TNT’s NBA Playoffs coverage continues Tuesday, April 29, with doubleheader action featuring the
Washington Wizards @ Chicago Bulls (Game 5) at 8 p.m. ET and the Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Clippers (Game 5) 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
Smith on the Charlotte Bobcats: “Whatever happens for Charlotte [in Game 4], this has been a successful season. They were at the bottom before…now they aren’t rebuilding; they’re in a building [phase] of their franchise. Their next step is, ‘We’ve arrived’ so they add one or two pieces, two or three guys start to mature in these playoffs and they realize what this is like. Change is their mentality coming into the offseason. This is a great experience for Charlotte regardless of what happens.”
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Miami Heat (109) at Charlotte Bobcats (98) – Miami wins the series 4-0
Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Greg Anthony (analyst) with Rachel Nichols (reporter)
Anthony on Charlotte point guard Kemba Walker: “Kemba Walker has been as good as he can be on both ends of the court.”
Anthony on the Heat: “The Heat are at their best when Dwyane Wade becomes the focal point on the second team. He presents the same sort of challenges that LeBron [James] does on the first team.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Barkley on Charlotte’s Kemba Walker: “We thought he’d be more aggressive without Al [Jefferson]. He’s their best player after Al and he’s going for it. He can score with the best of them.”
Barkley on the Heat: “You still have to beat LeBron four times [in a series], but they aren’t as good as they’ve been in recent years.”
Smith: “They could win the championship but they aren’t as good.”
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Anthony on LeBron James: “I marvel at LeBron James as a ball mover. You don’t usually think of the greats of the game as [ball-movers] but that’s exactly what he is. That’s why they shoot at such a high percentage.”
Anthony on Miami’s Mario Chalmers learning how to play with LeBron James: “Mario Chalmers has done a good job of learning how to play with LeBron James and how to use him as a decoy because he gathers so much attention and creates a lot of opportunities for you. Chalmers is taking advantage.”
Anthony on the Heat: “The Heat are lethal at turning your miscues into their opportunities.”
Anthony on the Bobcats: “They are moving in the right direction. They have established an identity defensively…and they can build on that. There’s no shame in losing to the two-time defending champs.”
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San Antonio Spurs (93) at Dallas Mavericks (89) – Series tied 2-2
Joel Meyers (play-by-play) and Chris Webber (analyst) with Jaime Maggio (reporter)
Webber on the Spurs: “San Antonio has to rely on their identity. In the third and fourth quarter, they can wear their opponent down with their mentality and imposing their will.”
Webber on the Mavericks playing playoff-type basketball late in the season: “Dallas have been in the playoffs the last two weeks of the season. They have come in here fighting like they have all season. No one believed in Dallas and that they could be up in this series.”
Webber on the Spurs: “They have a great bench that allows [Tony Parker to] stay in the game, play at his pace until he gets his shot back.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Barkley on Dallas needing to slow down Manu Ginobili: “They have to figure out a way to slow down [Manu] Ginobili on the pick-and-rolls. Those lead to layups…anyone can make layups.”
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Webber on finding balance with your mentality on and off the court: “You have to learn how to play with a chip on your shoulder but not alienate your teammates and coaches. You have to keep that same passion and drive and make sure you’re a wonderful teammate.”
Webber on Mavericks’ guard Monta Ellis: “He’s always been a great scorer but he’s the best teammate he’s ever been right now.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Kia
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal, Smith
Smith on the Spurs: “I don’t think anyone thought this was going to be easy for the Spurs [vs. Dallas] even though they are the higher seed. You have to beat the Spurs in the last two minutes of every game. They live on the fact that they are going to execute, knock down free throws and make the right play.”
Smith on the Pacers: “There is a fragileness in the Indiana locker room. If one thing goes wrong, it unravels.”
Smith on the Brooklyn Nets: “They are battle tested, they understand time possession, you’re not going to blow them out and they understand the tempo of the game. That’s why they’ve beaten Miami four times this season. They understand how to keep it at a tempo that they can feel comfortable in.”
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