Notes from NBA TV’s Playoff Coverage – Tuesday, April 29, 2014
NBA TV’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs continues Wednesday, April 30, with the Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors (Game 5) at 7:30 p.m. ET
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AutoTrader.com Pregame Show
Matt Winer, Dennis Scott and Rick Fox
Fox on Thunder veteran Derek Fisher’s record-breaking 245th playoff game: “Seeing him on the court after so many years, I recall sitting in Chicago at Moody Bible [Institute] watching him, and Derek stood out to me then…the way he conducted himself and carried himself. He’s a lefty too, and I thought that was interesting…a strong guard with a left-handed approach to things. Then I got to know him and his leadership, professionalism and consistency. It didn’t matter what team he was on. I can’t think of [Lakers guard] Kobe Bryant without thinking of him. They came [into the league] together and won five championships as Lakers together. He’s got the same amount of championships as Kobe and has held up in a healthier fashion than all of us put together.”
Scott on Fisher: “Being an opponent and playing against him, he has always been a top-notch professional.”
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Memphis Grizzlies (100) at Oklahoma City Thunder (99) in OT – Grizzlies lead series 3-2
Kevin Calabro (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) with Lewis Johnson (reporter)
Fratello on the Memphis Grizzlies success thus far in the postseason: “Because Memphis got off to a slow start [in the regular season] many people forgot this is a playoff tested team. They had to find their way. Down the stretch, they were one of the most dangerous teams in the regular season. Now they’re back.”
Fratello on Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook: “That’s what Westbrook does to most small guards…he just overpowers them and goes through them to get a clear look at the basket.”
Fratello on Grizzlies center Marc Gasol: “You have to make a decision when you’re playing defense against Gasol. You either back off and dare him to shoot a face-up jump shot, or you pressure him. If you’re going to pressure, make it for real…no make believe defense. Get all over him and make him pass.”
Fratello on Thunder point guard Derek Fisher’s longevity in the league: “He’s amazing. He played at a small college and not many people recognized just how good he was. He just came in and earned all his minutes, earned his starting position early in his career and he’s still the same type of player — hard-nosed and so professional. As a coach, this is the kind of guy you love to have in practice because he leads the way by example.”
Fratello on Grizzlies forward Mike Miller: “He can obviously stretch the defense because he has no range…it’s unlimited. When he steps over the half-court line, you better be ready for him. He’s really the ultimate teammate. I haven’t known a team or somebody who has played with Mike Miller that doesn’t have all great things to say about him.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Winer, Scott, Fox
Fox on the quicker pace of the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 5: “Pace and tempo is not something they’re really known for, but they decided to flip the script and look for uncontested shots in transition. The team that is under control most during the game wins, and Memphis is used to rolling at a slower pace. As they pick it up they have to be very careful not to play out of character. You want to run at a pace that is best suited for all your players on the floor. Not everyone can play at 80 miles per hour.”
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Fratello on the aggressiveness of Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook: “He’s so aggressive and [Thunder head coach] Scott Brooks doesn’t want to take that away [from him], but Westbrook has to understand there is a time to take it and finish it and a time to draw defenders and create shots for his teammates.”
Fratello on the Thunder’s lack of confidence: “It almost looks like Oklahoma City is feeling the pressure of this game. They’re back home and they got away with the last one because of the performance of [Thunder point guard] Reggie Jackson. It’s almost like they don’t believe they’re as good as Memphis.”
Fratello on Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph: “You cannot give him room to get a good look at the basket…he’s too good of a scorer.”
Fratello on Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley: “He’s not [Thunder point guard] Russell Westbrook, but he does it his own way and makes it look easy. You don’t think he’s as fast as he is.”
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NBA GameTime presented by Kia
Winer, Scott, Fox
Fox on the hot hand of Grizzlies shooter Mike Miller: “These aren’t your normal stretch jump shots from a player. This is someone who understands how to knock down shots. We know that Mike can do this, but how you can leave him open in transition is beyond me. That cost the Thunder tonight.”
Scott on Mike Miller in the playoffs: “This is his time of year. When the game is tight, he’s the perfect person to kick it to.”
Fox on the pros and cons of Russell Westbrook’s aggressive play: “If you’re only looking at the stat sheet, Russell Westbrook had a triple-double tonight and was statistically impressive. We know he’s going to stuff a stat sheet because he’s going to come at you full force. He had moments of brilliance. We’ve grown accustomed to him in attack mode, but the plus/minuses with him [and his aggressive play] are always going to swing quarter to quarter.”
Scott on the execution of Memphis in Game 5: “Memphis played with more purpose. They were getting into their offense faster and executing early.”
Fox on the Thunder heading into Game 6 in Memphis: “They’re confident they can win in Memphis because they just did in Game 4. A fifth overtime game would not surprise me one bit.”
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