Notes from NBA on TNT Playoff Coverage – Monday, May 11, 2015

TNT’s NBA Playoffs coverage continues Tuesday, May 12, with the Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers at 7 p.m. ET, Game 5, followed by Los Angeles Clippers vs. Houston Rockets at 9:30 p.m., Game 5

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Atlanta Hawks (106) @ Washington Wizards (101); Series tied, 2-2
Ian Eagle (play-by-play) Brent Barry (analyst) with David Aldridge (reporter)

Barry on Atlanta improving on the offensive end: “It’s just been crazy in the series to think that as a team, collectively, they’ve shot 30% in uncontested jumpers… Tonight they’ve been much better because the penetration has opened up opportunities for them, but this is a team that shoots the ball much better. You’ve got to think, at some point, they’ll get back in a rhythm on that side of the floor.”

Barry on Dennis Schroder’s offensive approach: “In the same way [Rajon] Rondo is disrespected with regards to his jump shot, people play off of him, and he takes up that three or four feet of space with a tremendous amount of momentum. For him, the way he can shift his body and catch those angles, that’s what makes him devastating once he gets by a primary defender.”

Barry on Atlanta evening the series: “In the process [of getting a road win], they may have found out a little more about themselves than they had coming into this game for the rest of this series. [With] two games remaining at home, a great opportunity.”

Barry on finding offense in the playoffs: “Paul Pierce and Drew Gooden are two of the top three remaining three-point shooters in the playoffs… the Wizards are really finding offense from new resources.”

Barry on Bradley Beal taking on a greater role: “Bradley Beal is doing a great job of heading up some responsibilities that you didn’t see much during the regular season. Handling the ball on pick and roll, directing traffic on offense.”

Barry on Beal’s performance: “He’s been awesome, awesome tonight. Mixing up his game, from attack, to midrange to three point shooting and decision making.”

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Golden State Warriors (101) @ Memphis Grizzlies (84); Series tied, 2-2
Brian Anderson (play-by-play) Steve Smith (analyst) with Lewis Johnson (reporter)

Smith on Stephen Curry finding ways to get his teammates involved: “We know he is able to score the basketball, but I think being able to create some offense off the bounce, getting into the teeth of the defense and kicking out, just getting some other guys some easy looks, is going to be the way for him to go.”

Smith on Golden State needing to involve Harrison Barnes more: “Harrison Barnes, who I’ve been raving about for the Golden State Warriors, I think he needs more touches on the offensive end. He’s been very productive for the Golden State Warriors.”

Smith on Harrison Barnes and Stephen Curry having to switch up on defense: “When you’re watching Harrison Barnes, and also Stephen Curry, they’re not guarding their original guy. It puts a lot of pressure on Harrison Barnes and Stephen Curry, not to defend, but to box out against those bigger guys.”

Smith on Golden State’s defense stepping up: “Give the Warriors’ defense a lot of credit. They’ve been aggressive, they’ve been active, and they’ve come up with some turnovers.”

Smith on Draymond Green’s improved game: “He’s been their leader on the defensive end, and also a guy who can move the basketball and play that stretch four position, and make plays off the bounce.”

Smith on the Grizzlies’ physicality: “This style of play wears you down… I think if you’re [head coach] Dave Joerger and those guys, you go back and make your adjustments. Mike Conley, you can see didn’t have a great game but it’s nice to have him back… You would figure they’ll shoot better. Jeff Green was a little more aggressive. They need him. And Vince Carter made some buckets. It came down to, you have Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, 17 and 12 [points], they got touches but the double team made them force it.”

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Inside the NBA presented by Kia

Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith

Smith on the Hawks playing as a team: “No one player, to me, when I watch the Atlanta Hawks, is more valuable than the other…but no one player can be missing.”

Barkley on the importance of Jeff Teague to the Hawks’ success: “I judge the Atlanta Hawks by Jeff Teague. When he’s aggressive, they play with a totally different energy because there’s really no one player you can just give the ball to except him. He can get his own shot every single time… Jeff Teague is the guy that makes everybody on this team go.”

Barkley on the Hawks playing Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroder together: “I’ve got to give Coach Budenholzer credit. He switched his team up tonight. He played two point guards together to speed up the tempo.”

O’Neal on the Hawks getting easy baskets: “Huge win for the Hawks. A lot of people were questioning them, [asking] did they have enough fight… They really did a great job of getting the ball inside. When I mean get the ball inside, I don’t mean post presence, but just layups…easy, easy baskets… They really wanted this game.”

Barkley on Jeff Teague being similar to Tony Parker: “He kind of reminds me of Tony Parker. It’s almost impossible to keep him in front of you. We actually thought there was something wrong with him because he hasn’t played like the All-Star… He was fantastic tonight.”

Smith on the Hawks stars as a team: “The NBA made a statement at All-Star Weekend when they put the four Atlanta Hawks there. They wanted it to be more about team instead of an individual… The reward they got at All-Star Game showed tonight, that all of them together, collectively, make a great team, and not individually.”

O’Neal on Stephen Curry leading the Warriors: “When you’re the MVP, when you’re the best player on the team, when you come out and play aggressive, the others will follow. The others for Golden State are playing pretty good, [Harrison] Barnes and [Draymond] Green.”

O’Neal on Curry among the best shooters: “He’s a spectacular shooter. Throughout the history of the game, spectacular shooters can be off every now and then, but you can never hold them down for long periods of time. Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, and now Steph Curry… If you have the right mindset, and you stay confident, like he’s been doing, he’ll get it back. Tonight he just showed he’s a spectacular shooter. You have to put him in that category, Larry Bird, Glen Rice, guys like that.”

Barkley on the Grizzlies learning something in the second half with a smaller lineup: “If I’m Memphis, you can learn something in losses. I thought they outplayed Golden State in the second half with the small lineup… Memphis changed up in the second half… They went small. They took one of their big guys out of the game because you can’t just walk the ball up and down the court when you’re down 20 points at halftime… To play them even in the second half with a small lineup, they can use that going forward if they get down.”

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Notes from NBA on TNT Playoff Coverage – Wednesday, May 6, 2015

TNT’s NBA Playoffs coverage will continue Sunday, May 10, with the Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Clippers (Game 4) at 8 p.m. ET

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Chicago Bulls (91) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (106); Series tied 1-1
Marv Albert (play-by-play) Chris Webber (analyst) with Rachel Nichols (reporter)

Webber on the combination of Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler: “You hope this tandem of Butler and Rose stay together for a long time. They’re like [similar] size, they can switch, they’re both athletic. They look for each other, they encourage each other. Just a great backcourt duo.”

Webber on Chicago’s approach: “The Bulls love playing ugly basketball. The Bulls love slowing it down. They can play fast, however you want it, as long as they can continue their defensive strategy.”

