Notes from TNT’s NBA Playoffs Coverage – Monday, May 12, 2014
TNT’s NBA coverage of the playoffs continues Tuesday, May 13, with an exclusive doubleheader featuring the Washington Wizards @ Indiana Pacers (Game 5) at 7 p.m. ET and the Los Angeles Clippers @ Oklahoma City Thunder (Game 5) at 9:30 p.m.
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Miami Heat (98) at Brooklyn Nets (94) – Miami leads series 3-1
Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Greg Anthony (analyst) with Rachel Nichols (reporter)
Anthony on the Nets’ defense: “Brooklyn’s defense has improved as they’ve gotten a better feel of the Heat’s offensive cadence.”
Anthony on the best way to attack LeBron James and Dwyane Wade: “It’s an advantage to attack [Dwyane] Wade and LeBron [James] offensively and not allow them to kind of take that part of the game [defense] off, help the defender and force them to have to get on the ball.”
Anthony on the Heat when LeBron James is on the floor: “When LeBron is on the floor, the ball movement and execution has been far better for the Heat.”
Anthony on Nets guard Paul Pierce: “It’s not just Pierce’s numbers, it’s his basketball I.Q. and the leadership that he provides that is equally as valuable [as his statistics] for the Nets.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith
O’Neal on the comments made by Nets players waking up LeBron James: “They woke LeBron James up. He’s one of those players…if you say something in the paper, he’s not going to talk [back], he’s going to play. Paul Pierce said he wants to guard him. Be careful what you wish for.”
Barkley on LeBron James’ first half performance: “He’s playing with great energy and he realizes that they have to get this [series] over as fast as possible.”
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Anthony on the Heat not getting their bench involved in Game 4: “Typically, you want to keep [bench players] involved but sometimes [James] has a sense that, ‘I’m going to have to do more.’ The Brooklyn Nets have not been able to contain LeBron James.”
Anthony on the Heat: “The Heat have had really good execution that allows LeBron to attack without the benefit of the help defense from the Nets.”
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San Antonio Spurs (92) at Portland Trail Blazers (103) – San Antonio leads series 3-1
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Reggie Miller (analyst) with Jaime Maggio (reporter)
Miller on the Blazers’ defense: “We know [Portland] can score with San Antonio but they haven’t found a way to stop them.”
Miller on Portland’s Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge: “I love what I’m seeing from the two stars of the Blazers, they’re just reacting and playing. They aren’t thinking.”
Miller on why Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich rests his stars during the regular season: “Everyone talks about him resting the ‘Big Three’ [Duncan, Parker, Ginobili] for San Antonio, but what he was doing was experimenting with lineups. Seeing who plays well with one another so that when its playoff time and he goes to a [different] lineup…the trust is there.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal, Smith
Barkley on the Trail Blazers: “They’ve had a terrific season but the Spurs are just a better team.”
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Miller on Portland reserve Will Barton: “Barton has been fantastic off the bench for the Trail Blazers in this series.”
Miller on San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard: “He has really expanded his offensive game. A couple of years ago, he was known primarily as the defender on the Spurs. [Head Coach Gregg] Popovich and the coaching staff have really worked on his offense.”
Miller on Spurs’ guard Danny Green: “[The Spurs] have to figure out a way to get Danny Green going. If this team has aspirations of winning a championship, Danny Green is going to have to find his shooting stroke.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Kia
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal, Smith
O’Neal on Portland point guard Damien Lillard: “He was very aggressive. He may be young and inexperienced but he’s not ready to go home.”
Smith on how the Trail Blazers changed the game by playing their reserves: “The change of [Portland’s] game plan caught San Antonio off-guard. They were doing great things through the first three games of this series. But [Portland] brought in [Thomas] Robinson, [C.J.] McCollum and [Will] Barton and that changed the game.”
Barkley on Portland’s Nicolas Batum: “Batum was the difference in the game. When he plays like that, they are tough to beat. He was amazing.”
Barkley on the Heat and LeBron James: “They’re not as good as they’ve been…they’re not the same team, but you have to beat LeBron [James] four times. He has to play at such a high level, especially this late in the playoffs. He’s their best scorer, rebounder and assist guy.”
Smith on LeBron James: “Miami isn’t as good this year but LeBron has gotten better. So as the team has diminished, his game has increased.”
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