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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 Celtics without Rajon Rondo: “They are not better without Rondo. They only have two players who can get their own shot – that’s Paul Pierce and Jeff Green.”
Smith on the Celtics: “The Boston Celtics can’t beat the Knicks without Rajon Rondo. However, Kevin Garnett can make this a very difficult series because he can score in the post. I don’t know if he can score at the clip he needs to score [for the Celtics to win].”
Barkley on Garnett: “Unless they can put him in a time machine, the Knicks are going to win this series.”
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Game 1: Boston (71) @ New York (87) – Knicks lead series 2-0
Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play) and Steve Kerr (analyst) with Lewis Johnson (reporter)
Kerr on New York’s weakness: “The Knicks’ flaw, when they go cold, is when they rely too heavily on isolation plays for Carmelo Anthony. That’s when they get stagnant.”
Kerr on the Knicks’ transition game: “Any time New York can push the ball in transition, they are going to get mismatches down low…it just changes the way the [opposing] defense approaches things.”
Kerr on J.R. Smith: “The degree of difficulty on seemingly every one of this guy’s shots is remarkable.”
Kerr on the Knicks without Amar’e Stoudemire: “The Knicks function better the way they are constructed right now.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Barkley on Kenyon Martin: “I thought Kenyon Martin saved the Knicks season…I don’t think they can win the championship, but they have a much better chance of getting to the Eastern Conference Finals with Kenyon Martin.”
Smith on Martin’s impact on the Knicks/Heat series if they meet in the Eastern Conference Finals: “He adds a game to it. If Miami was going to beat them in five, it’s now six. If Miami was going to beat them in six, it’s going to be seven.”
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Kerr on both teams in transition: “I really feel like it’s the same offensive formula for both clubs. They have to push in transition just to force some rotations defensively…stay out of that half court [offense].”
Kerr on Carmelo Anthony: “His job on this team is to attack and I think people sometimes get too caught up with how many shots he misses rather than how he impacts the game for the Knicks.”
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Game 2: Golden State (131) @ Denver (117) – Series tied 1-1
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Reggie Miller (analyst) with Marty Snider (reporter)
Miller on the Denver Nuggets: “Offensive rebounds and put backs and second chance points, that’s what this Denver Nuggets team – without that one alpha star – that’s what they are known for.”
Miller on defending Stephen Curry: “If you are going to be guarding Stephen Curry on the weak side, you cannot give him separation. This is the best shooter in the game today.”
Miller on the Warriors’ fast pace: “Golden State is giving Denver a taste of their own medicine, getting stops at the rim at one end and running it down their backs at the other [end].”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Barkley on Golden State’s Curry and Klay Thompson: “Those are [arguably] the two best shooters in the world.”
O’Neal on Golden State’s Jarrett Jack being inserted into the starting lineup: “Jarrett Jack is a fearsome guard. He’s a great player. He has a lot of guts and his floater game is off the chain. He’s coming out and picking up the slack.”
Barkley on the Nuggets: “Denver might be better with their second unit. When they go to their bench, they are scary. JaVale McGee has been terrific.”
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Miller on defending Golden State’s Curry: “Game 1, [head coach] George Karl’s emphasis was trying to get the ball out of the hands of Steph Curry. You have to pick your poison, but tonight he’s been able to do both [score and dish].”
Miller on the Nuggets’ performance in Game 2: “This is more of a regular season feel for the Denver Nuggets…too many fast break opportunities for Golden State [tonight].”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Barkley on the Warriors’ performance in Game 2: “They played with great energy…I’ve been in [and around] the NBA for 30 years now and I’ve never seen guys shoot it like that.”
Barkley on New York’s Carmelo Anthony: “No one in the world can stop that guy. He’s going to get his shot every time.”
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