.”

O’Neal on the “state of the Big Man” in the NBA now that he and Yao Ming have retired: “The beasts are now gone. The goliaths are now gone. That leaves Dwight Howard out there by himself. If he doesn’t get two or three championships, I’ll be disappointed because he has no competition out there anymore. None. Zero.”

O’Neal on his planned “broadcast style”: “I’m just going to try to be charismatic, funny, and very professional. My favorite analytical guy is Bryant Gumbel. I love him. He’s so smooth and he’s intelligent. Hopefully, I can get to that level one day.”

Bulls/Heat Game 4 Ratings for TNT

From TNT Sports -

TNT’s EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE OF GAME #4 OF THE NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS DELIVERS 9.8 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS AND A 6.1 U.S. HH RATING

BULLS-HEAT SERIES AVERAGING MORE THAN 10.4 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS AND A 6.2 U.S. HH RATING

TNT’s exclusive coverage of the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals series between the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat continues to draw big ratings for the network with Game #4 of the series delivering 9,770,000 million total viewers and a 6.1 U.S. HH rating. Locally, the top five overnight metered markets for Game #4 of the ECF were Miami (25.1 HH Rtg), Chicago (22.6 HH Rtg), West Palm Beach (14.3 HH Rtg), Memphis (11.0 HH Rtg) and New Orleans (9.5 HH Rtg).

Through four games of TNT’s exclusive coverage of the Eastern Conference Finals the network has averaged a 6.2 U.S. HH Rating (+32%), 10,414,000 Total Viewers (+38%) and 7,169,000 Households (+33%). TNT’s coverage of the series also has included two of the most-watched NBA games in cable television history with Game #1 delivering a record-setting 11.1 million total viewers and a 6.2 U.S. HH rating and Game #3 becoming the second most-watched NBA game in cable television history with nearly 10.9 million total viewers and a 6.4 U.S. HH rating.

To date, TNT’s overall coverage of the NBA Playoffs continues to climb over the network’s coverage from a year ago, averaging a 3.4 U.S. HH Rating (+31%), 5,405,000 Total Viewers (+33%) and 3,913,000 Households (+30%).

Overall, through 39 games, TNT’s 2011 NBA Playoffs coverage also has delivered strong double-digit growth across all key demos including:

· A18-34 +41% (1,765,000 vs. 1,255,000)

· A18-49 +38% (3,094,000 vs. 2,249,000)

· A25-54 +33% (2,797,000 vs. 2,099,000)

· M18-34 +39% (1,222,000 vs. 879,000)

· M18-49 +39% (2,181,000 vs. 1,572,000)

· M25-54 +34% (1,951,000 vs. 1,451,000)

Game Five of TNT’s live exclusive coverage of the Eastern Conference Finals continues on Thursday, May 26 at 8:30 p.m. ET with the NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com with Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Kenny Smith (analyst) and Chris Webber (analyst) beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET. The night will conclude with Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai.

The NBA on TNT and NBA TV host 65 days of wall-to-wall coverage of the NBA Playoffs with 40+ games televised on TNT, and nearly 1,500 hours of total coverage on NBA TV including 195 hours of live studio coverage.

TNT Notes on Bulls/Heat Game 2

From TNT Sports -

Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Game 2:  Miami Heat (85) @ Chicago Bulls (75); The series is tied 1-1

TNT’s coverage of the 2011 NBA Eastern Conference Finals continues on

Sunday, May 22 at 8:30 p.m. (ET) 

  

“Quote of the Day”

TNT Reporter Craig Sager: “Do you feel like you’ve taken control of the series now?”

LeBron James: “No, it’s just starting.”

****    ****    ****    ****

Pregame

Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Chris Webber

Webber on Miami center Jamaal Magloire playing ahead of Zydrunas Ilgauskus: “Ilgauskus is a better offensive player. Ilgauskus is a better defensive player. And seeing how both of these players can only give you a little bit, Ilgauskus can give you a little more.” 

Smith on Miami changing its lineup: “It just says how little things become big things. As good as Magloire played in the first game, he didn’t make the impact. Big Z might make the impact. The worst that he [Ilgauskus] can do is have the same impact. It think you have to try it [suit up Ilgauskus].”

Johnson asking Barkley how this Chicago Bulls team compares defensively to the Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls: “This team [2011 Chicago Bulls] does not compare. First of all, that Bulls [Jordan’s Bulls] team had two players who could play defense. The greatest player [Jordan] and the greatest defender I’ve ever seen in Scottie Pippen. Horace Grant was a good defender but it doesn’t compare.

Johnson: “That team [Jordan’s Bulls] is better?”