Webber on Nikola Mirotic: “He’s a scorer. You do not want him feeling it going back home with those crazy Chicago fans and that loud stadium. You want to try and keep that foot on the neck, especially on his confidence.”

Webber on Iman Shumpert: “[Iman] Shumpert actually started this season for this team, and we all know the J.R. Smith situation, but it seems like he’s been ready to come in and be their Mr. 911.”

Webber on what Kendrick Perkins brings to the Cavaliers as a veteran presence: “Having the opportunity to play with so many wonderful veterans, they add so much, the intangibles. And that’s what a guy like Perkins does. He can do a lot of things for you, especially defensively, on the court. But, his messages in the locker room are invaluable to this young Cavs team.”

Webber on LeBron James knowing the importance of Game 2: “He was here four hours early, put the headband back on. He’s down 1-0. He understands what this game means. And he understands to win a championship he’s going to have to play his best basketball of his life. Pat Riley, one of the greatest basketball minds, isn’t here right now. Dwyane Wade, his partner [in Miami] is not here right now. He knows it’s up on him.”

Webber on Tristan Thompson’s foul troubles: “Tristan not being a starter, is a high volume fouler…he puts his team in a bad position when he does this [gets in foul trouble]. You’ve already won one battle when you have [James] Jones and [Kendrick] Perkins on the court. You don’t want to keep putting your team in a situation to have to win a tough battle.”

Webber on how Cleveland’s frontcourt outplayed Chicago in Game 2: “The story of the night is definitely LeBron and him being aggressive going to the hole. But when you think about the matchup of the big fellas, [Joakim] Noah and [Pau] Gasol versus [Timofey] Mozkov and [Tristan] Thompson… I’d say having a guy off the bench coming in with the starters and outdueling the starting lineup, the frontcourt of Chicago, that’s a pretty good job.”

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Los Angeles Clippers (109) @ Houston Rockets (115); Series tied 1-1
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) Reggie Miller (analyst) with Tracy Wolfson (reporter)

Miller on Matt Barnes: “Every team, you go back through all the champions, you got to have players like Matt Barnes on your team. Guys that do the dirty work, take those hard plays. It’s those plays after the foul is called, which I love.”

Miller on the Clippers’ clutch performances: “Going into the Spurs series, everyone talked about were the Clippers going to be mentally tough enough beat the defending champs? They showed that in Game 4 when they were down 2-1 to the champs winning a huge game in San Antonio. Game 6, down 3-2, close out game, they find a way to win… So, we know they are mentally strong enough.”

Miller on Chris Paul on the bench: “The reason why he’s so nervous over there, as a player you can’t control or dictate the action when you’re sitting on the bench. And when you are the best player on this Clipper team and you’re used to barking out all the calls and the orders and you sit back and reflect, sometimes your voice on the bench doesn’t carry as much weight. I love how animated he was in Game 1 supporting his teammates.”

Miller on whether anyone is playing better than Blake Griffin in the playoffs: “I would say no. Think about it, you know what he’s doing on the offensive end. But to me, his defense has been just as good, just as stellar.”

Miller on Jason Terry’s experience: “All his championship experience, that’s what this team needs right now, a shot in the arm. Terry has always been that type of player, to get the crowd involved here, he’s made some big shots, some hustle plays.”

Miller on James Harden’s success in Game 2: A statement, put a stamp on this Game 2 here. I thought he was too passive in Game 1… He [has] not shot the ball particularly well, 5-of-13 from the field, but 13-of-13 from the free throw line.”

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Inside the NBA presented by Kia

Johnson, O’Neal, Barkley, Smith

O’Neal on the Rockets lack of intensity: “They’ve played eight quarters versus the Clippers but they played two quarters hard. First game was a wash, lackadaisical. First half of the game [same thing]; third [quarter] started to pick it up, fourth [quarter] got hot. They will not win if they go into L.A. playing like that.”

Barkley on how well Blake Griffin is playing: “First of all, Blake is playing at a whole different level right now. He’s playing fantastic, you have to give him his props. He’s playing fantastic.”

Smith on what to expect when Chris Paul returns: “He’s going to be effective coming back now… I think he’ll be fine…his ability to penetrate and play the pick-and-roll they haven’t seen.”

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Notes from NBA on TNT Playoff Coverage – Tuesday, May 5, 2015

TNT’s NBA coverage of the playoffs continues tonight, Wednesday, May 6, with doubleheader action featuring the Chicago Bulls @ Cleveland Cavaliers (Game 2) at 7 p.m. ET and the Los Angeles Clippers @ Houston Rockets (Game 2) at 9:30 p.m.

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Washington Wizards (90) @ Atlanta Hawks (106); Series tied 1-1
Ian Eagle (play-by-play) Brent Barry (analyst) with David Aldridge (reporter)

Barry on Hawks point guard Jeff Teague: “When Jeff Teague is aggressive, it opens up so many things for the Atlanta offense.”

Barry on Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll: “He is playing with confidence. There are a lot of Hawks players out there who are playing very timidly, but Carroll just keeps coming at you.”

Barry on Hawks reserve point guard Dennis Schroder: “He comes in and mixes it up, goes at the Wizards bigs and attacks them. It’s something that Jeff Teague should be doing.”

Barry on the team basketball of the Hawks: “This game has been ‘Hawks-y.’ [Guard] Kyle Korver and [point guard] Jeff Teague are struggling from the field, but other guys are picking it up. It’s what the Hawks have been about all season.”

Barry on injured point guard John Wall and its impact on the Wizards’ bench play: “The production off the bench in Game 1 came from John Wall creating opportunities for [forward] Drew Gooden and [forward] Otto Porter, now someone else has to step up and be a playmaker for the Wizards.”

Barry on the backcourt scoring of Bradley Beal and Ramon Sessions: “If I told you going into the fourth quarter of this game the backcourt scoring without John Wall was 34-16 you would tell me, ‘Oh, Atlanta is crushing them.’ No…[Game 2] has been the other way around.”

Barry on the Wizards heading into Game 3: “If you’re a Wizards fan, you have to feel good about the contributions the bench made to step up in the absence of John Wall…contributions by Sessions, Gooden and Porter. I think they go home with a bit of confidence, hoping the news on John Wall is good and he will be available for Game 3.”

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Memphis Grizzlies (97) @ Golden State Warriors (90); Series Tied 1-1
Brian Anderson (play-by-play) Steve Smith (analyst) with Lewis Johnson (reporter)

Smith on Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley: “Conley is so valuable at the offensive end. He has a mid-range game and he is their guy who can knock down three-point shots. He can make plays and is a solid point guard. He is one of those guys you can see knocking at the door to be an All-Star in this very tough Western Conference.”

Smith on Conley’s return from injury: “That’s why they needed him back…patience, stability and he can make a big-time shot.”

