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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