NBA TV will televise NBA GameTime on Sunday, June 9, at 7:30 p.m. ET, prior to Game 2 between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs, along with comprehensive Finals coverage including live post-game press conferences.
***CLIP OF THE NIGHT***
(Please click the text below to view)
Spurs’ Tim Duncan visits the GameTime crew to recap Game 1
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NBA TV GameTime
Matt Winer, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Chris Webber
O’Neal on the Miami Heat/San Antonio Spurs series: “[It’s about] perfection vs. force. If you look at the Spurs, they rarely make mistakes, they play a certain way and have been playing that way for a long time. It has helped them get championships. LeBron is forcing the other guys to play well. With the big three vs. The big three…this should be an exciting series.”
Smith on the San Antonio Spurs: “The Spurs are a golf course. You have to play par, you can’t play bogeys. Every day it is the same golf course. Nothing changes, it is the same team.”
Webber on the significance of Spurs guard Tony Parker: “One of the guys that is going to be the mainstay besides LeBron James is Tony Parker. I don’t hear many people talking about him. When Tony Parker has the ball in his hands, he pushes that ball. I’m looking forward to his impact in the series. It is going to be interesting to watch; I’m excited about it.”
O’Neal on the problem Spurs forward Tim Duncan presents for the Heat: “He is the ‘Big Fundamental’ for a reason. He takes advantage of your mistakes. This guy has it all.”
Smith on the legacy of Spurs forward Tim Duncan: “He might have the best career in the modern era…other than Michael Jordan. We are talking about a career…not endorsements. Every other year at one time he was in the NBA Finals. Every year that he has been in the NBA, his team has been predicted to win it all. When you thought he was done, he had the best record in the NBA. This guy can have five after this.”
Webber on Heat forward LeBron James’ role against the Spurs: “He’s going to have to play all five positions at some time. I guarantee he will play a little bit against Tim Duncan. His defensive impact on Tony Parker could [be just as important as his] offensive impact. Will that make him tired or fatigue him? I’m sure it will because he is one of the best in-shape athletes…but …I’m interested to see how that goes. He just needs to play his game.”
Webber on Heat forward LeBron James in Game 1: “I don’t think LeBron can trust as much. In the first game he has to let it all hang out. Get everyone involved but make sure they win. This is The Finals. He has to make sure that he puts his stamp on this game.”
Webber on what Kawhi Leonard can do against LeBron James: “That’s like asking what did Clyde Drexler do with Michael Jordan back in the day?”
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NBA TV GameTime
Winer, O’Neal, Smith and Webber
Smith on the San Antonio Spurs: “This is the NBA Finals. You have to be super-human against these guys. You have to play at a level that is worthy of your hall of fame candidacy.”
Smith on what the Heat didn’t have against the Spurs in Game 1: “The key of not panicking is trust. When you trust your coach, that’s where it starts. A lot of players don’t have the discipline to continue to do the same thing. The Spurs don’t doubt the lack of success in their system, they continue to do the same thing and believe that they can do it and that’s why they win games.”
Webber on Spurs guard Tony Parker: “In my opinion, he’s the guy that no one counts… they just put him in the big three. He is the big three; he is the best player on the San Antonio Spurs. It was so hard stopping him from penetrating [in Game 1].”
San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan joins the GameTime crew following the San Antonio Spurs Game 1 win
Duncan on how having 10 days off affected the Spurs: “Health-wise, it obviously helped us. Manu getting some time off, myself getting some time off, Tony Parker getting healthy 100 percent was good. We missed a lot of open shots [tonight] and that’s the rhythm we lost during that time off.”
Duncan on his motivation towards obtaining another championship ring: “It’s been so long since I’ve been back here and I’m so excited to be here and I don’t want to pass this opportunity up. Chances are I might not ever get back here so I’m not letting this chance go.”
Duncan on the chemistry of the Spurs: “It is a different team. In a situation like, we have a great core. We’ve been together a long time, so we are counting on each other.”
Webber on Tony Parker’s impact in The Finals: “The way he has been playing all year has been incredible. It doesn’t mean they are going to win the series, but it means that he is going to be a problem in this series.”
Webber on what’s next for Miami in Game 2: “Adjustments, practices. It’s just one game for Miami. They have won a championship. Right now they just have to keep a cool head about them. At the end of the day, they still have the best player in the world. If I’m them I would try not to lose too much heart, come in and practice and get right back for the next game.”
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