Smith on Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph in the paint: “He’s a technician down there.”

Smith on veteran shooter Vince Carter: “Vince Carter can have one of those quarters or one of those games where he just takes over and knocks down shots. He hasn’t had one yet…but he’s capable.”

Smith on the aggressive play of forward Jeff Green: “Jeff Green is aggressive. He makes this Memphis team better with his tenacious defense.”

Smith on Warriors forward David Lee: “It’s hasn’t been a great year for David Lee. They started playing [forward] Draymond Green, whose offense has picked up. Green’s been fantastic. Defensively they like to switch a lot and Lee has problems switching on some guards. Draymond Green has been a little bit better [on that end], but this is the playoffs and Lee will have a chance to make his mark.”

Smith on Warriors guard Leandro Barbosa: “Barbosa has been fantastic for [head coach] Steve Kerr in the regular season and the playoffs with some scoring spurts in limited minutes.”

Smith on Klay Thompson’s lack of offense in Game 2: “[Grizzlies guard] Tony Allen is hawking Klay Thompson, putting pressure on him. Even though Thompson can make baskets, Allen just wants him to work.”

Smith on Warriors forward Draymond Green: “That’s what makes him special. He’s a power forward that can push the basketball and make plays like a point guard. He’s comfortable handling the ball with pressure.”

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Inside the NBA presented by Kia

Matt Winer, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal

Smith on whether Stephen Curry & Klay Thompson can win a championship shooting jumpers: “If you said Reggie Miller and Ray Allen can’t make a career off shooting jumpers, I would say you’re lying. If you said Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson can’t make a career and win a championship off shooting jumpers, I would say you are lying too. Those are the only two guys who could do it. They are capable enough.”

O’Neal on whether their Game 2 loss to Memphis will force the Warriors to play any differently: “I guarantee you the Warriors are just in their locker room saying they missed shots. They were off. This is the first time I’ve seen both of the Splash Brothers off. The questions is, will they be off three more games and lose the series? I don’t think so. Just a bad night for them and an emotional night for Steph. Usually when they lose they come back with a vengeance. This next game is a very important game.”

Barkley on Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley: “Mike Conley is the key to this series. If he can stay healthy, this is going to be a long, drawn out series.”

Barkley on the Grizzlies & Warriors difference in style: “We knew two things going into the series: Golden State was going to try to beat you with jumpers and Memphis was going to try to maul you down low. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph will have the advantage every game.  It’s going to come down to whether Golden State can make enough jumpers.”

O’Neal on Conley: “He wasn’t nervous. He came out, played with great intensity, controlled the floor and got an impressive win for his team.”

O’Neal on the Wizards: “I feel that Washington is the better team when they are clicking on all cylinders.”

Smith on the Wizards heading into Game 3 with the series tied 1-1: “I think, overall, the Wizards feel comfortable about the way they are playing, other than the fact that [forward] Nene [Hilario] is not participating on the offensive end. They have been able to play at the pace they want. They weren’t explosive [in Game 2] because they didn’t have John Wall. Now they go home with a split. The Wizards came here to possibly get two, but I don’t think anyone thought they could get one. They are probably feeling comfortable, even with Nene not playing well so far.”

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Notes from NBA on TNT Playoff Coverage – Monday, May 4, 2015

TNT’s NBA coverage of the playoffs continues with the conference semi-finals on Tuesday, May 5, with doubleheader action featuring the Washington Wizards @ Atlanta Hawks at 8 p.m. ET and the Memphis Grizzlies @ Golden State Warriors at 10:30 p.m.

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Chicago Bulls (99) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (92); Bulls lead 1-0
Marv Albert (play-by-play) Chris Webber (analyst) with Rachel Nichols (reporter)

Webber on Joakim Noah’s mentality: “[Joakim] Noah has made it clear that ‘we respect you, but we don’t like you’…that’s refreshing.”

Webber on the Bulls mindset going into this series: “The tough series the Bulls had with Milwaukee had to prepare them. They were in a dogfight. The Bucks put the Bulls in survival mode and these guys have come out ready.”

Barkley on the Bulls: “They are loaded; they are too deep on every position. LeBron [James] and Kyrie [Irving] are going to have to go crazy for four days. There are so many mismatches on the floor.”

Webber on the Bulls bench: “This is a good bench. They are quick and increase the pace. You have a really good unit to give your best players some rest.”

Webber on the Bulls/Cavs series: “When you look at these guys, so many people talk about Cleveland and LeBron coming back home, but you talk to people in Chicago…their hearts have been broken so many times. They deserve a right at this Championship; both teams are trying to impose their will.”

Webber on the Cavs being anxious for the next round: “It’s almost like training camp. Guys get in fights with each other, not because they don’t like each other…it just gets physical. You get tired of seeing each other. That shows you that they are mentally anxious and ready to see that next group.”

Webber on the importance of the “others:” In the playoff series, it’s always the ‘others’ that step up. We know what LeBron [James] is going to do, we know what [Jimmy] Butler is going to do, but what are the ‘others’ going to do?”

Webber on Kyrie Irving being LeBron’s new wingman: “Kyrie is his new partner in crime, he is someone he can trust.”

Smith on the Cavs without Kevin Love: “I thought Cleveland had size with Love. Now they become a small team. A team that is going to be hard to defend. Their skill level is so great, they can do multiple things.”

Barkley on the impact of not having Kevin Love: “They can’t win without Kevin Love. He never got enough credit for what he did. He’s a terrific rebounder but the game comes down to space. They are not going to get bigger by Wednesday and they are going to miss J.R. Smith again. Even when they had Kevin we thought they were the best team in the NBA because of their upside.”

O’Neal on the Bulls/Cavs series: “It’s still a six or seven game series.”

Smith on utilizing Kendrick Perkins: “Kendrick Perkins knows playoff basketball…he would be a help and he could stay close to [Joakim] Noah and [Pau] Gasol.”

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LA Clippers (117) @ Houston Rockets (101); Clippers lead 1-0
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) Reggie Miller (analyst) with Tracy Wolfson (reporter)

Miller on the big man matchup in the Rockets/Clippers series: “We are going to see a defensive series down low between DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard”

Miller on the growth of forward Blake Griffin: “What I saw in Blake in the first round series was growth… He is using what he learned against the Hall of Famer Tim Duncan in this series.”

Miller on forward Blake Griffin: “Early on in his career, I knew he had the strength and the power to be a great power forward. It is all coming together in these playoffs.”

O’Neal on Blake Griffin playing without Chris Paul in Game 1: “When you are apart of a one-two punch and the one goes down, you really have to step it up.”

Miller on [head coach] Doc Rivers not playing Chris Paul in Game 2: “If I’m Doc, I would think about not playing Chris Paul in Game 2. The only thing that will heal that hamstring is rest.”

