Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the NBA Playoffs
Game 1: Miami Heat (98) @ Boston Celtics (90) in overtime; Miami leads series 3-1
Game 2: Oklahoma City Thunder (133) @ Memphis Grizzlies (123) in triple overtime; Series tied 2-2
TNT’s coverage of the 2011 NBA Playoffs continues on Tuesday, May 10 at
8 p.m. (ET) featuring the Atlanta Hawks @ Chicago Bulls (Game 5), Series tied 2-2
CLIP OF THE DAY
Barkley on the advantage of youth in the NBA from Turner Sports on Vimeo.
Barkley on the advantage of youth in the NBA
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Game 1: Miami Heat (98) @ Boston Celtics (90) in overtime; Miami leads series 3-1
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
Miller on Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett: “I’m not sure there is a better passing big man left in this game than Kevin Garnett.”
Miller on Celtics guard Rajon Rondo dislocating his elbow in Game 3: “I have never seen anything like this. The guy gets a dislocated elbow, they pop it back in and he comes back out and plays the whole fourth period with one arm.”
Miller on Miami’s Big Three (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh) working together offensively: “They have to find a better way to integrate all three of them offensively. Chris Bosh has really struggled in Games 1 and 2. [Head coach] Erik Spoelstra is really going to have to address that the longer the series goes.”
Miller on the Celtics’ Playoffs experience over the Heat’s new look team: “I’ll always take experience. This is a team that has been in numerous Game 7s. You have future hall-of Famers [on the Celtics]. LeBron James made the big decision to go down to South Beach. This is what everyone has wanted to see, the Boston Celtics versus the Miami Heat. I understand there will be no love lost. You can shake their hands after the series; we’ll worry about that later.”
Miller on Celtics guard Rajon Rondo playing through the pain for Game 4: “This is grit, this is all grit from this young kid. This kid knows how to play hurt. There are not a lot of guys in this league that would even think about attempting to play [hurt] in this game.”
Miller on Celtics Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo creating their own free throws: “Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo are the only two Celtics players that can create their own shots and get to the line.”
Miller on Celtics forward Paul Pierce guarding Heat forward LeBron James: “I think Paul Pierce accepts the challenge of going against arguable one of the most talented players this league has seen. It was interesting, in my day to see so many guys were scared to guard Michael Jordan. But what is the worst that could happen, that is what I would say to myself. You have to accept the challenge of going against the league’s best and that is exactly what Paul Pierce is doing.”
Miller on the strength of the Celtics and Heat: “In this series, both teams are so good defensively; it is all about the easy points; free throws and fast break points.”
Miller on the three best defensive teams in the NBA: “Along with Chicago, you are talking about the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat– three of the best defensive teams. So half-court offense is going to come at a high price [in the Playoffs]. You have got to do the little things.”
Miller on the Celtics because of age, not being able to compete in the remainder of the series: “I don’t take a lot from that. This is a prideful group. These are guys that have won Championships, they understand they are going against a more athletic and free-wheeling team.”
Miller on the physique of Heat forward LeBron James: “The shoulders of LeBron James, my goodness; there are some NFL teams that would be salivating over him.”
Miller on the Heat adapting to the environment of the TD Garden: “This is one of the best road teams in the League. The Heat have two future Hall of Famers in LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, so they have been in situations and environments like this throughout their whole career. “
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Celtics guard Rajon Rondo at halftime
Rondo on his elbow hurting during the first half: “It doesn’t hurt at all. I can’t really say it hurts because they will go back and try to do something to us. I’m out here to play and get another win.”
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Halftime
Johnson, Smith and Barkley
Barkley on Celtics guard Rondo not getting pain relief for his dislocated elbow before Game 4: “He’s a tougher man than me.”
Smith on Celtics guard Rajon Rondo playing so physical in Game 4: “He has decided that he is putting his life on the line and his body on the line for this game, so those things are not surprising anymore.”
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Miller on great players not being motivated until the second half: “A lot of great players like to feel their way especially in the first two quarters. At the start of the third that is when you put a stamp on the game and get going either offensively or defensively.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Celtics head coach Doc Rivers at the beginning of the third quarter
Rivers on which Heat player scares him defensively: “They have a lot of guys but two of those are the key guys.”
Miller on the Heat’s lasting ability in the fourth quarter: “They are one of the better road teams. They find a way to hang around, because they have two pretty good closers and guys that can attack the basket in LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Series wise, it is pretty interesting. There is going to be a game when one of these superstars has to take over.”
Miller on Celtics forward Paul Pierce: “I’ll take defense that wins championships. You need guys that know how to create. Paul Pierce is one of those guys.”
Miller on the resilience of Heat forward LeBron James: “In Playoff basketball, superstars respond and react. That is exactly what LeBron James has done after that lackluster Game 3 performance in the Garden.”
Miller on what was different in the Heat in Game 4: “LeBron James. I thought he was more engaged and active on both ends of the floor.”
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Game 2: Oklahoma City Thunder (133) @ Memphis Grizzlies (123) in triple overtime; Series tied 2-2
Announcers: Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Marty Snider (reporter)
Fratello on Thunder forward Kevin Durant: “This is a guy who is an excellent free throw shooter. That is how big scorers wind up being big scorers. They make their free throws and get a lot of free throw attempts.”
