Notes from TNT’s Exclusive Coverage of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals – Game 4
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
TNT’s exclusive coverage of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals continues with Game 5 on
Thursday, May 30, with the Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat at 8 p.m. ET
***CLIP OF THE NIGHT***
(Please click the text below to view)
Julius “Dr. J” Erving Reminisces with Inside the NBA Team
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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Julius “Dr. J” Erving
O’Neal on Dr. J: “He’s the reason I wanted to play basketball.”
Erving on Miami’s LeBron James and where his level of play [from 1-10] is at this time in his career: “I’d say he might be at seven or eight. When he’s on the floor he’s always going to give you 100 percent.”
Barkley on Indiana’s response to Game 3: “Anytime you get hit the way Indiana got hit, I’m interested to see how they respond [in Game 4].”
Barkley on the Pacers in Game 4: “They [Pacers] have to speed up the tempo.”
Smith on Game 4: “The Pacers are going to win tonight.”
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Miami Heat (92) @ Indiana Pacers (99) – Series tied 2-2
Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr and Reggie Miller (analysts) with Craig Sager (reporter)
Miller on the Pacers in Game 4: “First and foremost, they have to play with more passion and energy.”
Kerr on Miami’s LeBron James playing down low on offense: “I don’t think LeBron really loves playing on the block.”
Kerr on Miami’s organizational philosophy: “What makes them [Miami] so good, as lethal as this team is offensively, they’re still an organization grounded in defense and toughness.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal, Smith and Dr. J
Barkley on the Pacers’ first half: “They’ve got to speed up their offense. I’m very frustrated watching their offense.”
Smith on the Pacers’ first half: “When they [Indiana] moved Lance Stephenson to the three…that’s not a good lineup. Do not go small, stay big.”
Erving on the key to dunking from the foul line: “The key to dunking from the foul line – don’t dribble the ball, just run and dunk it.”
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Miller using a boxing analogy to communicate what the Pacers need to do to beat the Heat: “It’s okay to throw haymakers but, if you want to win the series, you’ve got to knock them out.”
Kerr on the change of momentum for Indiana following an 11-2 Miami run: “The game really turned for Indiana on the glass.”
Miller on Indiana’s offensive rebounding prowess: “Offensively, rebounds have been at a premium for the Pacers. Roy Hibbert has been huge.”
Kerr on Miami’s LeBron James in Game 4: “He did not dominate in the block as he did in Game 3.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal, Smith and Dr. J
Smith on the difference for the Pacers in Game 4 vs. Game 3: “Roy Hibbert was the difference. Miami had nothing [going] on the inside.”
Barkley on the pressure of Game 5 in Miami: “The pressure is always on the team with the home court advantage.”
The Inside team interviewed Indiana’s Paul George
George on Game 5 in Miami: “We’ve played well on their floor. We’re a confident bunch.”
O’Neal on the success Indiana had keeping Miami’s LeBron James out of the post: “Stephenson did a good job of pushing him [LeBron James] out [of the post].”
Erving on the Western Conference Champion San Antonio Spurs: “San Antonio, other than Philadelphia, happens to be my favorite team in the NBA. They’re going to be formidable [in The Finals].”
Smith on the way the rest of the Eastern Conference Finals will play out: “I’ve always felt this was going to be a long series…because there is no clear advantage. [Overall], Indiana is a more balanced team.”
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