Notes from NBA TV’s Coverage of the NBA Playoffs – Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Milwaukee Bucks (86) @ Miami Heat (98) – Miami leads series 2-0
NBA TV’s coverage of the 2013 NBA Playoffs continues Wednesday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. ET featuring the Atlanta Hawks @ Indiana Pacers (Game 2)
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NBA GameTime presented by AutoTrader.com
Rick Kamla, Sam Mitchell and Baron Davis
Davis on Indiana Pacers forward Paul George, who was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player earlier today: “His versatility sets him apart from a lot of young players in the league. He can handle the ball, shoot the ball and make plays for his teammates. He’s also a solid defender…with or without Danny Granger, the future of the Indiana Pacers is with Paul George.”
Davis on the Milwaukee Bucks needing to put up more shots in their first round series against the Miami Heat: “No one else on the Bucks is going to be able to get [their own] shot, so Monta [Ellis] and Brandon [Jennings] have to put up 20 shots apiece and make plays. The other guys have to be willing to step up and take shots. Some might be bad shots but you have to take shots in order to free things up for Ellis and Jennings.”
Mitchell on the Heat’s defensive game plan against the Bucks: “[The Bucks have] some guys who can shoot the ball but, if I’m Miami, let Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings work hard, make tough shots and let them score 25 points apiece. That’s 50 points and it’s going to take 100 or 110 to beat Miami. There’s no way the other guys [on Milwaukee] can create for themselves. Miami has the right game plan; they don’t care if Ellis or Jennings get their points.”
Mitchell on what makes Heat forward LeBron James such a great player: “He is not a guy that searches for points. He’s about doing what it takes to win and playing a complete game. That’s what is so great about LeBron James. He could average 30 points a game whenever he wanted to.”
Mitchell on Miami’s Chris Bosh: “Chris Bosh is a superstar in this league but he understood that if he wanted to win championships, he needed to go play with some better players. He’s done that and made a huge sacrifice [with his own stats].”
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Milwaukee Bucks (86) @ Miami Heat (98) – Miami leads series 2-0
Announcers: Kevin Calabro (play-by-play) and Greg Anthony (analyst) with Craig Sager (reporter)
Anthony on James: “He’s the only guy that I can think of in the history of this game that can average 30 points in a season and scoring isn’t what he does best. He’s such a great all-around player. His passing is his greatest strength along with his ability to make his teammates better.”
Anthony on Heat point guard Mario Chalmers: “Mario Chalmers doesn’t get enough credit for how good of a season he’s had on both ends [of the court]. [He’s] very efficient as an offensive player and he’s really found his niche playing with Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Defensively, he’s one of the better point guards in the NBA.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Kamla, Mitchell and Davis
Mitchell on New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith: “It’s amazing how [Smith] has grown up and matured before our eyes.”
Davis on J.R. Smith: “He’s making plays, hitting difficult shots, he’s a crowd entertainer and, most importantly, he’s matured. He has a great relationship with ‘Woody’ [Knicks head coach Mike Woodson] and they trust each other.”
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Anthony on Bucks center Larry Sanders: “He is such a difference-maker for them on both ends [of the court]…defensively, he brings a shot-blocking presence on the interior.”
Anthony on Heat guard Dwyane Wade: “He is still as explosive as ever. He does a great job with his footwork and his angles to put pressure on you offensively.”
Anthony on the Heat acquiring forward Chris Andersen mid-season: “It was huge because he really fits a need. He’s an athletic ‘big’ who can block shots and rebound his position. He also gives them some personality and energy. He really fits in well.”
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Kamla, Mitchell and Davis
Mitchell on the Bucks: “They are doing the best they can but they’re just not good enough. For them to win one game, every player has to have their best game ever.”
Davis on Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony: “Who can stop him? He has one of the best one-dribble pull-ups in the game. He can go inside or outside. Nobody can stop ‘Melo…especially nobody on Boston. He’s determined to bring a championship to New York.”
Mitchell on the Boston Celtics not having enough to beat the Knicks: “Boston is going to go down swinging but they just don’t have the firepower to beat the Knicks.”
Davis on the Celtics missing injured point guard Rajon Rondo: “They don’t have a playmaker. That’s why Rajon Rondo is so important to them. He creates shots. When Paul Pierce is handling the ball and becomes your point guard, that takes aware from what he naturally does best which is scoring and putting pressure on the defense.”
Davis on LeBron James surpassing Michael Jordan as the greatest player of all time: “I think that LeBron is going to be the greatest [of all time]. He’s definitely going to surpass Michael Jordan – in my eyes – in just the type of person that he is, what he brings to the league, his personality and how everyone gravitates towards him. His game represents that. He shares, he plays defense, he plays hard and he does all the little things to make his team better. I definitely think that LeBron James will surpass Michael Jordan.”
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