Barkley on the Rockets: “If you let a team like the Clippers hang around, they can make a play. Blake [Griffin] can do something crazy or DeAndre [Jordan] can make a play.”

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Inside the NBA presented by Kia

Johnson, O’Neal, Barkley, Smith

Smith on the Rockets mentality in Game 1: “The mental focus of a champion is different. They don’t look at these opportunities as days off but as blood in the water as sharks. The Clippers and the Rockets…the things we have been saying about them for years and why they couldn’t be championships is their mental fortitude. There is no way they shouldn’t beat the Clippers without Chris Paul in a playoff game.”

Smith on being a Champion: “You can talk about skill and the greatest players that ever played but they played with effort and that’s why they are a Champions.”

Barkley on the Bulls: “This is a different Bulls team. Derrick Rose doesn’t have to do it all by himself. He has a lot of weapons.”

Smith on LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in this series: “Those two guys have to be special, not just great.”

Visit the Turner Sports online press room for additional press materials; follow Turner Sports on Twitter at @TurnerSportsPR

Notes from NBA on TNT Playoff Coverage – Tuesday, April 28, 2015

TNT’s NBA coverage of the playoffs continues tonight, Wednesday, April 29, with doubleheader action featuring a pair of Game 5 matchups – the Brooklyn Nets vs. Atlanta Hawks at 7 p.m. ET and the Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies at 9:30 p.m.

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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by Autotrader 

Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal

Smith on Houston’s offensive flow: “Houston can’t just shoot threes out of desperation; they have to be within the flow of their offense.”

Smith on Dallas point guard J.J. Barea: “He is a scorer.  He doesn’t change the game on the defensive end, but he does on offense.  His ability to create shots at his size is his best attribute.”

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Dallas Mavericks (94) @ Houston Rockets (103); Rockets win series 4-1
Marv Albert (play-by-play) Chris Webber (analyst) with Rebecca Haarlow (reporter)

Webber on unsung playoff heroes: “The thing about the playoffs is someone different on the bench steps up all the time…It’s usually not a player like Barea to have two or three games like [he had in Game 4] in a row.”

Webber on Al-Farouq Aminu’s hot start: “It’s the playoffs.  Note to everyone: you are allowed to contribute, you are allowed to give your energy, you are allowed to give your all!  Aminu got that memo.”

Webber on how much longer Dirk Nowitzki can play: “I feel he has another four or five more years left…He’s that talented, that great of a shooter. His skill set allows you to have bad knees the longer you go on.”

Webber on Dwight Howard’s offensive game: “It’s so pretty when he is decisive.  I love to see him efficient with his energy and moves in the post.”

Webber on Josh Smith fitting in to the Rockets’ system: “Josh Smith does a little bit of everything and, when encouraged the right way by [coach] Kevin McHale – who has put that responsibility on him – he’s trying to just finish plays.”

Webber on guard Pablo Prigioni coming off the bench: “That’s why you love having him on the floor; he’s not a liability, he’s not [going to] waste any possessions…you love seeing him knock down those threes.”

Webber on Howard’s presence in the defensive post: “He’s about the only defense in this game.  Maybe that’s why sometimes the Rockets don’t play their best defense, because they know they have that anchor in the back.  They lead guys to him and expect him to do what he does and that’s block shots out of bounds.”

Webber on some of the Rockets’ troubles from the foul line: “It is hard work…You don’t get better during the season, you get better in the off-season.  If you don’t want to get hacked, take your butt in the gym, lock yourself in there and shoot free throws.”

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San Antonio Spurs (111) @ Los Angeles Clippers (107); Spurs lead 3-2
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) Reggie Miller (analyst) with Jaime Maggio (reporter)

Miller on Kawhi Leonard’s focus and expanding offensive game: “You talk about a young man being on a mission offensively, these last two ball games for Kawhi Leonard, he’s shown his full arsenal.”

Miller on the sharp shooting of Patty Mills: “Patty Mills has been fantastic in this series.  He has shot the Spurs right back into this ball game.”

Miller on the Spurs intentionally fouling DeAndre Jordan in the closing minutes of the first half: “It has worked.  [Clippers head coach] Doc [Rivers] has to take [Jordan] off the floor and now they’re a much smaller lineup having to bring in Jamal Crawford.”

Miller on the contributions of the full Spurs team in the win: “Wonderful effort. The bench kept them afloat early on in the game when the starters struggled and they just found a way to gut out a huge victory.”

Miller on Blake Griffin’s ability to turn defensive rebounds into offense: “It’s just so difficult when Blake Griffin secures the rebound and is able to be a one-man fast break… [He] just makes it so difficult on the defense.”

Miller on the match-up problems caused by Griffin: “He’s a nightmare match-up for the Spurs.  He can use his athleticism against taller defenders, and when he’s facing a smaller defender like Boris Diaw, he’s gonna take him straight to the post and jump over him and use his athleticism to his benefit.”

Miller on J.J. Redick scoring points without the Clippers running plays for him: “The ball will always find shooters.  I love what he’s done.  He’s been more active on the offensive end.”

Miller on the Clippers’ foul shooting: “That was the big question around them coming into the playoffs. Can they make free throws down the stretch?”

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Inside the NBA presented by Kia

Johnson, O’Neal, Barkley, Smith

Barkley on the difference in tonight’s game: “The game really came down to the bench.  They outscored [the Clippers] 48-17.  If the Clippers don’t get some help off their bench, they’re in trouble.”

O’Neal on DeAndre Jordan’s ability to score in transition: “DeAndre is one of the best big men to run the floor and one of the best finishers.”

Barkley on the Spurs’ ability to win on the road in this series: “I was impressed with the Spurs.  This is just a monster series… You’re going to have to beat the Spurs.  They won’t beat themselves.”

Barkley on Chris Paul: “He played his heart out tonight.”

Barkley on the missed rebound with a few seconds left: “That’s Matt Barnes’ rebound.  You can’t let that happen.”

Smith on the Clippers’ options late and close: “The problem was you can’t put DeAndre in there [and] he’s their best rebounder.  If they miss, he’ll get fouled right away.”

O’Neal on the Clippers coming up just short: “They relied on the jump shot way too much, especially the three point shot… Blake had a great game, but he still has to impose his will on the opponent.  If you do what you are supposed to do, it should never be left in the hands of the referees.”

Barkley on Dwight Howard: “He had a fantastic series.”

Smith on why the Rockets’ offense was so effective in the series: “They didn’t have Dwight Howard set picks at the three point line.  He stayed around the rim and he was a big guy.”

O’Neal on who the Rockets would match up best against in the second round: “I think they match up better with the Clippers… I think the Spurs would be a little too much for them… [and] I think the experience of the Spurs would capitalize on [the Rockets’] mistakes.”

