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On last Friday’s edition of ESPN’s Kia NBA Shootaround pre-game show, host John Saunders and analysts Greg Anthony, Tim Legler and Stephen A. Smith, discussed Shaquille O’Neal’s injury, the impressive start by the Milwaukee Bucks, the Lakers frontcourt, the opening week struggles of the Sacramento Kings and more during Friday’s show. NBA Shootaround will be aired twice this week, leading into ESPN’s Wednesday and Friday night doubleheaders, with telecasts both nights at 7:30 p.m. ET. The shows will precede Miami vs. Indiana at 8 p.m. and Sacramento vs. Denver at 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Lakers vs. Philadelphia at 8 p.m. and Detroit vs. Portland at 10:30 p.m. on Friday.

Additionally, ESPN2’s NBA Nation – with host Saunders and analysts Anthony and Legler – will make its season debut tomorrow at 10:30 p.m. The 90-minute edition will feature highlights and analysis along with live cut-ins to games. ESPN.com’s Marc Stein will report from Orlando/Houston following the game and ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher will also contribute to the show. NBA Nation will be aired weekly starting Dec. 6, generally from 9-11 p.m.

Excerpts from Friday’s NBA Shootaround:

On the injury to Shaquille O’Neal and the impact it will have on the Miami Heat:

Smith – “He’s going to sit out until he knows he is ready. What you really need to worry about is Antoine Walker and Jason Williams. These are two individuals that everybody around the league questioned…their propensity to jack up shots. I wasn’t worried about that…but now that Shaq is gone, they’ve got to revert back to playing the way they used to play.”

Anthony – “You got to be concerned for Shaquille O’Neal. He has been having those injuries more often here of late because he is getting older. I don’t care who you are. When you get to be a certain age, injuries take longer to recover from…The margin of error for Miami before the season started was small because Detroit and Indiana, as they showed the other night, are legitimate championship contenders. Miami is not a dominant team over those two. They need to be right to compete with those two teams.”

On the impressive start of the Milwaukee Bucks:

Legler – “I look at their team, especially the starting lineup, and I don’t see any holes…You need some quickness and a distributor at the point and they have that with T.J. Ford. They’ve got scoring and shooting with Bobby Simmons and Michael Redd and they’ve got size. People wonder if you can play Andrew Bogut and Jamaal Magloire together…they’ve done it and it’s working out, particularly because Bogut is a versatile player. He can face up, he’s a little bit multi-dimensional. This team looks young and exciting. They’re going to be a battle for any team, any night.”

On the Los Angeles Lakers this season:

Smith – “Their front line is soft as pudding…Kobe Bryant is a superstar. Their backcourt, you know you’ve got all the potential in the world…I like Devean George a lot. He’s a champion. He’s been on those championship teams, but Chris Mihm, Kwame Brown…I’m just not sold on their front line.”

On the Sacramento Kings’ opening-week struggles:

Anthony – “I don’t see any leadership. I like Mike Bibby and Peja Stojakovic, but they’re not leaders. It’s not in their personality. I think that is where this team is lacking, other than the fact they can’t get above the rim. This team could be in trouble.”

On the early play of the Phoenix Suns:

Legler – “This team will stay above water until Amare Stoudemire comes back, particularly with Shawn Marion and Steve Nash playing the way they’ve been playing.”