Notes from NBA TV’s Coverage of the NBA Finals Game 2 – Sunday, June 8, 2014
NBA TV will televise NBA GameTime on Tuesday, June 10, at 7:30 p.m. ET, prior to Game 3 between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs, along with comprehensive Finals coverage including live post-game press conferences.
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NBA Live at the Finals Pregame
Matt Winer, Grant Hill, Isiah Thomas and Chris Webber
Webber on the adjustments the Heat need to make to win Game 2: “The adjustments the Heat are going to have to make are ones they could have made in years past, but didn’t have to. This is one of the few teams that has won championships while being out-rebounded by the other team. I don’t think those things can happen in this series when [the Spurs] have an inside player like [power forward] Tim Duncan.”
Thomas on Spurs veteran Tim Duncan’s continued dominance throughout the years: “When you look at what Duncan has done in his body of work, it hasn’t been a five year run for him, he’s been good in every decade. It’s very difficult to do, and there are only three or four players who have done it in our league…he is one of them. Michael Jordan and LeBron James haven’t dominated for decades like Duncan has.”
Thomas on Heat guard Dwyane Wade’s play in Game 1 during the absence of injured star LeBron James: “When LeBron is out of the game, Dwyane Wade attracts a lot of attention. There are four defenders around him challenging every shot. Wade didn’t take over at the end of Game 1 when the game was close because San Antonio switched [Spurs forward] Kawhi Leonard on him. The adjustments San Antonio was able to make when LeBron was out of the game created a lot of defensive pressure for Wade and put him in a position where he was not able to score.”
Hill on the mindset of the Spurs heading into Game 2: “Miami certainly missed their leader and best defender in LeBron James [in the final minutes of Game 1], but San Antonio found their rhythm and started hitting their shots. All the talk the past few days has been about LeBron’s cramps, and whether the Heat would have won [with him in the game]. San Antonio won by 15 points and no one is talking about them. They might come out with an edge thinking they have to show they are the better team, even with LeBron James playing.”
Hill on where LeBron James stands among the greats in the post-Michael Jordan era: “He’s right up there. LeBron James is still in his prime, so it’s incomplete to judge and compare. He’s not even 30 years old. I would say Kobe [Bryant] and Tim Duncan are probably in the same category, particularly if Duncan can win this series and get to five championship rings.”
Webber on what he expects to see from LeBron James in Game 2: “I just expect him to be LeBron…which is the best player in the world. I expect him to come out and play well. However, I do think it is about the full team game, and let’s remember San Antonio doesn’t mind giving LeBron 40 points if they can find another way to win.”
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NBA Live at the Finals Postgame
Winer, Hill, Thomas and Webber
Thomas on the simplicity of Heat forward LeBron James’ game during Game 2: “He played a classic, traditional game tonight.”
Hill on the strong play of LeBron James: “With all of the talk about LeBron not being healthy after Game 1, you knew he was going to come out in attack mode. Sometimes just seeing the ball go through the basket starts to give you that confidence. Once he gets it going, the Heat are pretty hard to beat.”
Thomas on the high level of play from Heat stars in the NBA finals: “I think Miami goes back home and they win. I look at [Heat stars] Wade, Bosh, Allen and James…all four of those players are playing at a very high level. None of them are struggling in this series to score or get the type of shot that they want. Until they figure out a way to stop one of those four guys, I don’t see San Antonio having a chance to win.”
Hill on the defensive effort of the Miami Heat: “I thought the defense was better tonight. Miami made all of the right plays at the right time. LeBron carried the load, willed this team and kept them in the game in the second half, but you have to tip your hat to the entire team defensively.”
Heat guard Dwyane Wade joined the GameTime crew following Miami’s Game 2 win
Wade on the importance of rebounds in the NBA finals: “It’s winning time. You have to go get it. When the ball is up it is 50/50. LeBron is just so athletic…he goes on top and grabs it.”
Wade on his role in Game 2: “Every game is different. Tonight LeBron had it going. It was my turn to manage the game. I have to do a good job of getting my guys shots and mixing mine in. Tonight wasn’t an overly aggressive offensive night for me, but at this time of year you do whatever it takes to win, especially in the second half.”
Wade on the clutch three-point shot made by Heat center Chris Bosh to win Game 2: “That’s what Chris Bosh does…he makes big shots for us. Whether he is having a big night or a quiet night, you can always count on him. He’s going to take it. He has the guts to take it and has knocked big shots down for us.”
Wade on the criticism the Heat face and how they stay focused game to game: “That’s the world that we live in. Some people are going to believe in you and some people may not, but you can’t go hide and crumble. You have to come out and continue to keep striving and pushing. No matter what they say we’re going to keep coming back. We are a confident team and feel we can win four games. Keep it coming…hate is motivation.”
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