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

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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