Barkley on the advantage the Rockets would have over the Clippers in a potential second round match-up: “They have a huge advantage over the Clippers because of their bench… The Rockets are big and they’re deep.”

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TNT’s NBA coverage of the playoffs continue tonight, Tuesday, April 28, with doubleheader action featuring the Dallas Mavericks @ Houston Rockets at 8 p.m. ET and the San Antonio Spurs @ Los Angeles Clippers at 10:30 p.m.

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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by Autotrader 

Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith

Smith on the Bucks: “They have a lot of length. You can’t make the typical pass against them. They are a little bit freakish in nature.”Barkley on Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith: “I don’t think J.R is a bad guy, but I think he does stupid things.”

O’Neal on J.R. Smith’s two-game suspension: “One game would have been absurd, two games is okay. I don’t think he was trying to hit him in his face. Yes, he was trying to hit him.  It was a cheap play, so two games is fair.”

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Milwaukee Bucks (94) @ Chicago Bulls (88) Bulls lead series 3-2
Brian Anderson (play-by-play) Steve Smith (analyst) with Allie LaForce (reporter)

Smith on Jared Dudley and Michael Carter-Williams: “I like what he has done defensively and scoring wise. Since he can shoot the ball with some range, it gives him some space and gives his offense some more space. If Michael Carter-Williams works on that, he will be one of those players that is hard to guard because he can shoot the jumper and get into the paint. Right now his jump shot doesn’t allow him to create space, but Jared Dudley (because of his offense) can.”

Barkley on the future of Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams: “I call Jason Kidd the ‘point guard whisperer’ and he is going to make this kid a perennial All-Star.”

Smith on Bulls guard Derrick Rose getting back in rare form: “We talk about one day rest or two day rest.  All I need to watch is how he is moving to determine how good he will be.”

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Memphis Grizzlies (92) @ Portland Trail Blazers (99); Grizzlies lead 3-1
Kevin Calabro (play-by-play) Brent Barry (analyst) with Lewis Johnson (reporter)

Smith on Tony Allen defending Damian Lillard: “Tony Allen is a great defender, but he’s not a great defender on a point guard that knows how to score.”

Barry on the Grizzlies: “The right guys stepping up at the right time has been their recipe for success this year.”

O’Neal on center Meyers Leonard:  “He’s big, he’s physical…and he can shoot it from long range. He’s Baby [Arvydas] Sabonis…a big guy that can shoot.”

Barkley on Arvydas Sabonis: “He was one of the five best players in the world. He got to the NBA, blew out both Achilles, gained 100 pounds and still made it to the All-Star Game.”

Barry on adjusting the lineup with guard Wesley Matthews being out: “So much of the heart and soul of what Portland was doing during the first half of the season happens to be what they were doing on the defensive end of the floor. You had Wes Matthews that could score and put you in a bind defensively. There is so much missing with Wes Matthews out of the lineup.”

Barry on LaMarcus Aldridge staying in Portland after the season ends: “It’s tricky because he’s been non-committal to the Trail Blazers after playing for nine years. If he leaves, he would be the best player to put on a Rip City jersey.  We will see if [Neil] Olshey

can get that deal done over the summer. Whether he stays or goes, he will always have a place in Portland.”

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Inside the NBA presented by Kia

Johnson, O’Neal, Barkley, Smith

Barkley on the Bucks: “They play extremely hard with great energy. Energy is one of the most underrated talents in the NBA.”

O’Neal on what the Bulls need to do in Game 6: “Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose have to shoot much better if they expect to beat these young guys.”

O’Neal on the Hawks in Game 4: “The pressure is definitely on the Hawks. I think it is fair to say whoever wins Game 5 will win the series.”

Barkley on guard Jeff Teague: “He has to speed the tempo of the game up and get some easy fast break points.”

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TNT’s NBA coverage of the playoffs continues Monday, April 27, with doubleheader action featuring the Milwaukee Bucks @ Chicago Bulls (Game 4) at 8 p.m. ET and the Memphis Grizzlies @ Portland Trail Blazers (Game 4) at 10:30 p.m.

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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by Autotrader 

Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal

Charles Barkley on what he expects from Bradley Beal: “He’s right there with James Harden and Klay Thompson; they’re the two best two guards in the league.”

Kenny Smith on Paul Pierce: “He’s done a great job. We expect Paul to be big in these big moments because; he will take the big shot. He will take momentum changing shots… He’s not afraid of the moment. He looks for that moment.”

Smith on a potential Game 7 between the Clippers and Spurs: “I wouldn’t want to play the defending champs in a Game 7, and this is where it looks like it’s going… As much I like the way the Clippers played today, they’ve shown me they’ll play a certain way against the Spurs as well. That could be alarming. There’s very few minutes in this game where you could say the Spurs are uncharacteristic… There’s many moments where you say the Clippers don’t look like a team that’s a championship team.”

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Toronto Raptors (94) @ Washington Wizards (125); Wizards win the series, 4-0
Ian Eagle (play-by-play) Grant Hill (analyst) with Kevin Ray (reporter)

Grant Hill on the Raptors struggles: “The Raptors have really struggled since the All-Star break. They’re 2-13 versus teams with a winning record since the All-Star break… It’s not like they’re playing poorly [just] at this point. They’ve struggled the last half of the season and it’s showing here tonight.”

Hill on Toronto’s offensive struggles: “Toronto, for a team that was so good offensively during the regular season, they have looked disjointed the majority of the time during the playoffs. [They] could never find a rhythm on the offensive end. You have to give some credit to Washington, with their defense.”

Hill on the Wizards playing well when they go small: “They’ve really thrived going small [this series], particularly in the second quarter… Nene’s minutes are down, [Marcin] Gortat’s played a lot, and played very well.”

Hill on Paul Pierce under Head Coach Randy Wittman: “He brings an edge. A guy who’s had a Hall of Fame career, a leader [that] some of these young players that watched and followed. You really got to give [Randy] Wittman credit as the team was struggling a little bit there at the end of the season, having the big picture mindset to rest him to make sure he’s fresh. He’s as good as he’s looked all season.”

Hill on the veterans stepping up for Washington: “We talk about the veterans, you talk about [Paul] Pierce, we talk about [Drew] Gooden, guys that didn’t get heavy minutes in the regular season. You want to keep them fresh, but now those two are playing at an elite level.”

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Houston Rockets (109) @ Dallas Mavericks (121); Rockets lead 3-1
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) Reggie Miller (analyst) with Rebecca Haarlow (reporter)

Miller on Dwight Howard gaining confidence: “You can tell he’s gaining confidence. Remember, he’s missed so much time with injuries this year to that left knee.”

