Notes from NBA on TNT Coverage – Thursday, March 12, 2015
TNT’s NBA coverage will continue on Tuesday, March 24 with a doubleheader featuring the San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks at 8 p.m. ET, followed by Golden State Warriors at Portland Trail Blazers at 10:30 p.m.
**** **** **** ****
TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Matt Winer, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Steve Smith
K. Smith on the Cavaliers path to the Eastern Conference Finals: “Their route got easier if [Bulls point guard] Derrick Rose doesn’t’ come back [from injury]. Overall the Bulls are the team that could match up to the Cavaliers talent wise. Chicago has Pau Gasol, Jimmy Butler and Joakim Noah – three All-Stars. How many teams have three All-Stars when their best player is out?”
K. Smith on how the Cavaliers would match up against the West: “Whoever comes out of the Western Conference is going to be the favorite. They will have experience, coaching and talent. All the elements Cleveland is looking to have…they will have them.”
O’Neal on the Cavs since the All-Star break: “Ever since LeBron took those nine games off, the Cavaliers are starting to gel. [Guard] J.R. Smith is starting to play like the J.R. of old. He’s more focused. If they get on a little roll in the postseason they should be the favorites in the East.”
**** **** **** ****
Memphis Grizzlies (87) @ Washington Wizards (107)
Marv Albert (play-by-play) Mike Fratello (analyst) with David Aldridge (reporter)
Fratello on the Grizzlies’ recent slump: “That’s because of lack of practice. This time of year when you’re not practicing a lot, you get game slippage. All you need is one good day of practice, and it’s amazing how it comes back.”
Fratello on Grizzlies guard Vince Carter: “They know that Vince Carter needs minutes on the floor. This is a rehab period to get him healthy.”
Fratello on Grizzlies center Kosta Koufos: “He has really improved. This is the case of a lot of hard work, understanding the game, getting better, realizing what you can do as a big man in the NBA.”
Fratello on Grizzlies forward/center Jarnell Stokes: “I like Stokes. He has some toughness about him, hangs in there and has done some good things. It seems like he has a very high basketball IQ.”
Fratello on Wizards center Kevin Seraphin: “I liked him when he was first in the league. I thought he had a big upside. I thought he could be a post-up guy on a regular basis, could rebound the basketball and protect the rim. He hasn’t developed as far as I thought he might at this point.”
Fratello on the Wizards quick start to the 2014-15 season: “Everybody knew they had a soft schedule and lot of home games in the beginning. They weren’t tricking those who follow basketball. It all eventually caught up to them.”
Fratello on the growth of the Wizards over the past two seasons: “[Wizards head coach] Randy Wittman went through the tough years in Washington with young players. Eventually there was a point when he decided they needed to add veteran guys. Nene, [Marcin] Gortat and [Rasual] Butler came in…guys with experience, who have been in the playoffs. Then this team really turned around.”
**** **** **** ****
Cleveland Cavaliers (128) @ San Antonio Spurs (125) in Overtime
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) Charles Barkley and Chris Webber (analysts) with Rachel Nichols (reporter)
Barkley on Cavaliers center Timofey Mosgov: “This kid is the reason the Cavaliers are now contenders. They were too small, and he is a legit seven-footer. Mosgov and [power forward] Kevin Love fit great together.”
Webber on Kyrie Irving’s 57-point game: “LeBron loves having some help. He is letting Kyrie do his thing, but could take over at any time.”
Barkley on Cavaliers center/forward Tristan Thompson: “He’s the best offensive rebounder in the NBA.”
Barkley on the matchups between LeBron James/Kawi Leonard and Kyrie Irving/Tony Parker: “How often do you get the four best players in a game guarding each other on both ends of the court? It’s pretty cool to watch.”
Barkley on the Cavaliers’ playoff picture: “They are playing in the East, which gives them an advantage. If the Cavs were in the West, they would have no chance. I don’t think they could win three seven-game series in the Western Conference. With a shorter bench, the Cavaliers can survive because they are in the East.”
Barkley on whether this game is an NBA Finals preview: “These two teams know they could actually play each other in The Finals. It’s impossible to play hard for 82 games, but when you face a really great player or team, your intensity goes through the roof. That’s what we are seeing from the Cavaliers and Spurs.”
Barkley on the Cavaliers offense: “The problem with the Cavs’ game is their half-court offense. They don’t get easy baskets.”
Webber on power forward Kevin Love in the fourth quarter: “The fact that Love is averaging only two points in the fourth quarter, I worry about that coming into the playoffs. You are going to need him to be engaged and get him involved in the fourth.”
Barkley on Kyrie Irving’s 57-point game: “The Spurs just need to shake Kyrie’s hand and say ‘you were better than me tonight,’ because he is making some shots that are ridiculous.”
Barkley on Kyrie Irving’s performance: “This is one of the best individual performances I’ve ever seen. He is making tough shots. It’s not like he’s been wide open.”
Webber on the Cavaliers heading into the postseason: “They are right where they want to be. They feel it, they have their chemistry going and their two leaders are hot like fish grease.”
Webber on the Spurs’ up and down season: “They started out the season well, with wins on the road against teams like the Grizzlies and the Clippers. Then they had some injuries and tough times in the middle, but they have regained their identity.”
Barkley on the importance of point guard Tony Parker to the Spurs: “Tony Parker has been the best point guard in the NBA for the past five years. Guys like Marco Belinelli, Danny Green and Manu Ginobili need Tony Parker to be dominant. He is the guy who makes everything go.”
Barkley on the Spurs getting healthy and playing well at the right time: “We don’t really know what the Spurs are. This is the first time all season that [point guard] Tony Parker and [forward] Kawhi Leonard have been on the floor together in a while [due to injuries]. The next month is going to be interesting for San Antonio.”
Barkley on Kawhi Leonard: “I love his competitiveness. This kid is beautiful to watch.”
Webber on the aggressiveness of Leonard: “We always hear the word aggressive. Aggressive for Leonard means forcing the issue until he can score or pass. He keeps going.”
Barkley on the Spurs playoff picture: “What is interesting about the Western Conference is the Spurs could lose three games in a row and be the No. 7 seed. They are finally getting healthy, but are they going to have enough left in the tank to win three series on the road? I don’t think any team in the West could beat three really good teams in a seven-game series on the road.”
Webber on the Spurs success in March: “They are gearing up for another championship run. They play this time of year to get where they want to be at the end of the road.”
Barkley on Spurs veteran Tim Duncan: “He’s the greatest power forward ever. To be 39 years old and this excited for a regular season game is pretty cool.”
**** **** **** ****
Inside the NBA presented by Kia
Winer, O’Neal, K. Smith, S. Smith
K. Smith on the Cavaliers victory over the Spurs: “The Spurs didn’t lose this game; the Cavs won it. Typically you lose games like this because you turn the ball over or make a bad decision. I didn’t think any decision they made was bad. All of the sudden the Cavaliers came and grabbed the bull by the horns. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving made some spectacular plays.”
S. Smith on Kawhi Leonard missing two free throws in the fourth: “When you have a chance to seal it, you are supposed to be that guy and they want to hand you the throne in San Anthonio…you have to make one [of the two free-throws]. The game was fabulous, but you have to make one. You send the Cavs home if you just make one.”
Visit the Turner Sports online press room for additional press materials; follow Turner Sports on Twitter at @TurnerSportsPR
-30-
Recent Comments