Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the Western Conference Finals – Game 5
Monday, June 4, 2012
TNT’s exclusive coverage of the NBA Western Conference Finals continues Wednesday, June 6, at 9 p.m. ET when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs (Game 6)
***CLIP OF THE NIGHT***
Charles says the Thunder will close out the series, Kenny and Shaq think the Spurs will win Game 6
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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith
Smith on the end of Game 4 in Oklahoma City: “I don’t think the Spurs took Oklahoma City as seriously as they should have coming down the stretch and Kevin Durant made them pay.”
O’Neal on the Thunder needing consistent production out of their big men – Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins: “If they get the same kind of production [out of Ibaka and Perkins] the rest of the series and the next series…they’ll win the championship.”
Smith on the difference in playing at home or on the road for role players: “When you play at home, there are no consequences to your bad play. When you are playing on the road, [the fans] boo you and everyone notices your bad play. You have to have the confidence in yourself to say, ‘I’m still good enough.’ A lot of guys, even in the NBA, don’t have that.”
Barkley on Thunder guard Russell Westbrook: “The Thunder are a much better team when [Russell] Westbrook makes the extra pass.”
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San Antonio Spurs (103) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (108) – OKC leads series 3-2
Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and Reggie Miller (analyst) with Craig Sager (reporter)
Kerr on the Spurs trying to speed up the game: “There is such a fine line for the Spurs as far as pushing the tempo and forcing the action.”
Kerr on Spurs center Tiago Splitter: “He gives the Spurs some offensive rhythm when [Tony] Parker and [Manu] Ginobili aren’t on the floor.”
Miller on Splitter: “Splitter is so valuable to [the Spurs] because he has good hands, he can catch the basketball and finish around the rim.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Smith on the Spurs struggling in the first half: “Basketball is not about Xs and Os…it’s about the decisions with the players within those Xs and Os. The Spurs are not making great basketball decisions within their playbook.”
Barkley on Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich making a change to the starting lineup in Game 4: “I think [Popovich] made a mistake taking Danny Green out of the starting lineup because they have been totally out of whack offensively.”
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Kerr on Spurs point guard Tony Parker’s defense: “His ball pressure [on defense] has forced [Russell] Westbrook into some shaky decisions.”
Kerr on Spurs forward Manu Ginobili: “He’s one of the best competitors in the NBA. He thrives in situations where his team needs him…that’s when he really brings it.”
Kerr on Thunder forward Kevin Durant: “He’s advanced his game to the point where he’s getting the other guys involved early [in the game] and taking over late.”
Kerr on the passing of the torch from the Spurs to the Thunder: “It feels like Oklahoma City senses it and they’re ready to break through. It’s almost like a changing of the guard right before our eyes.”
Miller on the Thunder: “We are seeing a team grow up and mature in front of our eyes.”
Kerr on the Thunder taking a 3-2 series lead over the veteran Spurs: “It’s a tough thing to go through as an older player when the young guns come in and take your spot. That seems to be what’s happening [in the WCF].”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Smith on when a series truly starts: “The series starts when a team is faced with elimination. This is when you have to play your best, this is when it means the most and this is when every possession counts. You are one win away from the NBA Finals. This is when you can look in someone’s eyes on your team and you know what you have. So we will see the true Oklahoma City Thunder come out in Game 6 and we will see the true San Antonio Spurs come out in Game 6 as well.”
Barkley on OKC: “I said before the game that my biggest concern for Oklahoma City was Russell Westbrook and James Harden. They finally played well tonight. OKC just has a better team and they are just too young for the Spurs.”
O’Neal on Game 6: “The hardest game to play and to win before possibly going to The Finals is the close-out game. So the pressure is all on OKC. The Spurs aren’t worried and they aren’t scared. If they can get four or five guys to play well, then they have a shot.”
Barkley on the Spurs not playing well in Game 5:“This series is a wrap. It was so interesting tonight. Tonight a guy that hasn’t played for OKC, Daequan Cook comes in and goes crazy. The guys on the Spurs had a home game and they did not show up. The Spurs don’t have enough guys playing well, that’s the bottom line.”
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