NBA TV and NBA.com will feature extensive coverage of the 2012 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder with pre- and post-game analysis,
game highlights and full post-game press conferences throughout the best-of-seven series.
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NBA GameTime
Matt Winer, Kenny Smith and Chris Webber
Smith on Heat guard Dwyane Wade coming to the arena early to shootaround: “I would be surprised if he wasn’t here. Great players know they need to get to the gym early and get their rhythm. You are not here to have lunch with friends, dinner with associates; you are here to win a basketball game. So Dwyane Wade understands that.”
Webber on Dwyane Wade’s approach to Game 2: “He just needs to trust himself and be aggressive and let the game come to him and make sure he has his pulse on the game all night. He needs to be himself, let it go and play ball.”
Smith on Heat forward LeBron James: “I think LeBron James has to do too much. It is too much responsibility. You can’t always have LeBron James being the plug of every hole if you are the Miami Heat.”
Smith on Dwyane Wade’s role in Game 2: “Everyone has a role and what his role needs to be is to not settle. He doesn’t need to be more aggressive. He needs to be more efficient. I thought the efficiency is where he was lacking. What Dwyane Wade should do is concentrate on his efficiency.”
Smith on James and Durant guarding each other: “This is what the NBA Finals is about. The greatest players are going to guard the greatest players.”
(NBA Insider David Aldridge interviews Miami Heat forward LeBron James)
James on the unique challenges that OKC presents: “The challenges they provide is that they have so many attack players. [Kevin] Durant, [James] Harden, [Serge] Ibaka. They have so many guys that complement each other. We have to be in tune to all of them.”
James on what the Heat need to do to succeed in Game 2:”They are a difficult challenge. We have to be in tune for 48 minutes. We can’t relax. We can’t let them get into our paint and get lay-ups and dunks. We have to do a better job of keeping our bodies in front of them.”
James on his demeanor during game time: “Some people play better when they are angry, some people play better when they get into a zone and relax. All the pressure that everyone puts on the game, they don’t feel it. Everyone approaches the game differently, that’s why we have had multiple champions. It all depends on who you are. For me, I find a place where I am having fun with the game and where I want to compete and not lose.”
James on his demeanor after losing a game:“I’m awful. I know how much heart I put into it. I hate losing.”
James on how these Finals will define him: “This is a great opportunity for me. I’m doing this for me. I’m looking forward to all the challenges. I’m willing to do what it takes. I’m blessed and humble to be back in this position a year later. I look forward to it.”
Smith on Heat forward LeBron James’ performance in Game 1: “I think he put the effort in, he had winning basketball plays, but they didn’t win the game. He went to the rim, he got dunks, he got free throws, he was tough to guard. What else do you want? All you want is a win and sometimes you can’t will it yourself.”
Webber on James in Game 1: “LeBron did everything that he could do but he is playing against a team that has better pieces.”
Smith on Chris Bosh starting for Game 2: “He needs to start. Without him, you are not a good team. You need to get him established.”
Smith’s message to the Thunder for Game 2: “OKC, you are right where you want to be. You know some more guys will join the party tonight. Harden and Ibaka will join the offensive party tonight.”
Webber on who takes Game 2: “Oklahoma City, they are ready. They have a better team.”
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