Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Game 2: Miami Heat (85) @ Chicago Bulls (75); The series is tied 1-1
TNT’s coverage of the 2011 NBA Eastern Conference Finals continues on
Sunday, May 22 at 8:30 p.m. (ET)
“Quote of the Day”
TNT Reporter Craig Sager: “Do you feel like you’ve taken control of the series now?”
LeBron James: “No, it’s just starting.”
**** **** **** ****
Pregame
Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Chris Webber
Webber on Miami center Jamaal Magloire playing ahead of Zydrunas Ilgauskus: “Ilgauskus is a better offensive player. Ilgauskus is a better defensive player. And seeing how both of these players can only give you a little bit, Ilgauskus can give you a little more.”
Smith on Miami changing its lineup: “It just says how little things become big things. As good as Magloire played in the first game, he didn’t make the impact. Big Z might make the impact. The worst that he [Ilgauskus] can do is have the same impact. It think you have to try it [suit up Ilgauskus].”
Johnson asking Barkley how this Chicago Bulls team compares defensively to the Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls: “This team [2011 Chicago Bulls] does not compare. First of all, that Bulls [Jordan’s Bulls] team had two players who could play defense. The greatest player [Jordan] and the greatest defender I’ve ever seen in Scottie Pippen. Horace Grant was a good defender but it doesn’t compare.
Johnson: “That team [Jordan’s Bulls] is better?”
Barkley: “No. This team [2011 Bulls] is a better defensive team. There were only two guys on those teams that…I love Steve Kerr but he wasn’t a stopper. I love John Paxson but he wasn’t a stopper. They had Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan who were the two best defenders and Dennis [Rodman] and Horace [Grant] but this team [2011 Bulls], top to bottom with all their guys are better because of two guys Noah and Gibson. They can guard 1s, 2s and 3s.”
Smith: “In this era, this [2011 Bulls] is the best defensive team.”
Game 2: Miami Heat (85) @ Chicago Bulls (75); The series is tied 1-1
Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst), Reggie Miller (analyst) with Craig Sager, reporting.
Kerr on Miami’s collective frame of mind tonight: “It’s all about ball movement and getting some motion offensively for Miami.”
Miller on what Chicago has to do tonight: “Rose and Noah have to set the tone for the [Chicago] defense.”
Kerr on Miami’s lack of bench: “I agree with Erik Spoelstra that his team is a very active, athletic team. I don’t think his bench is. When the two teams go to their respective benches, the energy and athleticism, there is a dramatic shift.”
Miller: Are the Heat being stubborn by not playing Ilgauskus and Erick Dampier? “Eric Spoelstra feels like their not quick enough to keep Noah, Luol Deng and Gibson off the offensive boards. They’re being stubborn. They don’t want to show weakness from Game 1 by saying ‘they should’ve been activated.’”
Kerr on Miami’s matchups: “Spoelstra just likes the matchup with Boozer and Magloire. To me it just shows the lack of depth and the problems Miami has.”
Miller on what Miami needs tonight after a mild start in the game: “You need superhuman efforts from LeBron James and Dwyane Wade and we haven’t seen that in a game-and-a-half.”
Kerr on how Miami has been able to succeed in the playoffs: “Miami has survived throughout these playoffs on free throws. They have scored fewer field goals than their opponents, fewer three-point field goals, they’ve made more turnovers, fewer assists but offensively they really haven’t been great. But from the free-thow line they just kill you.”
Miller on Kyle Korver as a key to Chicago’s outside game: “They are searching for Korver to get going. That’s the last component to this team that has struggled with its outside shooting.”
Kerr to Miller; “Do you agree with what Charles [Barkley] has been saying that [Dallas Mavs forward] Dirk Nowitzki is the best player in the NBA?”
Miller: “It’s hard for me to turn down Kobe Bryant or LeBron James but offensively he’s certainly the most skilled player.”
Kerr: “I would argue that he [Dirk] is clearly better than Kobe Bryant right now. Kobe was ineffective in that series. Dirk Nowitzki, the way he is playing now, I mean, wow!
**** **** **** ****
Halftime
Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Chris Webber
Webber on what Miami has to do in the second half: “They need to be athletic. When these guys [James and Wade] are attacking the rim, nobody in the League can block their shots. This isn’t the most athletic team but they have maybe two of the most athletic guys. The way these two guys go…shake-and-bake…is the way this Miami team will go.”
Barkley naming the greatest “trash talkers” of all time from the “Ask Charles” segment: “The greatest trash talkers ever: Reggie Miller, Gary Payton, Larry Bird, those are the three greatest trash talkers of all-time and I have to put Michael Jordan in there a little bit too.”
**** **** **** ****
Kerr comments with 6:33 left in the third quarter and the Heat leading by four points: “It feels like the tide has turned.”
Kerr on Miami’s offense tonight in the third quarter: “We’ve seen much better action from the heat offense in the game. They made better cuts, sharper cuts, better picks and they’re getting better looks.”
Kerr commenting on Miller’s observation that Chicago’s Derrick Rose is not able to “finish” tonight like in Game 1: “The speed of the Miami defense has Rose thinking just a little bit on those finishes. Miami’s defense, especially their starting unit is as fast as any in the NBA.”
Kerr on Miami forward reserve Udonis Haslem and his contribution to the Heat tonight: “If Miami wins tonight…he’s the headline.”
**** **** **** ****
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Miami Heat forward LeBron James at the end of the game:
James on the performance of teammate Udonis Haslem: “He definitely gets the game ball tonight. He came in with his energy, rebounding, finishing around the basket, making shots when they was making a run and that really helped us.”
Sager: “Do you feel like you’ve taken control of the series now?”
James: “No, it’s just starting.”
**** **** **** ****
Inside the NBA
Johnson, Barkley, Smith and Webber
Webber on Miami’s ball movement: “Ball movement makes it easier. Don’t take bad shots which lead to fast breaks for the other team.”
Barkley on Dallas Mavs guard Jason Kidd: “People underestimate Jason Kidd. He’s one of the great leaders in our sport.”
No comments:
Post a Comment