Miller on James Harden offensively: “All eyes will always be on James Harden because not only is he a great shooter, which he is, scorer, which he is, but he’s one of the best facilitators in our game. And when he is coming at you with a full steam downhill, he puts your defense in a very tough position.”

Miller on key players for the Rockets in the fourth quarter: “Corey Brewer along with Josh Smith in that fourth quarter did a great job for the Houston Rockets of getting back in this ball game and putting a lot of pressure on this Dallas Mavericks team.”

Miller on Dirk Nowitzki’s shooting prowess: “The best big man shooter this game has ever seen. And everybody will say, what about Larry Bird? I will take Dirk Nowitzki over Larry Bird, shooting wise; not player… shooting.”

Miller on J.J. Barea stepping up: “A guy that has championship experience. He was on that championship team as well under Rick Carlisle. So, he understands what it takes. For whatever reason, it didn’t work out here with [Rajon] Rondo. I’ve loved what J.J. [Barea] has brought to the table in his absence.”

Miller on Rick Carlisle finding a way for the Mavericks to survive: “I’m going to give Rick Carlisle and his coaching staff a lot of credit here. Obviously, with the drama surrounding [Rajon] Rondo, and with injuries to players like [Raymond] Felton, Richard Jefferson and Chandler Parsons, he’s found a way to extend this series.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Kia

Johnson, O’Neal, Barkley, Smith

Smith on defensive issues for Houston: “Defensively, the Rockets have always been a little bit challenged, but tonight they didn’t challenge at all, and that was the difference. That is going to be the separation if you’re going to want to be a championship team or not, is the ability to defend and not wait until Dwight Howard blocks a shot… They have to learn how to play front line defense.”

O’Neal on the Mavericks: “I think this game, Dallas came out, they played with a lot of effort, played with a lot of energy, they played desperate. I think Houston just took them lightly. The game really means nothing, except the point that for Dallas, we didn’t get swept… Dallas is done.”

Barkley on the Los Angeles Clippers and how they match up with the San Antonio Spurs: “The Clippers have outplayed them [the Spurs] three out of four games. They blew Game 2… They just got to get a little bit from J.J. Redick and Matt Barnes because they [the Spurs] have to double Blake [Griffin]… I think the longer this series goes, I think Blake and DeAndre [Jordan] are going to have a big advantage inside.”

O’Neal on the play that injured Kevin Love’s shoulder: “Did he tangle him up on purpose? Yes. Did he try to dislocate his shoulder? No. Was it a dirty play? No, it’s not a dirty play. You tussle, you grapple, you wrestle… It’s playoff basketball.”

Smith on what the Raptors need to do going forward: “They have to decide if Lou Williams, being Sixth Man of the Year, will have that kind of energy off the bench again. I think overall, DeMar DeRozan’s injury, when that happened earlier in the season, that was a big blow to them that messed up their continuity. I don’t know if they have a post player that you can consistently go to, and that perimeter offense is a little dated now.”

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TNT’s NBA coverage of the playoffs continues Saturday, April 25, with doubleheader action featuring the Atlanta Hawks @ Brooklyn Nets at 3 p.m. ET and the Chicago Bulls @ Milwaukee Bucks at 5:30 p.m.

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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by Autotrader 

Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith

Barkley on the idea of Cleveland intimidating the Celtics: “The words ‘intimidation’ and ‘bulletin board material,’ I think that’s always overused.”

O’Neal on the effect of intimidation: “For me, intimidation was my whole thing.  The guys I couldn’t intimidate, I had trouble with; Hakeem [Olajuwon] and Tim Duncan on certain days.  The guys I could intimidate, it made it easier for me.”

O’Neal on LeBron James’ ability to intimidate opponents: “LeBron, to me, is more on the Magic [Johnson] side of things; great player, Hall of Famer, first ballot..but he’s not really intimidating.  Guys are not really going to fear him.”

Smith on how intimidation factors into the game: “At the beginning of the game, you’re not intimidated, but as the game goes on and you realize you can’t stop them, that’s intimidating.”

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Cleveland Cavaliers (103) @ Boston Celtics (95); Cavaliers lead 3-0
Marv Albert (play-by-play) Chris Webber (analyst) with Rachel Nichols (reporter)

Webber on Cavaliers’ center Timofey Mozgov: “I love Mozgov.  He just does his job…He cut down the lane and finished like a big guy’s supposed to.”

Webber on a big man’s job on offense: “As a big man, you have to be two things – aware and ready to catch the ball.”

Webber on Kevin Love’s all-around offensive game: “Everyone in Cleveland should be excited when Kevin Love gets it in the post.  He’s a great passer and more than capable in the post.”

Webber on Tristan Thompson and teams intentionally fouling below-average foul shooters in the playoffs: “If you want people to quit hacking you, make your free throws.”

Webber on LeBron setting the pace for the Cavaliers’ offense: “He wanted to make sure he led by example, and the example was getting to the basket.”

Webber on Kevin Love’s impact: “It’s how he did it, not just shooting threes, but being in the post and also getting back on defense.”

Webber on LeBron’s minutes this season: “I know a lot of Cleveland fans are worried that LeBron played almost 42 minutes a game, but this season he’s played the least amount of minutes of his career.  Coach [David] Blatt said they’ve prepared for this all season.”

Webber on the Celtics’ team depth: “In the playoffs, 90% of teams… shrink their rotation.  [Coach Brad] Stevens said he knows that’s the way it usually goes, but he thinks they have strength in numbers and depth.  They want to play more [players], as opposed less.”

Webber on the match of the Celtics’ style and the Boston crowd: “Young teams needs energy.  They need to get it from the crowd and from hustle plays… When you show the crowd, you’re in it on those hustle plays; they give you all the support that you need.”

Webber on Boston’s philosophy: “This team is known for sharing the ball and getting guys open shots.”

Webber on silver linings for Boston: “There are no moral victories if you lose, but there are building blocks.”

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Golden State Warriors (123) @ New Orleans Pelicans (119) in OT; Warriors lead 3-0
Brian Anderson (play-by-play) Steve Smith (analyst) with Tracy Wolfson (reporter)

Smith on Stephen Curry’s development: “Because of his ability to handle the basketball, show shot and drive, and take the contact, he’s a little bit stronger and more confident than in his first year.”

Smith on Curry aggressively driving to the basket: “He uses his speed and ability to get the rim and he’s a tough puppy.”

Smith on Klay Thompson: “That’s the next evolution for Klay Thompson…putting some pressure on little guards and get to the free throw line and also be effective with his size at the two-guard position.”

Smith on the Warriors needing to cool off the Pelicans offense: “They have no problem scoring, but right now, they have to defend.”
Smith on how Ryan Anderson affects the Pelicans: “This is a different team with Ryan Anderson…[when he’s effective], it allows them to rest Anthony Davis.”

