Notes from TNT’s NBA Playoffs Coverage – Saturday, April 26, 2014
TNT’s NBA Playoffs coverage continues Sunday, April 27, with doubleheader action featuring the Toronto Raptors @ Brooklyn Nets (Game 4) at 7 p.m. ET and the Houston Rockets @ Portland Trail Blazers (Game 4) at 9:30 p.m.
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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal
O’Neal on the Bulls winning Game 3 in their series vs. the Wizards: “[The Bulls] were fighting for their lives and if you know anything about the Bulls, you know they are resilient and they will never give up.”
Barkley on Pacers’ point guard Paul George needing to take some blame: “We spend a lot of time talking about Roy Hibbert. Five months ago, we were talking about Paul George as one of the best players in the world and MVP candidate. He’s getting away without any blame. We thought he was ascending…[but] he’s descending. He has not played well. Roy Hibbert is a good player who is struggling with his confidence. Paul George is getting a pass and he shouldn’t get a pass. He’s played terrible for the past three or four months. He shouldn’t get a pass. We have to hold stars accountable.”
Barkley on Atlanta point guard Jeff Teague: “Jeff Teague has dominated this series. He’s set the pace and controlled the tempo of the game. The Pacers have not been able to guard him.”
Smith on the Heat: “I don’t think the Heat can win another championship this year.”
Barkley on the Heat being vulnerable this year: “The key is going to be LeBron [James]. You have to beat him four times. He has a lot of dead weight to carry. He has to score the most baskets and get all the rebounds. They are limited inside and will always struggle against big guys. They are vulnerable this year.”
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Indiana Pacers (91) at Atlanta Hawks (88) – Series tied 2-2
Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Greg Anthony (analyst) with Rachel Nichols (reporter)
Anthony on the Pacers’ intensity in Game 4: “Their intensity level is up and the sense of urgency that the postseason is supposed to bring about. The Pacers are playing with a lot more aggression.”
Anthony on Indiana’s Luis Scola: “When Scola is on the floor, he’s going to have to take mid-range jump shots because that’s the strength of his game at this point in his career.”
Anthony on Hawks’ point guard Jeff Teague: “Jeff Teague is as fast as anyone in the league with the basketball. That creates a challenge for [Pacers’] Paul George. He also creates great leverage because he gets low.”
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Anthony on Indiana’s head coach Frank Vogel: “Frank Vogel is always the ultimate optimist.”
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San Antonio Spurs (108) at Dallas Mavericks (109) – Dallas leads series 2-1
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Reggie Miller (analyst) with David Aldridge (reporter)
Webber on Dallas guard Monta Ellis: “He’s one of the best finishers under the rim in the game especially when it comes to laying it up. He’s so uncanny with his own Euro-type style.”
Webber on veteran Mavericks guard Vince Carter: “He’s still so dangerous. No matter how old you get, your elbows don’t feel as old as your knees. He can still shoot that jumper anytime he wants.”
Webber on the effect Monta Ellis has on the Mavericks: “He has to be aggressive so that he can make it easier for Dirk [Nowitzki] and others so that when it gets later in the game, guys have energy and can get open shots.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
O’Neal on San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard: “He’s a player that gets himself involved and I love the way he plays. He’s very, very active.”
Barkley on the Tony Parker vs. Monta Ellis guard matchup: “Tony Parker is the best player on the Spurs. Monta Ellis is the best player on the Mavericks at this stage in his career. Whoever plays the best between those two guys is going to win this series.”
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Webber on the Spurs bench: “[The Spurs] have the best bench in the league. They rely on their bench. Why did Tim Duncan have such a healthy season? Because the bench played more than he did. Why did Manu Ginobili have such a healthy season? Because the bench held things down. Their bench has allowed for Coach Pop [Popovich] to rest their team, have great practice time and come into the playoffs healthy and ready to go.”
Webber on the Mavericks/Spurs series: “Effort is not a question. Players are going to the bench tired and spent. Not only because of their physical effort but paying attention to detail is mentally exhausting. You have to love it as a basketball fan watching these two teams go at it.”
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