Craig Sager postgame interview with Ron Artest

Nobody does better postgame interviews than TNT’s Craig Sager.  After interviewing Kobe Bryant following the Lakers’ Game 5 win Thursday, Sager caught up with the clinically insane Artest.  The goal: Get some sort of an explanation from Artest on why he took a 3-pointer with 22 seconds on the shot clock and the Lakers up with a minute remaining and the Lakers up by three.

The end of the interview was absolutely priceless. Artest:  “Say Queensbridge!” Sager: “Queensbridge, where they don’t play with a 24-second clock.”

Game 6 should be a blast.

Melo carries Nuggs over Cavs despite LeBron’s huge night

When Carmelo Anthony holds the the ball, looks at the defender, then rises for a jumper, the result is almost always the same…koosh.

Melo scored 40 points, including the game-winning jumper over LeBron James, to lead the Nuggets to a thrilling 118-116 OT win over the Cavaliers in Cleveland Thursday night. The win ended the Cavs’ 13-game winning streak.

Melo and LeBron went back and forth late in regulation and in overtime, trading buckets and talking to each other. LeBron put up some crazy numbers–43 points, 13 rebounds and 15 assists–but missed a wild 3-point attempt as time expired in overtime after slipping slightly. An NBA player hadn’t dropped at least 40, 10, and 15 since Pistol Pete in 1974.

Here are the highlights–enjoy them while you can.

Antawn Jamison told TNT’s Craig Sager he expects to play Friday night against the Bobcats in Charlotte.

Luol Deng officially done for season

Deng's injury-marred season is over.

TNT’s Craig Sager reported Thursday during the Sixers-Bulls game that Luol Deng will not be returning this season.

Deng has battled a mysterious shin injury and hasn’t played in almost two months. He has a stress fracture in his right tibia, but had been rehabbing to stay in shape.

When the injury continued to be unresponsive, the Bulls decided to shut him down.

John Salmons has played very well since being acquired from Sacramento just prior to the trading deadline, so Deng’s absence is no big deal.

Salmons is a much more versatile scorer than Deng, and is also better defensively.

Unless Deng is healthy and shows drastic improvement next season, his six-year, 71 million dollar deal will be among the worst contracts in the NBA.

As a Bulls fan, I can honestly say I’m not shedding any tears over this news.

Stay tuned.

Apologetic Carmelo returns, Denver routs Portland

'Melo scored 38 points following his one-game suspension. (Pic via Getty images)

Carmelo Anthony returned to the lineup and led a workman-like 106-90 Nuggets victory against the Blazers.

‘Melo scored 38 points on 16-26 shooting, and told TNT’s Craig Sager that he spoken with head coach George Karl and apologized for his insubordination that led to a one-game suspension.

He also said that he has already forgotten about incident and is trying to move on.

‘Melo sprinted off the court when he was removed early in the fourth quarter, drawing smiles from teammates and laughter from Karl in the postgame press conference.

We’ll see if Carmelo learns from his latest mistake.  I think he generally a good dude, but he still shows alarming flashes of immaturity at times.

To be fair, Karl has been known to get under player’s skins throughout his coaching career, including the mild-mannered Ray Allen.

The Nuggets have a great deal of talent, but clearly lack stability.  We’ll see if Chauncey Billups can hold ‘Melo, J.R. Smith, and Kenyon Martin together for the remainder of the season.  Stay tuned.

LeBron Enters Broadcasting – Will Serve As TNT Analyst

LeBron will serve as a color analyst alongside Kenny Smith, Craig Sager and Kevin Harlan for TNT during the Rookie-Sophomore game, according to TNT PR, via Awful Announcing…..

Perennial NBA All-Star LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, a participant in the 2004 and 2005 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge, will join TNT’s Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Kenny Smith (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter) as part of the network’s telecast of the 2009 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on Friday, Feb. 13 at 9 p.m. ET. The Emmy® award-winning studio show Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai will follow the game live from U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix. TNT’s exclusive coverage of the 2009 All-Star Game from Phoenix, AZ will air on Sun., February 15 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

OK.  I’m there.  It’s official.

Kevin Harlan and Kenny Smith and Sages and LeBron.  Four of my favorite NBA personalities will be calling the game, and what’s even more exciting is that LeBron’s good buddies Dwight Howard and Dwyane Wade will be coaching the sophomores and rookies, respectively.

Oh, and to make things even better, LeBron and Harlan will certainly talk about Harlan’s famous “NO REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE” call, which is quite possibly the best call of a dunk ever.