Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the Western Conference Finals – Game 2
Monday, May 29, 2012
TNT’s exclusive coverage of the NBA Western Conference Finals continues
Thursday, May 31, at 9 p.m. ET when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs (Game 3)
***CLIP OF THE NIGHT***
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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith
Smith on what Oklahoma City needed to do to win Game 2: “Shot selection has to be different against the San Antonio Spurs because they don’t give you multiple possessions. Shot selection and decisions are everything.”
Barkley on San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili in Game 2: “I don’t think he can explode like that two games in a row.”
Barkley on the Boston Celtics chances in the Eastern Conference Finals against Miami: “I picked the Heat in five [games]. I may have to change that to Heat in four [games]. Boston has got no chance of beating those guys [Miami].”
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Oklahoma City Thunder (111) @ San Antonio Spurs (120) – San Antonio leads the series 2-0
Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and Reggie Miller (analyst) with Craig Sager (reporter)
Miller on Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook and San Antonio guard Tony Parker: “Parker and Westbrook almost cancel each other out with their speed.”
Kerr on San Antonio’s defensive game plan: “Chase them [OKC] off the three-point line but corral the lane and challenge every paint shot, make it a difficult look.”
Miller on the San Antonio Spurs first half of play: “This has been a clinic by the Spurs in dribble penetration, shot fakes and passing the basketball.”
Kerr on San Antonio’s unselfish play: “This is just something to behold – the passing of this team [Spurs], the floor spacing, the unselfishness of this team, no agenda – just get it to the open guy.”
Kerr on Oklahoma City finding a potential recipe for success in the series: “The Thunder have found something they can hang their hat on…they need to turn this more into a street fight.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Smith on the Spurs’ decision making: “The difference between good players and great players are decisions – not ability, not how many hours you put in the gym, not how many weights you lift. It’s your decisions when you’re on the floor.”
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Miller on the Spurs in Game 2: “This is a surgical clinic by [Spurs head coach] Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs.”
Kerr on the amount of energy Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook expends fighting to defend against San Antonio: “In this series…Russell Westbrook is going to sleep well after every game.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Spurs guard Tony Parker after his 34-point Game 2 performance:
Parker on the Thunder’s strategy of intentionally fouling Spurs forward Tiago Splitter: “It messed up our rhythm a little bit…it worked pretty well for them because they got back into the game. In the fourth quarter, we came out flat and they were very aggressive. In the end, we got the stops and the win.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
O’Neal on different coaching styles and how Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich addressed Tony Parker late in the game: “I played for some great coaches – one was a yeller, one wasn’t a yeller. When you’re dealing with great coaches who like to coach and get in your face, you listen to what they say, not how they say it.”
Smith on the Spurs ability to get good shots: “The Spurs can play multiple ways, they are a diverse team. Even when they run, they take quick shots but they are still good shots. A lot of teams run, get sped up and take their first available shot, which isn’t always good.”
Barkley on the difference between the Thunder and the Spurs: “The Spurs don’t have anybody who has to explode [offensively] for them to get over 100 points. That will be the difference in this series in the long run.”
Smith on how the Thunder need to improve on defense: “Oklahoma City has to defend better. At this point, you can’t really stop anyone in the league but you have to make shots tougher. The shots that the San Antonio Spurs are taking haven’t had a hand in their face or guys running at them making them put the ball on the floor.”
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