Fratello on Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph: “That is what makes him so tough, not only is he effective and crafty around the basket but he turns and faces up at 18 feet and makes those jump shots.”
Fratello on Thunder guard Nate Robinson injuring his eye compared to Celtics guard Rajon Rondo’s dislocated elbow: “If you think about five stitches and compare that to what Rondo did that’s nothing. He better be ready to play.”
Fratello on the city of Memphis welcoming Zach Randolph: “The city of Memphis is a city that welcomes players with open arms, players that haven’t had the best reputations. This guy has been their best example.”
Fratello on the Memphis community supporting the Grizzlies: “This is a very small community. These people want to support a team and wanted a team that will win. People love to support a winner. Now they finally give them a product and they appreciate it. They have more sell-outs in the Playoffs than they did in regular season.”
Fratello on the OKC Thunder dealing with the pressure of advancing to Round 2 of the Playoffs: “This team has not been this far along. There is a lot of pressure on the youngsters on this roster.”
Fratello on Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley: “He has a sweet tempo to his game. He knows when to pull back out and he knows when to attack.”
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Halftime
Johnson, Smith and Barkley
Smith on the Memphis Grizzlies: “They are the most versatile team left [in the Playoffs]. They can beat you in more ways than anyone can.”
Barkley on the Memphis Grizzlies versatility: “They are the most versatile team left in the Playoffs. This is a big game for them tonight. Whoever wins this game tonight is going to win this series.”
Smith on the difference between great players and great teams: “What makes great players is not how many shots they take or how many shots they don’t take. It is when they take their shots and when they don’t. That is what makes the difference between great players and great teams.”
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Fratello on the closeness of the Memphis Grizzlies: “This is a very close unit, a very tight knit unit. For them being such a young team it is amazing that they have such great chemistry.”
Fratello on the Thunder/Grizzlies Game 4 going into triple overtime: “I can’t wait to see practice tomorrow for these teams.”
TNT’s Marty Snider interviewed OKC Thunder teammates Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant at the end of the game
Durant on playing a triple overtime game: “This was a fun game, I was blessed to be apart of it. Three overtimes, both teams fought hard it was fun. Russell [Westbrook] made some big plays, James [Harden] made some big plays, we did it together.
Durant on the intense pace of Game 4: “That is the best part about it. Coming out here and playing games like this, this is what you live for. It was exciting.”
Westbrook on making a statement in Game 4: “It was just about coming out and being aggressive. I’ve been getting a lot of heat lately but I’m just trying to come out and play my game.”
Westbrook on Game 4 being a turning point: “Coach [Scott Brooks] emphasized that we had to get one game here. So now it is a three game series and we have two games at home, so it should be fun.”
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Inside the NBA
Johnson, Barkley, Smith
Smith on the execution exhibited in the three overtime game between Oklahoma City and Memphis: “You saw a lot of great shots made, but not a lot of great execution. That is why this game went into three overtimes. I thought that both teams were a little bit shaky in terms of execution, but they made big shots.”
Barkley on the Memphis Grizzlies bringing the community together in the wake of devastating flooding: “I know they’re having a tough time down there with all of the floods, but [the Memphis Grizzlies] have got the city gathered [together].”
Barkley on the energetic display in Game 4 from Memphis and Oklahoma City: “As a coach, if my team gives me maximum effort, that’s all I can ask. Both of those teams played as hard as they could tonight… There are two things that are going to be interesting. Number one, how much energy is Oklahoma City going to have in 48 hours and [for] Memphis, psychologically, that’s a tough loss. This next game is going to be a war.”
Barkley on Rajon Rondo playing with an injured elbow: “I don’t think Rondo was 100%, clearly he’s not 100%. I think that he was very limited and he’s the guy that [usually] makes the engine go, but he can only dribble with one hand. For me, he was very good in the first half, but he really struggled in the second half.”
Barkley on the advantage of being a young player in the NBA: “The one thing that has been very evident with these Playoffs is that basketball is a young man’s sport. You saw it with the Spurs [and] you saw it with the Lakers. The Celtics didn’t play with nearly the energy level they had in the last game. I love Kevin Garnett, but I have been a guy who you can sum all of that energy up, but [it needs to show up] in the next game… Father Time is always going to win… When you get to be a certain age in the NBA and you’re playing against a young Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade or LeBron James and the NBA starts stacking those games up every other day, it takes its toll on you.”
Barkley on his experience playing in a three overtime game against the Bulls for the NBA Championship when he was with the Phoenix Suns: “It’s an incredible experience and like [Kevin Durant] said after the game, it’s just a joy to be in that game. But, the difference is going to be, we were playing the Bulls for the Championship and we won that triple overtime game, but the next game was in Chicago. The thing that is going to help Oklahoma City is that they’re jacked up and they’re going home and their crowd is going to give them a great emotional lift. That is a huge advantage for Oklahoma City. I wish that next game when we beat the Bulls out there in Phoenix was [in Phoenix] because that would have helped us. Everybody is tired, mentally and whatever, but it’s a great situation for Oklahoma City. They have a fantastic home crowd and they’re going to help Oklahoma City recover a lot faster.”
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