The Late Show

December 12th, 2007, 2:45 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Curtis Zupke, Staff writer

By CURTIS ZUPKE

The Orange County Register

EL SEGUNDO - Television viewers have come to realize that TNT seems to stand for Taking Numerous Timeouts when it comes to NBA games.

Nationally televised games like the one Thursday night between the Lakers and San Antonio typically feature late starts, lengthy television timeouts and an elongated halftime so commentator Charles Barkley and his cronies can weigh in on all things Kobe Bryant.

While it’s not the preferred situation for impatient fans or sportswriters on deadline, players don’t seem to mind.

“It’s better for us because you have more time to rest, sit on the sidelines and strategize a bit better,” Bryant said.

The Lakers might welcome the expanded format because they’ve been idle for three days and have played once in the past week. Coach Phil Jackson is concerned about his team’s sharpness.

“You play your starters more minutes and they can survive the games better, there’s no doubt about that,”
Jackson said. “It’s just the pace of the game and how you lose the tempo. The momentum gets shifted so quickly.”

Bryant and other veteran players have learned to adjust.

“You have to stay loose in the timeouts,” Bryant said. “Halftime is going to be a little more stretched out. You have to tinker your routine.”

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