Notes from TNT’s NBA Coverage – Thursday, April 10, 2014
TNT’s NBA coverage continues Tuesday, April 15 with doubleheader action featuring the New York Knicks @ Brooklyn Nets at 8 p.m. ET and the Denver Nuggets @ Los Angeles Clippers at 10:30 p.m.
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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal
Barkley on the Playoffs: “If the playoffs started today, the team that wins the series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and LA Clippers is going to represent the Western Conference in the playoffs.”
Barkley on the San Antonio Spurs: “I guarantee the Spurs are praying they don’t play Memphis in the first round. They don’t want to play Memphis.”
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San Antonio Spurs (109) at Dallas Mavericks (100)
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Steve Kerr (analyst) with Craig Sager (reporter)
Kerr on the Dallas Mavericks: “Dallas is not a good defensive team, but a great offensive team – one of the best in the league.”
Kerr on Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard: “Kawhi has great defensive versatility. He can guard a 6’0″ guy or a 6’11″ guy. That’s one of the many things he’s brought to this team.”
Kerr on the Spurs and Mavericks: “With San Antonio and Dallas, you have two teams that are filled with guys that can dribble, pass and shoot and two coaches that demand execution and ball movement so it’s a beautiful game to watch.”
Kerr on a team in the Western Conference with the most wins not making the playoffs: “It just seems so unfair especially with what is happening at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. It is just amazing that a team that is approaching 50 wins will not make the playoffs. If you make it to 50 in the NBA you have had a great season, I can’t believe that a team can do that and not make the playoffs.”
Kerr on the makeup of the Spurs roster: “The Spurs have been phenomenal in the last few years, figuring out who to chase in free agency. Guys like [Patty] Mills, [Boris] Diaw…just fit the design.”
Kerr on Mavericks forward Shawn Marion: “Shawn Marion has been one of the best defensive players in the NBA. He may not score like he used to but he can still guard anybody. With his athleticism, he can guard anyone from a point guard to a power forward.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, Smith and O’Neal
O’Neal on Tim Duncan: “Good thing about Tim Duncan, he’s a true definition of a great player. He does things that makes his teammates better.”
Barkley on the Spurs not being able to make it past the first round in the playoffs: “I don’t think those old guys will be able to hold on. Tony Parker is the only one that is still in his prime. I think that age is going to take its toll on them.”
Barkley on Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki: “Greatest European player ever…best big man shooter ever. He’s probably top 25 [players] of all time.”
O’Neal on Nowitzki: “When he came in, he didn’t have what Magic [Johnson] had or [Larry] Bird had or even what Kobe [Bryant] had. His first couple of years he struggled, but he stuck with it.”
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Kerr on the potential of the Spurs and Mavericks facing each other in the first round of the playoffs: “It would be fun to watch. [They are] two of the most beautiful offensive clubs we have in the NBA. The execution is just fantastic to watch.”
Kerr on Kawhi Leonard: “He could be a great post-player with his strength and his length.”
Kerr on Kawhi Leonard: “This Spurs stretch in this last couple of months is directly related to Kawhi Leonard’s return from his wrist injury and his tremendous play at both ends of the floor.”
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Denver Nuggets (100) at Golden State Warriors (99)
Marv Albert (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) with David Aldridge (reporter)
Miller on Warriors guard Steve Blake: “This is a guy that has playoff experience, is tough and can make big shots. He’s more of a facilitator and he fits right into the plans of Golden State and Mark Jackson.”
Miller on the importance of David Lee for the Warriors in the playoffs: “If this Warriors team is going to go far in the playoffs, David Lee has to be healthy and playing at a high level. If the playoffs started today, the Warriors would be playing against the Clippers. He and [Andrew] Bogut have to have a monster series in order for them to advance. You need a walking double-double and that’s exactly what David Lee is.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, Smith and O’ Neal
Barkley on the Warriors without David Lee: “They have no chance of winning a series without David Lee. He’s a walking double-double.”
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Miller on Nuggets power forward Kenneth Faried improving on offense: “We know what he can do on the offensive glass, he’s relentless on rebounding, but he has to become a little more polished offensively.”
Miller on Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw: “I love what Brian Shaw is bringing to the Denver Nuggets. The number one thing is accountability. He has experience as a player and a coach and I think these young guys recognize that.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Kia
Johnson, Barkley, Smith and O’Neal
Barkley on the Denver Nuggets: “I would love to see this Denver team get healthy.”
Barkley on the San Antonio Spurs: “When they get to the playoffs, they are going to play against a really good team. They are 2-8 against the top 2, 3, and 4 teams in the Western Conference. They are going to have a tough series against Memphis, Dallas or Phoenix.”
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