Notes from TNT’s NBA Coverage – Tuesday, April 15, 2014
TNT’s NBA Playoff coverage will get underway this Sunday, April 20. TNT, in its 30th consecutive year of NBA coverage, will televise more than 40 NBA Playoff games – the most of any network – including first and second round action and the exclusive presentation of the 2014 NBA Western Conference Finals.
**** **** **** ****
TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Brent Barry, Shaquille O’Neal and Steve Smith
Smith on Pacers center Roy Hibbert needing to be more aggressive: “Roy Hibbert doesn’t dominate the center position…as a [center] he has to come out, establish [himself] and demand the basketball. If the Hawks go to a small lineup and Indiana tries to match up, the Hawks have a good chance [to win the series].”
O’Neal on Roy Hibbert: “Roy has to get the ball to be effective. He has to demand the ball. Sometimes it seems like he doesn’t want the ball. He’s fine with not getting the ball, but he has to demand it.”
O’Neal on the Atlanta Hawks vs. Indiana Pacers first round playoff series: “You can’t take the Atlanta Hawks lightly. The Pacers are a No. 1 seed but they aren’t playing like it. If they take them lightly, it might be a longer series than we expect.”
Barry on the Rockets vs. Trail Blazers first round match-up: “The match-up at the four-spot is critical for Portland because they have to make sure that game-in and game-out, LaMarcus Aldridge is fed and taken care of.”
O’Neal on Rockets center Dwight Howard: “He needs to dominate so that [the opposition] goes back after every game and say, ‘How do we stop that guy?’ Will they double [team]? Every time you double team, you open up the shooters.”
**** **** **** ****
New York Knicks (109) at Brooklyn Nets (98)
Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Greg Anthony (analyst) with Rachel Nichols (reporter)
Anthony on the Nets: “Brooklyn is an older team but their experience can make up for their lack of athleticism. They have a high basketball I.Q.”
Anthony on what new Knicks president Phil Jackson is looking for with his players: “Phil Jackson wants to see how these guys play without the basketball. Teams like San Antonio know how to play without the basketball. They have great movement and execution. That gives you a chance to be successful in this league.”
Anthony on the Nets ability to get to the free throw line: “I like that they are showing the ability to get to the free throw line. That’s a great way to create and extend momentum. They didn’t do that as well a season ago.”
Anthony on the impact of rookies Mason Plumlee [Nets] and Tim Hardaway, Jr. [Knicks] on their respective teams: “Neither [Mason] Plumlee or [Tim] Hardaway will be Rookie of the Year but both have had phenomenal rookie seasons in terms of what they brought to the table. They are having far more of an impact than either organization thought they would at this stage in their career.”
**** **** **** ****
Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barry, O’Neal, Smith
O’Neal on Nets rookie Mason Plumlee: “The two things you need to become an NBA player is heart and effort. Those are two things you can’t teach and [Plumlee] has it. He doesn’t get a lot of plays called [for him] but he just plays smart basketball…he’s ‘Plumdog Millionaire’ and he will be a star. He’s Joakim Noah-ish.”
Smith on Nets forward Andrei Kirilenko: “Kirilenko is a nightmare to play against because of his length and size. He’s a phenomenal rebounder because of his sense to get the basketball. He does so many things.”
**** **** **** ****
Anthony on Knicks head coach Mike Woodson: “I’m a huge fan of Mike Woodson and I think he’s a solid coach…but he has to take some of the responsibility. The players haven’t had a great year and he hasn’t had a great year as a coach.”
Anthony on Nets reserve guard Marcus Thornton: “Marcus Thornton is the kind of guy who can be a difference maker because of how explosive he can be offensively.
**** **** **** ****
Denver Nuggets (105) at Los Angeles Clippers (117)
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) with Jaime Maggio (reporter)
Miller on Clippers’ Jamal Crawford returning from injury: “His contributions are going to be huge for the Clippers. When you play with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, it’s so important to get onto the same page and into the same rhythm with them. It could take two or three weeks to get that flow back.”
Miller on Clippers’ center DeAndre Jordan: “I love everything about DeAndre Jordan. His sit-down [meeting] with [head coach] Doc Rivers before the season has really taken him to another level at both ends of the floor. They don’t run a single play for him, but he finds a way to be effective offensively.”
Miller on the Clippers veteran bench depth: “They go nine or 10 deep [on the bench]. They have experience with Glen Davis, Danny Granger and Hedo Turkoglu. They have a lot of guys with playoff experience.”
**** **** **** ****
Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barry, O’Neal, Smith
Smith on the Clippers: “I picked [the Clippers] to play in the [Finals] against Miami because of [head coach] Doc Rivers. He demands defense and a lot of guys want to go play for Doc Rivers.
**** **** **** ****
Miller on the Clippers: “They have all the confidence in the world going into [the playoffs]. They had a very disappointing season last year when they lost in the first round to Memphis…but there is a confidence about this team that is different than last year. Defensively, they are much better. Offensively, the ball moves more crisper. It will be interesting to see what they do this weekend [in the playoffs].”
Miller on the Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov: “The most consistent player this season for the Denver Nuggets has been Timofey Mozgov.”
**** **** **** ****
Inside the NBA presented by Kia
Johnson, Barry, O’Neal, Smith
Barry on Nets’ Marcus Thornton: “He’s going to have a huge role them in the playoffs…he’s going to provide instant offense.”
Barry on the Indiana Pacers: “The Pacers are starting off the playoffs playing against two teams – they are playing against Atlanta and they are playing against themselves. They have not found their identity in the last month of the season.”
The Inside the NBA crew made their end-of-season awards predictions
Steve Smith
Coach of the Year: Dwane Casey – Toronto Raptors
Rookie of the Year: Michael Carter-Williams – Philadelphis 76ers
Most Valuable Player: Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder
Shaquille O’Neal
Coach of the Year: Gregg Popovich – San Antonio Spurs
Rookie of the Year: Michael Carter-Williams – Philadelphia 76ers
Most Valuable Player: Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder
Brent Barry
Coach of the Year: Jeff Hornacek – Phoenix Suns
Rookie of the Year: Michael Carter-Williams – Philadelphia 76ers
Most Valuable Player: Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder
Smith on how the Boston Celtics can get back to the playoffs in 2015: “You’ve got to keep guys like [Celtics point guard] Rajon Rondo, guys who love to win and don’t accept losing. [The Celtics] also have to get lucky in the draft and develop from within…they’re on the right track.”
O’Neal on what the Lakers need to do to get the spark back in Los Angeles: “The Lakers have always been notorious for making miraculous moves during the summer. They need to bring in a few top free agents…[Timberwolves power forward] Kevin Love and [Knicks forward] Carmelo Anthony’s names are going to be out there. They need to do something miraculous to get that spark back in Los Angeles.”
Barry on how Knicks president Phil Jackson will help the team rebuild: “That’s one thing [the Knicks] have going for them…When Phil Jackson is the guy that’s on the phone, they have the ears of the top free agents. That is going to help them rebuild in a way that other teams in smaller markets cannot do.”
– 30 –
Recent Comments