Barkley: “No. This team [2011 Bulls] is a better defensive team. There were only two guys on those teams that…I love Steve Kerr but he wasn’t a stopper. I love John Paxson but he wasn’t a stopper. They had Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan who were the two best defenders and Dennis [Rodman] and Horace [Grant] but this team [2011 Bulls], top to bottom with all their guys are better because of two guys Noah and Gibson. They can guard 1s, 2s and 3s.”

Smith: “In this era, this [2011 Bulls] is the best defensive team.”

Game 2:  Miami Heat (85) @ Chicago Bulls (75); The series is tied 1-1

Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst), Reggie Miller (analyst) with Craig Sager, reporting.

Kerr on Miami’s collective frame of mind tonight: “It’s all about ball movement and getting some motion offensively for Miami.”

Miller on what Chicago has to do tonight: “Rose and Noah have to set the tone for the [Chicago] defense.”

Kerr on Miami’s lack of bench: “I agree with Erik Spoelstra that his team is a very active, athletic team. I don’t think his bench is. When the two teams go to their respective benches, the energy and athleticism, there is a dramatic shift.”

Miller: Are the Heat being stubborn by not playing Ilgauskus and Erick Dampier? “Eric Spoelstra feels like their not quick enough to keep Noah, Luol Deng and Gibson off the offensive boards. They’re being stubborn. They don’t want to show weakness from Game 1 by saying ‘they should’ve been activated.’”

Kerr on Miami’s matchups: “Spoelstra just likes the matchup with Boozer and Magloire. To me it just shows the lack of depth and the problems Miami has.”

Miller on what Miami needs tonight after a mild start in the game: “You need superhuman efforts from LeBron James and Dwyane Wade and we haven’t seen that in a game-and-a-half.”

Kerr on how Miami has been able to succeed in the playoffs: “Miami has survived throughout these playoffs on free throws. They have scored fewer field goals than their opponents, fewer three-point field goals, they’ve made more turnovers, fewer assists but offensively they really haven’t been great. But from the free-thow line they just kill you.”

Miller on Kyle Korver as a key to Chicago’s outside game: “They are searching for Korver to get going. That’s the last component to this team that has struggled with its outside shooting.”

Kerr to Miller; “Do you agree with what Charles [Barkley] has been saying that [Dallas Mavs forward] Dirk Nowitzki is the best player in the NBA?”

Miller: “It’s hard for me to turn down Kobe Bryant or LeBron James but offensively he’s certainly the most skilled player.”

Kerr: “I would argue that he [Dirk] is clearly better than Kobe Bryant right now. Kobe was ineffective in that series. Dirk Nowitzki, the way he is playing now, I mean, wow!

****    ****    ****    ****

Halftime

Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Chris Webber

Webber on what Miami has to do in the second half: “They need to be athletic. When these guys [James and Wade] are attacking the rim, nobody in the League can block their shots. This isn’t the most athletic team but they have maybe two of the most athletic guys. The way these two guys go…shake-and-bake…is the way this Miami team will go.”

Barkley naming the greatest “trash talkers” of all time from the “Ask Charles” segment: “The greatest trash talkers ever: Reggie Miller, Gary Payton, Larry Bird, those are the three greatest trash talkers of all-time and I have to put Michael Jordan in there a little bit too.”

****    ****    ****    ****

Kerr comments with 6:33 left in the third quarter and the Heat leading by four points: “It feels like the tide has turned.”

Kerr on Miami’s offense tonight in the third quarter: “We’ve seen much better action from the heat offense in the game. They made better cuts, sharper cuts, better picks and they’re getting better looks.”

Kerr commenting on Miller’s observation that Chicago’s Derrick Rose is not able to “finish” tonight like in Game 1: “The speed of the Miami defense has Rose thinking just a little bit on those finishes. Miami’s defense, especially their starting unit is as fast as any in the NBA.”

Kerr on Miami forward reserve Udonis Haslem and his contribution to the Heat tonight: “If Miami wins tonight…he’s the headline.”

****    ****    ****    ****

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Miami Heat forward LeBron James at the end of the game:

James on the performance of teammate Udonis Haslem: “He definitely gets the game ball tonight. He came in with his energy, rebounding, finishing around the basket, making shots when they was making a run and that really helped us.”

Sager: “Do you feel like you’ve taken control of the series now?”

James: “No, it’s just starting.”

****    ****    ****    ****

Inside the NBA

Johnson, Barkley, Smith and Webber

Webber on Miami’s ball movement: “Ball movement makes it easier. Don’t take bad shots which lead to fast breaks for the other team.”

Barkley on Dallas Mavs guard Jason Kidd: “People underestimate Jason Kidd. He’s one of the great leaders in our sport.”