Smith on the Pelicans’ transition offense: “That’s what a missed [Golden State] three point shot does for you; it starts the fast break because it’s a long rebound and guys can’t get back.”

Smith on Anthony Davis: “That’s what makes him special.  Being able to play both ends, and with his length, he can guard you [either] out to the three point line [or] at the rim.”

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Inside the NBA presented by Kia

Johnson, O’Neal, Barkley, Smith

Barkley on match-up problems caused by Anthony Davis: “I would go to Anthony Davis every time and make [the Warriors] double [team] him, or get Draymond Green in foul trouble.”

O’Neal on Davis: “[Charles and I] love when big men come ready to play, and this kid is ready to play…he can do it all…he’s the best power forward in the game today.”

Barkley on momentum: “Once this game went to overtime, it was a rap.”

Barkley on New Orleans blowing the big lead: “If I was the coach, I would say I had a lot to do with us losing that game.”

Barkley on Golden State’s comeback: “Take your hat off to the guys from Golden State, but they had a lot of help from New Orleans.”

Smith on the Celtics effort: “I loved the way the Celtics compete, they just don’t have the talent level… They fought, they just don’t have enough.”

Barkley on Derrick Rose’s health: “I like the way he’s attacking the basket…When he doesn’t have confidence in his body, he shoots a lot of jumpers.  When he’s going forward towards the basket, he has confidence in his legs.”

Smith on Rose’s offensive versatility: “When he’s playing a mixed game, he’s one of the best guards in the NBA.”

Barkley on the Bulls this year: “This is a different Bulls teams than a few years ago, they’ve got a lot of weapons.”

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TNT’s NBA coverage of the playoffs continues tonight, Thursday, April 23, with doubleheader action featuring the Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics at 7 p.m. ET and the Golden State Warriors @ New Orleans Pelicans at 9:30 p.m.

 

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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by Autotrader 

Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith

Barkley on the Grizzlies chances in the Western Conference: “This Memphis team, I’ve always thought they were the best team in the West if [point guard] Mike Conley is healthy. If he’s healthy, they are terrific. They have the best center / power forward combo in the NBA.”

O’Neal on the firing of Thunder head coach Scott Brooks: “What he did wrong is he didn’t have all of his players. Really, he didn’t do anything wrong. It’s unfair that he got fired, but he had ample chances to get his team to the next level. It’s just one of those things where he couldn’t get past certain teams. He lost to the Spurs a couple of times, but he did an unbelievable job. I know he will be a coach somewhere else.”

Barkley: “Scott Brooks did not deserve to get fired. Plain and simple. The guy made it to The Finals, and has been in the Conference Finals two other times. He was missing an All-Star those years, and missing an MVP this year…getting fired was really unfair.”

Smith: “It was not a deficiency in skill. It was probably something with personality, between the players, ownership or management. It was probably something else, because if you look at his resume…it’s impressive.”

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Portland Trail Blazers (82) @ Memphis Grizzlies (97); Grizzlies lead 2-0
Kevin Calabro (play-by-play) Brent Barry (analyst) with Lewis Johnson (reporter)

Barry on Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard: “When he can get out there and get off the ball in attack mode, he is much more difficult to guard.”

Barry on the Trail Blazers’ lack of offense: “The Blazers are going to have to find some offense [in order to win the series], but I’m not sure where that is against this Memphis Grizzlies defense.”

 

Barry on Lillard vs. the Grizzlies defense: “Head coach Terry Stotts needs to find a way to get Damian Lillard better opportunities throughout the course of the game, and try to find fast break points. That is so difficult to do against this Grizzlies team that plays balanced offensive possessions and is able to get back on defense.”

Barry on Grizzlies center Marc Gasol: “It’s a great thing to watch. Gasol is getting into the paint and keeping his confidence going.”

Barry on Grizzlies veteran shooting guard Vince Carter: “He had so many great moments last year for Dallas in that playoff series against San Antonio, pushing them to a Game 7… Vince was brought here for some playoff basketball, hoping to find some of that magic.”

Barry on the disruption in the Grizzlies’ team chemistry with forward Tony Allen out of the lineup: “Some of the things [forward] Jeff Green was doing for them offensively were ok, but defensively they had just fallen off a cliff with Tony Allen out. It was a bit disruptive to their team chemistry to not have Allen out there, who is the heart and soul of this grit and grind team. Allen is back starting and they will get back into their rotation, tighten it up and rely on Jeff Green’s production off the bench offensively.”

Barry on Memphis guard Courtney Lee: “When you get some offense from Courtney Lee, Memphis becomes a very difficult team to stop.”

Barry on the strength of the Grizzlies defense: “The Memphis defense is so good. They are going to guard one-action. If your offense starts to get predicated on one-on-one basketball with them set, and you’re not shifting the ball from side to side, there is just no way you are going to find effective offense possessions.”

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San Antonio Spurs (111) @ Los Angeles Clippers (107) in Overtime; Series Tied 1-1
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) Reggie Miller (analyst) with Jaime Maggio (reporter)

Miller on the strength of the Spurs bench: “It’s so huge for the Spurs to even up the series. They are hoping the longer the series goes, the more their depth is going to rise up. You are not going to get a lot of production out of the Clippers bench.”

Miller on Spurs PG Tony Parker vs. Clippers PG Chris Paul: “The Spurs need a bigger defender on Chris Paul. After Tony Parker tweaked his leg in Game 1, I don’t think he’s strong enough to guard Chris Paul.”

Miller on Spurs veteran power forward Tim Duncan: “It never gets old, watching greatness. We have the best seats in the house.”

Miller on Tony Parker’s lack of offensive production in Game 2: “After the Game 1 he had, if you told me Tony Parker would be 0-5 from the field and only have one point in the middle of the third quarter, I would have guessed the Spurs would be down 15.”

Miller on the minutes played by Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili: “That’s why [head coach] Pop kept his ‘Big Three’s’ minutes down all season, for times like this… In a time of need, you need your best players.”

Miller on the focus of Clippers point guard Chris Paul: “Chris Paul is so focused and locked in for these playoffs. He is shooting the basketball great and is running this team at such a high level. He’s a man on a mission.”

Miller on Clippers power forward Blake Griffin taking advantage of matchups: “Blake Griffin has gotten the memo. He is starting to recognize matchups. When there is a smaller defender on them, he just bodies them and takes them to the paint.”

Miller on Griffin: “It’s all about power and athleticism. When there’s a taller defender he is going to use that quickness and speed. With a smaller defender, he will use bully ball. He’s a big factor for this Clipper ball club.”

Miller on Griffin: “This may be the best I’ve ever seen Blake Griffin play. He’s engaged. I don’t know why it took until the playoffs for me to see it, but he looks like a different animal. He has taken this game to another level. He gets it. He understands it.”

