TNT’s NBA coverage continues Tuesday, March 5, at 7 p.m. (ET) with doubleheader action featuring the
Boston Celtics @ Philadelphia 76ers followed by the Los Angeles Lakers @ Oklahoma City Thunder at 9:30 p.m. (ET)
***CLIP OF THE NIGHT***
The Inside the NBA studio crew discuss playing like a champion
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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Matt Winer, Shaquille O’Neal, Dennis Scott and Kenny Smith
O’Neal on Indiana Pacers All-Star Paul George: “He has stepped up. He’s a fabulous young player. He’s a great team player. I urge him – even though [Danny] Granger is back – to continue the way he’s playing. Don’t hold back on [his] game.”
Smith on the Miami Heat: “The Heat are the most talented team but it’s hard to win back-to-back titles if you don’t have rebounding. I would be really surprised if the Heat were able to win multiple championships without having an advantage in the rebounding department.”
Smith on the Miami Heat entering this year’s playoffs: “The difference with the Miami Heat [this year], they make you turn the ball over. They also play at a quicker pace and can rely on the fact they don’t outrebound you. Indiana, they don’t turn the ball over as much as other teams. So, then the rebounding does become important because those possessions get difficult.”
O’Neal on the Indiana Pacers matching up against the Miami Heat: “The two times they beat Miami they really beat them up on the boards. But, I’m going to have to see more from Roy Hibbert.”
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Game 1: Philadelphia 76ers (82) @ Chicago Bulls (93)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Greg Anthony (analyst) and David Aldridge (reporter)
Anthony on the prospect of Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose returning this season: “If you’re a Chicago Bulls fan, you’ve got to be a little concerned about having a scenario in which Derrick Rose doesn’t play this season. If he’s still feeling discomfort at this stage that means he’s at least weeks away from getting to a point where he’s willing to test himself. That’s unfortunate news to hear.”
Anthony on the Sixers missing Andrew Bynum: “It’s tough for Doug [Collins], management and the players because – in essence – they built a team to feature Andrew Bynum. It [Bynum’s injury] has made it a really tough struggle for this group. They have not been able to provide a post presence [and] that has really hurt them.”
Anthony on the Bulls establishing an identity this season: “It’s going to be difficult for the Bulls until they get Derrick Rose back.”
Anthony on Sixers guard Jrue Holiday: “Jrue Holiday is probably one of the most improved players in the league. He is definitely having a spectacular season for the Sixers.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Winer, O’Neal, Scott and Smith
O’Neal on how much the injured Sixers Andrew Bynum should be paid next year: “Somebody will give this guy the max.”
Smith on how much Bynum should be paid next year: “I don’t think you can let him walk. I don’t think any team is going to offer him the max over a long period of time.”
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Anthony on Chicago’s Joakim Noah and his ninth blocked shot of the night: “Blocked shots can create momentum and that’s what Joakim Noah has done. He has been a terror on the interior for the Bulls.”
Anthony on the positive affect of Joakim Noah’s play: “Everything positive that has happened in this game for the Bulls; Joakim Noah has had something to do with it. Without Derrick Rose, he’s their best player.”
Anthony on the Sixers performance: “Tonight the competitive spirit was there, the effort was there. For Doug Collins, there are positives you can take away from this game.”
TNT’s David Aldridge interviewed Chicago Bulls forward Joakim Noah after his third career triple-double
Noah on his performance: “It was huge for us. We need everyone right now. We just have to keep fighting.”
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Game 2: Minnesota Timberwolves (94) @ L.A. Lakers (116)
Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play) Mike Fratello (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
Fratello on the Timberwolves coming back from injuries: “When they all come back, this could be a very good team. Even with all those injuries they’ve been very competitive…seven games they’ve lost by three points or less.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Winer, O’Neal, Scott and Smith
Scott on Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio: “He’s been the bright spot when he’s healthy. Any time Rubio is on the floor you see a better brand of basketball.”
Smith on Rubio: “Until Rubio has the ability to score, I don’t think he’s ever going to crack through that lineup of great guards. Rubio is a great young player. I like the way he passes the ball.”
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Fratello on Dwight Howard’s free throw shooting in practice despite his struggles in games: “They [Lakers coaches] keep a chart at practice and he does make 80 percent [of his free throws].”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed L.A. Lakers guard Kobe Bryant after the game
Bryant on what he’s playing for at this point in his career: “I’m playing for one thing and one thing only – to win championships.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Winer, O’Neal, Scott and Smith
Lakers point guard Steve Nash joined the studio team via satellite following the game
Nash on how expectations for the Lakers have changed from the beginning of the season: “In the summer, expectations were off the charts, within the locker room and outside. I’m not sure we fit as well together as we predicted. We thought it would be easier to figure this out. Having said that, we’ve gone through a lot…all the injuries, coupled with the fact that we didn’t have a training camp with [head coach] Mike D’Antoni, has made it especially difficult for us to find some cohesion. I still don’t feel that we have an identity or have reached our potential.”
Nash on the Lakers needing to become more efficient on offense: “To be honest, we haven’t really found our identity. We either have Kobe isolate and we play off of that or we’re a pick-and-roll team. Both have been good for us but I don’t think we’re committed to both of them or have allowed those styles of play to benefit the other as much as we should. They should both make each other better. We’re still a pretty good offensive team, we can put the ball in the basket, but we’ve got to be more efficient at that and become a better team because of that.”
O’Neal on the Lakers: “When was the last time you saw a team with four potential Hall of Famers say, ‘We just want to make the playoffs?’”
O’Neal on the Lakers aspiring to just make the playoffs: “I don’t like their train of thought right now. With all that talent, and all that’s at stake, I don’t want to [just] make the playoffs. I don’t like that focus because, given they make the playoffs and still lose in the first round, it’s still a failure. You have four potential Hall of Famers on that team. That team was built for championships.”
O’Neal on what it takes to win a championship: “In order to win a championship you need to have a 1-2 punch or a 1-2-3 punch in Miami or Boston in what they did a few years ago.”
Scott on Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger getting back into rhythm after returning from injury: “You never forget how to shoot. It’s like riding a bike.”
O’Neal on L.A. Clippers guard Jamal Crawford: “I have a new name for Jamal Crawford – The Specialist. He’s a specialist at what he does.”
O’Neal on Pacers forward Roy Hibbert elevating his level of play: “I’m a Roy Hibbert fan but I need to see more aggression, especially offensively if they want to beat Miami. If they want to beat Miami he has to be a real, legitimate big man. I need 19 [pts] and eight [rebounds] out of Roy every night.”
Smith on how he foresees the Eastern Conference playing out the rest of the season: “There’s Miami in one boat. And there’s Brooklyn, Chicago, New York and Indiana in another boat. I’m not going to be surprised if any one of those four is playing the Miami Heat [in the Eastern Conference Finals].”
Smith on the Philadelphia 76ers: “They are just a one-on-one basketball team. They have no inside presence.”
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