Notes from NBA TV’s Playoff Coverage – Thursday, May 1, 2014
**** **** **** ****
AutoTrader.com Pregame Show
Vince Cellini, Dennis Scott and Isiah Thomas
Thomas on Indiana’s inability to defend the perimeter: “When you look at [George] Hill, you look at [Lance] Stephenson, and you look at their perimeter players, Paul George, they’re good enough out on the perimeter to defend and shut down the three-point line and contain penetration. Why are they not defending? Why are those three guys getting beat off the dribble? I know [Jeff] Teague is good, but they’re getting beat off the dribble by a lot of players, not just Teague.”
Thomas on Atlanta point guard Jeff Teague playing as well as other top point guards: “When you’re talking about Jeff Teague, he has just as much control of this offense as Tony Parker does right now and as Chris Paul.”
Scott on the criticism of Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant: “You look at Kevin Durant’s body of work, there’s no way you can say this man is unreliable. There’s no way you can say that. Each year, as Russell Westbrook said, he’s gotten better. When Russell Westbrook went down, his assists, rebounds, everything went up. And right now he’s had a bad couple games because there’s a guy [Tony Allen] who doesn’t care about anything else on the floor but defense and disrupting his flow to the game.”
**** **** **** ****
Indiana Pacers (95) at Atlanta Hawks (88) – Series tied 3-3
Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Greg Anthony (analyst) with Molly Sullivan (reporter)
Anthony on Pero Antic: “He just knows how to play the game of basketball. [He] doesn’t make a lot of negative plays on the floor; he just helps you win.”
Anthony on Indiana center Roy Hibbert not being a major factor against Atlanta: “The issue with [Roy] Hibbert is, what he does best, there isn’t an opportunity for him to do it in this series. That’s the issue. It’s not about his ability as a player, it’s just not a good matchup. He’s a very good player; he’s not a transcendent player. He’s got to have an opportunity to do what he does, and this series doesn’t present it.”
Anthony on Atlanta forward Paul Millsap: “How about the job Danny Ferry did there [signing Paul Millsap]. You talk about a serious bargain…of getting Paul Millsap, who has been nothing short of brilliant all season, really, for this Hawks team. And he’s been a terrific compliment to Jeff Teague and his style of play, and for Coach Bud’s [Budenholzer] system.”
**** **** **** ****
Sprint Halftime Report
Cellini, Scott and Thomas
Thomas on Indiana’s defense forcing Atlanta point guard Jeff Teague to be a scorer more than a passer: “Indiana’s defensive adjustment, in terms of playing small, has made them quicker. Now they can cover the perimeter. With [Roy] Hibbert being out of the game, and again this is no knock on Hibbert, I just don’t think this is a series for him. This is a team – Atlanta – that spreads the floor. They play with speed, they play with quickness…and Indiana now is matching their speed and the quickness. Consequently, they’re able to keep [Jeff] Teague in front of them, forcing him to make shots, and he’s not getting everyone else involved.”
Scott on Indiana forward Paul George’s impact in the first half: “Superstars have to put their imprint on the game, and so far he’s doing it.”
**** **** **** ****
Anthony on the Hawks’ mindset for a potential Game 7 on the road, knowing they’ve won in Indianapolis: “The Hawks also know that we’ve gone to Indianapolis already this series and won twice. So, all is not lost if you’re the Hawks because of that confidence in knowing that you’ve been able to do it.”
Anthony on the Hawks’ 19-7 third quarter run while Indiana’s Paul George was on the bench in foul trouble: “You see the importance. It’s not only his presence offensively, the impact defensively as well that he provides.”
Anthony on the lively atmosphere in Atlanta: “I’ve got to tip my cap to the city of Atlanta, the way they’ve supported this team. This is as electric an environment as I’ve ever seen here. They are into this game like I’ve never seen for a Hawks basketball game. It’s impressive to watch.”
Anthony on Atlanta’s forward Paul Millsap contributing in other ways besides scoring: “Paul Millsap, he hasn’t shot it well, but boy he’s done everything else.”
Anthony on Indiana’s turnovers and poor passing: “No matter what happens tonight, whether the Pacers win or not, one thing that’s telling is they’re really not a good passing team.”
Anthony on Atlanta point guard Jeff Teague: “He’s got supreme confidence in his abilities right now.”
Anthony on Indiana forward David West: “He has been just money in these big games here on the road for the Pacers.”
**** **** **** ****
NBA GameTime presented by Kia
Cellini, Scott and Thomas
Scott on the Pacers’ defense playing closer to its old form: “That Indiana Pacer defense finally showed up that we’ve seen the past couple years, holding the Hawks under 90 points. When they do that, it means they’re focused, [with] deflections, hands in the passing lanes.”
Scott on Indiana players stepping up in Game 6: “Lance Stephenson brought his A-gane tonight.”
Scott on Pacers’ coach Frank Vogel trusting forward David West at the end of the game: “You love his [David West] intensity down the stretch in understanding that, I need to make a good play, I need to make sure the ball goes to the right person. So, I like the fact that Coach [Frank] Vogel trusts him to put him at the top of the key.”
Thomas on the Hawks facing a road game 7: “You can definitely pull it together. However, you missed a golden opportunity. And I thought Atlanta tonight fell in love with the three-point shot a little bit too much. Early they had success, but to shoot the three-point ball 35 times in a close out game like tonight, at home, that’s way too many.”
– 30 –
Recent Comments