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Inside the NBA presented by Kia

Johnson, O’Neal, Barkley, Smith

Barkley on the one-dimensional play of point guard Damian Lillard:  “The one negative to Damian’s game is, when he doesn’t score, he has zero impact on the game. When we talk about guys who are All-Stars and superstars, what separates them is their ability to make an impact on the game when you’re not doing what you do well. Sometimes you’re not going to make shots, but if the only thing you can do is make shots, you’re going to put your team at a disadvantage. Everybody in the NBA can play. What separates guys [are] stat stuffers who can do a bunch of different things.”

Smith on Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley: What puts the Memphis Grizzlies over the top is Mike Conley. He is the most underrated point guard in the NBA.”

Barkley on Conley: “That guy is a flat-out stud.”

Barkley on the improvement of Clippers power forward Blake Griffin: “He’s always played the game strictly on talent. Now he’s learning the mental aspect of the game. You can’t let these little guys guard you down low, you have to shoot over them like they are chairs.”  

Barkley on the Clippers Game 2 loss: “[Head coach] Doc Rivers said it; they should have won this game.”

Barkley on the slow pace of San Antonio: “The key to the game was the Spurs’ ability to keep it at a slow pace. They want to walk it up and down the court and use body movement and ball movement.”

Barkley on a tired, injured Spurs team heading into Game 3: “What’s going to be interesting is it’s a quick turnaround. [Tim] Duncan played the most minutes he’s played all season. You have to worry about [Manu] Ginobili. You have to worry about [Tony] Parker. On the other hand, the Clippers have no bench. This could become a battle of attrition.”

O’Neal on Tim Duncan: “Tim Duncan is a bonafide superstar. Superstars don’t have two bad games in a row. I knew after the first game, he was going to come out ready.”

Smith on Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle’s comments regarding PG Rajon Rondo’s future in Dallas: “It’s unfortunate because he could have been what they needed. [Part of it was] his inability to conform. You still always have to be a pro in that environment, which at times I don’t think he was.”

Barkley on Rondo: “It’s best that they part ways. It just didn’t work.”

Smith on the Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets series: “The Atlanta Hawks are a better basketball team than Brooklyn. They have proven it all year. They won 60 games, and the Nets side-stepped into the playoffs. How could you think Brooklyn was going to play Atlanta tough?”

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TNT’s NBA coverage of the playoffs continues tonight, Wednesday, April 22, with doubleheader action featuring the Portland Trail Blazers @ Memphis Grizzlies at 8 p.m. ET and the San Antonio Spurs  @ Los Angeles Clippers at 10:30 p.m.

 

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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by Autotrader 

Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith

Smith on Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving: “He’s electric. His ability off the dribble is second to none in the NBA. He’s the best in the business at getting to the areas of the floor he wants to go. When you allow those two guys to score, they are difficult to beat. He is a natural born scorer. It’s easy for him.”

O’Neal on the Cavaliers’ desire to keep this first round series short: “It’s advisable not to mess around. Go out and take care of business so you can get a couple days of rest.”

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Boston Celtics (91) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (99); Cavaliers lead 2-0
Marv Albert (play-by-play) Chris Webber (analyst) with Rachel Nichols (reporter)

Webber on the Celtics aggressive play: “The Celtics aren’t backing down. They are saying, ‘We deserve to be here too.’

You have to love how the Celtics are not afraid…not afraid to be embarrassed.”

Webber on the Celtics as a road team: “[I] love the energy of the road team. You want to see how young teams come out after a loss on the road. It seems as if this team is coming out and not thinking about the loss.”

Webber on the potential of the Celtics: “I know we are supposed to be focused on the series, but this young team is going to be really good in a few years.”

Webber on guard Isaiah Thomas: “One of the most exciting little players in the league.”

Smith on the Celtics against the Cavaliers: “You [the Cavs] are going to have to play ‘playoff basketball’ to win.  Typically 2-7 or 1-8, you don’t have to play ‘playoff basketball.’ They are forcing Cleveland to play ‘playoff basketball.’

Webber on point guard Kyrie Irving under forward LeBron James leadership: “It’s so great for Kyrie Irving to have a leader, mentor and big brother [in LeBron James]. He is making the most of it.”

Webber on power forward Kevin Love: “One thing we haven’t been seeing from Kevin Love is his passing ability because he hasn’t been getting the ball in areas where he is a triple threat.”

Barkley on the impact of center Timofey Mozgov: “Mozgov is the guy that turned around their season. They were too small with [Kevin] Love and [Anderson] Varejao down low. Mozgov is the guy.”

Webber on Irving: “Kyrie’s passing is so underrated because his dribbling is so spectacular.”

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Dallas Mavericks (99) @ Houston Rockets (111); Houston leads  2-0
Brian Anderson (play-by-play) Steve Smith (analyst) with Rebecca Haarlow (reporter)

Smith on guard Raymond Felton: “We know he can come in and play and that he’s not scared of the moment.”

Smith on guard Rajon Rondo: “Rondo has to be more engaged offensively. He’s a guy that can dominate in his position.”

Smith on guard James Harden: “He’s so strong, has the ability to read you and go through your shoulder. He’s the best at the Euro-step and laying it up.”

Smith on the Houston Rockets: “With this game you see how deep and talented this team is.”

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Inside the NBA presented by Kia

Johnson, O’Neal, Barkley, Smith

Barkley on the Mavericks: “I’ll take my hat off to Dallas. They did compete tonight.”

Barkley on the friction between head coach Rick Carlisle 

 and Rajon Rondo: “If you are not engaged in a game, how are you going to help my team? Clearly, they have something going on. My obligation (as coach) is to the other players.”

Smith on playing without guard Rajon Rondo:  “You are not going to win this series with JJ Barea and anyone else at the point guard position. You need Rondo. When he makes great decisions, he’s a great basketball player. So we need to figure out what’s going on to get him engaged.”

Smith on the Rockets errors: “The errors that they had were because of effort. Their errors weren’t because of negligence.”

Barkley on power forward Josh Smith: “This was probably one of the best games I’ve ever seen him play. He was fantastic.”

O’Neal on center Dwight Howard: “If he can get 28-15 and be engaged and dominate offensive and defensive rebounds, they can definitely win; but I need him to play like that all the time.”

Barkley on Josh Smith: “This guy has All-Star type talent. He was fantastic tonight. We are in the second round of the playoffs, so let’s not overreact, but if he plays like that they can beat anyone.”

Barkley on being surprised by the Wizards: “This is the Wizards team that we thought we were going to see all year.”

Barkley on the Wizards backcourt: “They have one of the best backcourts in the league. They are second behind those guys in Golden State.”

Barkley: “The next true great tandum is [John] Wall and [Bradley] Beal.”

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