TNT’s NBA coverage continues Tuesday, April 17, with doubleheader action featuring the Boston Celtics @ New York Knicks at 8 p.m. ET
followed by the San Antonio Spurs @ Los Angeles Lakers at 10:30 p.m. ET
***CLIPS OF THE NIGHT***
(Please click the text below to view)
The Inside crew discusses the Eastern Conference playoff race
The Inside crew discusses the Western Conference playoff race
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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith
Barkley on the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat: “These two teams are going to play in the Eastern Conference Finals.”
O’Neal on what it takes to win a championship: “I’m very impressed with Chicago’s ‘others.’ In order to win the championship, the ‘others’ have to step up. Kenny [Smith] was an ‘other’ with the Houston Rockets…you have your stars who put up the big numbers but you need your role players to step up and play great. The Chicago Bulls role players have been playing great all season.”
Barkley on Miami’s chances to win in the playoffs: “Unless Dwyane Wade and LeBron James play at a high, high, high level, this team has flaws. They don’t have a bench and they are small. There is so much pressure on Dwyane and LeBron because this team is flawed. It’s arguable to say the Miami Heat have the worst bench of all the contending teams.”
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Game 1: Miami Heat (86) @ Chicago Bulls (96) — OT
Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
Kerr on what it will take for Chicago and Derrick Rose to get back in a rhythm as they approach the playoffs: “It’s important the Bulls get a good eight games out of him (Derrick Rose) to find his rhythm, individually, but also his rhythm with Rip Hamilton who has been out most of the year too – the starting backcourt, they’ve hardly played together this year.”
Kerr on the Chicago Bulls’ slow starts and their bench strength this season: “This [slow start] has been a theme for the Bulls the last couple of weeks. But the strength of their team is their bench, particularly their front line.”
Fratello on Chicago’s second unit: “This second unit [for the Chicago Bulls] looks so good. They’ve got it together. They function together defensively, they’re making shots and there is high energy.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith
Barkley on Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose coming back from injury to play against the Heat: “You can’t miss a month in the NBA, come back and be effective. Shooting in the gym by yourself, that [isn’t] the same, those chairs in the gym don’t hit back.”
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Fratello on Chicago’s Derrick Rose getting over his injuries: “He’s afraid to attack, afraid to go all the way to the rim and meet the big bodies of Miami underneath.”
Kerr on Chicago’s Derrick Rose getting over his injuries: “When you don’t play, take a month off, the game appears to be going so fast out there. Everything is moving too quickly for him right now.”
Kerr on Miami’s lack of continuity in their lineup: “Isn’t it amazing…here we are with 10 games left in the season for the Heat and they’re not settled on a rotation. The rookie – Norris Cole – we haven’t seen him tonight. He’s struggled, Anthony didn’t play the other night. They’re still trying to find their playoff rotation.”
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Game 2: Dallas Mavericks (112) @ Golden State Warriors (103)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Cheryl Miller (reporter)
Miller on recently released Dallas Mavericks forward Lamar Odom: “Either you’re all in or you’re all out, especially when you’re on a championship team like the Dallas Mavericks. It’s a little disappointing…you still [have to] go out and play. I love the approach Coach [Rick] Carlisle and Mark Cuban are taking. They’re moving on and closing that chapter. Now it’s time to get ready for the playoffs.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Smith on Lamar Odom’s failure to succeed in Dallas: “The challenge…always drove him. He didn’t come and play basketball [in Dallas].”
O’Neal on Lamar Odom’s failure to demonstrate more effort in Dallas: “You still have to do your job as a player.”
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Miller on injured Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut: “Andrew Bogut is certainly one of the top five centers in the game today.”
TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd after the game:
Miller: “Is there a chemistry problem with you guys or is it just a matter of getting healthy?”
Kidd: “We have some new parts. We have six new players that we’re counting on…it’s going to take us some time but we feel like we’re ready to compete against the best.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Barkley on the Oklahoma City Thunder maintaining the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference: “I think they really need [from a psychology standpoint] to have the No. 1 seed. They have had it pretty much all season. From a confidence standpoint, they need to have the best record in the West. I think it would deflate them if they dropped to that No. 2 spot.”
O’Neal on the Bulls winning against the Heat in overtime: “Chicago sent a statement in overtime. I have to commend them for not quitting and not panicking. It just gave them momentum. They sent a statement. Miami looks a little bit depleted.”
Smith on the advantage the Celtics bench has against the Bulls bench: “The one thing about Chicago is their role players have played extremely well when the bright light hasn’t been on yet. We haven’t seen C.J. Watson, John Lucas, Mike James in a performance atmosphere against the Boston Celtics (in the Playoffs). The advantage (Celtics head coach) Doc Rivers might have is that his bench has been tested and proven even though they might not have played as well as the Bulls bench this year.”
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