TNT’s coverage of the 2012 NBA Playoffs continues Saturday, May 19, at 10 p.m. ET with TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder @ Los Angeles Lakers (Game 4) at 10:30 p.m. ET
***CLIP OF THE NIGHT***
Charles Barkley wins the first Shirt Off competition with 53 percent of the votes
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Boston Celtics (107) @ Philadelphia 76ers (91) – Celtics lead series 2-1
Announcers: Dick Stockton (play-by-play) and Chris Webber (analyst) with David Aldridge (reporter)
Celtics forward Paul Pierce on the Big Three staying together: “I pretty much know that this group won’t be together next year. It was almost not together in the middle of this year. Management is looking towards the future. Maybe I have one or two good years left…same with Ray [Allen] and K.G. [Kevin Garnett]. There is a real sense of urgency right now to get this thing done.”
Webber on 76ers forward Andre Iguodala: “Philadelphia has one point guard out there. I don’t care what position he is on paper, but his name is Andre Iguodala. He gets everyone involved, he’s their best finisher, and he needs the ball in his hand to keep everyone involved.”
Webber on what could be the Big Three’s last season together: “This could be their last year together. When you play with guys knowing it’s their last year [together], you give an extra effort. Don’t think that [Bosh’s] injury in Miami doesn’t affect their thought process as well. All teams feel that when they get to the next round, they can win.”
Webber on the Celtics getting aggressive play from their best players: “They are getting aggression from their best players and they love that. As long as the Big Three are doing fine, it doesn’t matter with the rest of the team, they can catch up. You want those guys being aggressive to lead the way for the rest of the team.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Barkley on the 76ers struggling when the game slows down: “If [the Sixers] get in the open court in the first quarter, it’s beautiful music. When you slow them down into a half-court offense…they don’t have a [go-to] guy. When the game slows down, the Sixers struggle.”
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Webber on the Celtics: “The Celtics defense is great and it gets better as the game goes along.”
Webber on the 76ers needing to find their identity: “It’s funny how you forget your identity as a team when things get a little tight. The Sixers got this far by driving the ball, offensive rebounding and hustle plays…not with jump shots but by doing the little things. The Sixers have to get back to playing ‘Sixers basketball.’”
Webber on Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo: “I love watching Rondo. The way he gets people involved. He’s the second coach on the floor making wonderful decisions and he plays tough defense.”
TNT’s David Aldridge interviewed Celtics forward Kevin Garnett following the game
Garnett on their defense in Game 3: “We were fueled by our defense. In order for us to win this series, we’re going to have to play solid defense. As we got turnovers and stops, we fueled that into offense.”
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Los Angeles Lakers (75) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (77) – Thunder lead the series 2-0
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Reggie Miller (analyst) with Craig Sager (reporter)
Miller on Thunder sixth man James Harden: “He’s always going to attack that paint area…he lets you know that he’s not afraid of contact.”
Miller on how the Lakers need to play better on the road: “For a team like the Lakers, that has championship aspiration, they’re road record isn’t great. They need to find ways to go into hostile environments like Oklahoma City and steal games.”
Miller on Lakers reserve Jordan Hill: “He is ‘found money’ for Mike Brown and the Lakers. [Jordan] Hill has been fantastic throughout the playoffs for the Lakers.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Barkley on how the Lakers can beat the Thunder: “[The Lakers] have to keep it a half-court game. That’s the only way they can beat OKC.”
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Miller on the Lakers improved defensive effort in Game 2: “The Lakers have done a nice job of maximizing their defensive effort, being aggressive and forcing the Thunder out of their comfort zone.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Thunder forward Kevin Durant following the game
Durant on the Thunder’s comeback in Game 2: “We kept our composure. [The Lakers] are great at throwing the ball inside and playing off their big fellas. Their defense was unbelievable tonight but we stuck with it. We got some stops and I was able to make some baskets.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
O’Neal on the maturity of OKC: “Even for a young team with two minutes left, they showed poise. The game could have been over; they could have put their heads down but they showed a lot of poise so the Lakers may be in trouble.”
Barkley on the Lakers state of mind after losing Game 2: “They have got to be mentally discouraged because they probably played a perfect game. This is going to be tough for them to overcome.”
Barkley on the Lakers recovering from the loss of Game 2: “As we mentioned after Game 1 it is better to get blown out because you can forget about it. But when you are up seven with two minutes to go on the road and you lose, it is devastating. They are not the best team this time. I think when you have the best team, you can always come back. But they are a much older team now.
O’Neal on the Lakers playing Game 3 at home: “Their mentality is ‘we gave this game away, we are going home and we know what to do.’ They are down, but they are not really down because that Game 3 is going to be important.”
Barkley on Larry Bird as Pacers President of Basketball Operations: “He’s really quiet; he doesn’t like all the hoopla and all the attention so I didn’t foresee him going into this business. But I’m happy for him because he is a great guy.”
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Are Shaq, Barkley, and Kenny Smith for real? Did they all lose their sight after "Worldpeace" made the initial hard foul. It was the shoving the player to the floor that was flagrant.