On the March 1 edition of ESPN’s KIA NBA Countdown, analysts Magic Johnson, Jalen Rose and Bill Simmons provided insights on several of the NBA’s top storylines, including the Memphis Grizzlies without Rudy Gay, Andrew Bynum’s injury and the value of LeBron James. Earlier on SportsCenter, the crew also weighed in on Dwyane Wade’s adjustments and the Heat’s chance at a repeat title.
KIA NBA Countdown next airs Sunday, March 3, at 12:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Jalen Rose on the Memphis Grizzlies without Rudy Gay:
Memphis is going to really miss Rudy Gay. Not necessarily the first 46 minutes of the game, but he was the player they gave the basketball to on the wing who could create for himself, create for others and make clutch shots for that team. Look at the landscape of the small forward position. You have to play against LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Paul Pierce and I think the fifth best small forward is Rudy Gay. He’s more versatile than Luol Deng at creating a shot and he’s been asked to do more and he’s a better perimeter shooter.
Bill Simmons on the Philadelphia 76ers without Andrew Bynum:
It’s a catastrophe for Philadelphia because they had cap space last year and they had young assets. When you look at where they were versus what they actually did and where they are going, I don’t see how they recover from this. Plus the Evan Turner pick hasn’t worked out. That was the second pick in the draft and he might not even be a starter.
Magic Johnson on Bynum and playing through pain:
I loved playing basketball so I would play in pain. I did that for many years. Andrew Bynum was here in Los Angeles with the Lakers. He wasn’t a guy who could tolerate pain. When he was injured, he wasn’t a guy who worked hard to get back. This doesn’t surprise me. Now we see why Kobe Bryant had trouble with the big man because when you think about Andrew, he’s a guy who never liked criticism. He’s not a gym rat. I think he plays because hey, I’m getting paid and I’m in the spotlight, but I don’t think he loves to play.
Rose on the Denver Nuggets:
The Denver Nuggets are a young, up-and-coming team giving effort on a nightly basis. Let’s see if they can now be one of the first four teams in the playoff hunt because going to Denver to win is going to be very tough.
Simmons on LeBron James’ salary:
I think for the Nets, the Knicks and the Lakers, if this were an open market, you could make the case that he’s worth $75 million per year, four times what he’s worth.
Johnson on LeBron participating in the NBA Slam Dunk contest:
Please LeBron, get in the dunk contest. I’m going to put up a million dollars. A million dollars to LeBron. Please get in the dunk contest. I go every year. I want to see you out there. A million to the winner.
Simmons on Dwyane Wade’s adjustments:
Wade hasn’t been getting to the line that much at all. He’s turned into more of a jump shooter. Second option, definitely but I think he’s been really efficient and it seems like he’s embraced it. He really has to be the Robin to LeBron’s Batman on this team and I feel like the last six weeks or so, it seems like he likes it.
Johnson on the Heat playing at their best:
When you are trying to win back to back, you need everybody playing at their best. Right now, the Miami Heat are playing at their best because of Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. If both of them are playing great, I don’t know if anybody can beat them. The role players play off of those guys very well. If Dwyane Wade continues to play this way, I don’t see any team beating them in the playoffs. Don’t forget, both LeBron and Wade are shutdown defenders too.
Simmons on the success of Ray Allen and Shane Battier:
In February, both Ray Allen and Shane Battier were just on fire. When those guys are hitting and Wade is hitting and LeBron is hitting, it’s over.
