Notes from TNT’s NBA Playoffs Coverage – Thursday, May 1, 2014
TNT’s NBA coverage of the NBA Playoffs continues Saturday, May 3, with tripleheader action featuring the Atlanta Hawks @ Indiana Pacers at 5:30 p.m. ET, the Memphis Grizzlies @ Oklahoma City Thunder at 8:00 p.m. ET and the Golden State Warriors @ L.A. Clippers 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
O’Neal on Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant being “Mr. Unreliable”: “The great superstars and warriors can take criticism and turn it into motivation. As a superstar, you have to take the good and the bad. Is he unreliable as a player? No. [Has he been] unreliable in this series? A little.”
Smith on Thunder forward Kevin Durant: “We know Kevin Durant isn’t unreliable. The reason they are losing is they have a point guard that is taking 31 shots. He doesn’t have to prove to us he’s a great player. He’s the best player at his position when he has a balance. Right now he is showing that he is a great scorer. We need to see his great playmaking ability and scoring.”
Barkley on Durant needing help in OKC: “Kevin Durant doesn’t have a lot of help and it is 100 percent unfair. When he leaves there, they are going to be the Cleveland Cavaliers. As a great player, LeBron James had to do it all in Cleveland. He went to Miami and got criticized for wanting some help and now he is the greatest thing.”
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Oklahoma City Thunder (104) at Memphis Grizzlies (84) – Series tied 3-3
Marv Albert (play-by-play) and Steve Kerr (analyst) with Lewis Johnson (reporter)
Kerr on Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka: “He’s been very consistent with his offense but his defense is his strong suit.”
Kerr on Durant using the headline “Mr. Unreliable” as motivation for Game 6: “He’s so competitive and so good, you know he’s motivated by what he saw.”
Kerr on Kevin Durant struggling in the series against Memphis: “Yeah, he’s had some difficulties, but he is still the most reliable player night in and night out.”
Kerr on what Oklahoma City is lacking: “Ever since James Harden left for Houston they haven’t had that third option. [Serge] Ibaka has been efficient but he’s not a dominant player so Oklahoma City has been a lot easier to guard.”
Kerr on the Thunder: “In the playoffs, you have to look for good shots. Oklahoma City has been settling for way to many threes in this series.”
Kerr on the Thunder getting re-energized: “This feels like the first time since Game 1 that OKC has broken free and picked up the pace. It’s because of the defense. The defense has energized the offense.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Smith on Thunder guard Westbrook’s responsibilities: “Russell Westbrook is a great player. There are some things you live with and some things you can’t live without. He’s a guy that can correct some of his mistakes. It’s all mental responsibilities from a point guard position that he struggles with, not the fact that he can’t play…just the mental responsibilities.”
Barkley on Thunder guard Russell Westbrook: “He’s so athletic. He can get a shot anytime he wants to. He just hasn’t learned how to play the point. He plays the game 100 percent on talent. He’s a terrific player. He doesn’t realize that he is a point guard.”
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Kerr on the Thunder/Grizzlies series: “The theme of this series has always been about pace.”
Kerr on the possibility of Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley being out for Game 7: “They have no chance in a Game 7 in Oklahoma City without him. I think Conley represents their poise.”
Kerr on Thunder center Steven Adams: “He’s going to be good. He’s athletic and huge. He has really good defensive instinct.”
Kerr on the importance of Game 7: “Most Game 7s are tense, most players are nervous. Oklahoma City cannot afford to go down that path. They have to find a way in Game 7 to generate the same kind of pace that they did in Game 6.”
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Los Angeles Clippers (99) at Golden State Warriors (100) – Series tied 3-3
Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Reggie Miller (analyst) with Marty Snider (reporter)
Miller on the Clippers/Warriors series: “That has been a theme throughout this series for both teams; foul trouble early.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Barkley on Clippers center Blake Griffin: “Blake has two bad habits — he never makes quick moves, he is always face up on the guy, and
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Miller on Clippers guard Jamal Crawford: “He’s a shot maker and he’s a bad shot maker. You can have all the defense draped over him but he’s just one of those guys that has an uncanny way of making shots.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Kia
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal, Smith
O’Neal on Game 7s: “When you are facing elimination, you want to keep your season going. All of the Game 7s are going to be interesting. I’m anxious to see which team can close it out. All of these teams have been crying and begging for home court advantage. It will be interesting to see if they take advantage of it.”
Barkley on the Pacers as a No. 1 seed struggling against the No. 8 seed Atlanta Hawks: “This Indiana thing is one of the most perplexing things I’ve ever seen.”
Barkley on Memphis’ Conley: “He’s the only thing that can slow Oklahoma City down.”
Barkley on coaches making lineup changes: “You can’t worry about guy’s feelings at this point. You are trying to win. It’s win or go home.”
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