POSTED: Friday May 22nd 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the NBA Playoffs – Friday, May 22, 2009
TNT’s exclusive coverage of the Eastern Conference Finals continues on Sunday, May 24 with pre-game coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET followed by Game #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers @ Orlando Magic at 8:30 p.m. ET
TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller and Kenny Smith.
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas before Game #2
Ilgauskas on why the Cavaliers lost Game #1: “I think we just stopped playing our type of basketball. We came out slow in the third quarter and we really didn’t have any energy. We kind of thought that we would just put them away like we did to all the other teams. But this is a different team, they are a lot better than the teams we played before in the playoffs. They came back and made a game out of it and at the end they made the shots when they counted.”
Smith on the offensive limitations of Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard: “I’m not sure if Dwight Howard can average 30 points (per game) in the series. I think there are some offensive limitations that he has. If you keep him away from the basket and make him take some jump hooks here and there, I think he is more of a 20 point guy than a 30 point guy. If I’m Cleveland, I’m encouraged because I really don’t think that Dwight Howard can average 30 points in a series. I know LeBron (James) can average 40 (points per game).”
Barkley on Denver Nuggets guard Carmelo Anthony: “There’s no player in the NBA today that can score like (Carmelo Anthony) inside, outside and now he’s added offensive rebounding to his game. I actually saw him in a defensive stance the other night. His future is so bright, you’re gonna need shades.”
Miller on Kobe Bryant needing some help offensively: “If I’m Kobe Bryant, I’m wondering if I’m going to get some help on the offensive end. I love what Pau Gasol is doing on the boards averaging 15 rebounds (per game) but he is only averaging 15 points (per game). I want to know if (Bryant) is going to get some help offensively.”
Barkley on the Lakers lacking toughness: “You know the Lakers don’t want any of that physical play. They are like my stomach…a little soft.”
Smith on if the Cavaliers are nervous after losing Game #1: “If a team is in the Eastern Conference Finals and they are nervous about being down one game to nothing, they shouldn’t be here. The Cleveland Cavaliers understand the task at hand, they were still in (Game #1) and they missed a shot to win it. They are still right where they need to be and they are comfortable and probably confident.”
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Orlando Magic (95) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (96) – The series is tied 1-1
Announcers: Marv Albert and Doug Collins; with Craig Sager reporting
Collins on what players need to do when they are struggling with their shooting: “When you are struggling (offensively), you want to make sure you get high quality shots.”
Collins on Cavaliers reserve guard Sasha Pavlovic: “(Sasha Pavlovic is) a very underrated defender and he’s a very talented player, and on occasion, he’ll drift (because) the game is easy for him. In the playoffs, you have to be conscience and focused on every single play.”
Collins on Magic reserve guard Mickael Pietrus: “(Mickael Pietrus is) playing with such great confidence right now. The guy is coming off the bench, but he was signed as a free agent to start. He had all sorts of injury problems this year and he’s found a nice role as the sixth man with (guard) Courtney Lee starting.”
Collins on the Cavaliers being more physical with Magic center Dwight Howard: “Dwight Howard is feeling Cleveland’s big men (in Game #2). The other night (in Game #1), he had his way. (In Game #2) they are contesting and fouling, it’s just not the easy step, lay it up or dunk the ball (for Howard).”
Collins on the Magic always having a chance to win because they can score: “I compare it to a boxer who has a knockout punch and is getting beat throughout a fight but has that knockout punch. (The Magic) have a shooting chance. They are the kind of team that can get hot in four or five minutes, hit four or five threes (point shots) and be right back in the game. Anytime you can score, you’ve always got a chance (to win).”
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T-Mobile Halftime Report
Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller and Kenny Smith
Barkley on Orlando’s guards getting around the Cavaliers’ defense: “I’m very disappointed in Cleveland’s defense. They’ve got one of the best defenses in the NBA, but Orlando is getting any shot they want. (Cleveland’s) guards are getting beat off the dribble every single time up and down the court. They are going to have to keep (Orlando’s guards) in front of them.”
Barkley on the Magic going through the motions in Game #2: “You know how you can tell when a team is going through the motions? There are two things I look at: missed free throws – that means they aren’t concentrating – and turnovers. Those are the two things that really killed the Magic in the first half.”
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Collins on the Magic taking advantage of the Cavaliers’ careless play: “It’s amazing…the minute that Cleveland gets careless on offense, it triggers the run-outs (for the Magic).”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown following the third quarter.
Brown on how the Cavaliers need to attack the Magic offensively: “We have to drive the basketball (to the basket). There was a stretch when (the Magic) cut into the lead and we took three or four straight three (point shots). We can’t rely on the three-ball, we have to drive the ball and force the action.”
Collins on the Cavaliers needing to drive to the basket more: “Coming into the fourth quarter, Cleveland has started to drive to the basket and stopped shooting jump shots. That’s what got them in trouble in Game #1.”
Collins on the Cavaliers taking charges: “When you play Cleveland, you have to understand that their big men are going to step up and take charges. They are not going to leave their feet.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Cavaliers guard LeBron James following his last second, game winning three-pointer to win Game #2.
James on his game winning basket: “We just couldn’t afford to go down 0-2 in this series going into Orlando. Once again, Orlando kept their composure after being down, they made a run. That’s just a great shot, man. We have to get ready for Game #3. We’ve got a lot to clean up.”
James on what the Cavaliers need to focus on the rest of the series: “(Orlando) is a very good team. We have to keep our composure and we have to stop them from making easy and open opportunities. We are blowing coverages a lot on the defensive end which is unacceptable. Anytime you blow coverages against a team that executes that well, they are going to make you pay for it. We did that once again tonight…we’ve got to clean that up.”
Collins on James hitting the game winning shot: “That’s what great players do. I was very fortunate to coach Michael Jordan in Cleveland when he hit the shot to win the series (in 1989). When you think of all the shots that have gone against Cleveland and all the different things that they’ve lived with, this guy LeBron James is something special. It was an amazing shot (to win Game #2).”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Announcers: Johnson, Barkley, Miller and Smith
Miller on LeBron James game winning shot: “If you are going to move to the next level (as a player), he’s already a superstar and the face of (the NBA), you need moments like this and you need them on the biggest stage. When there are only four teams left (in the playoffs), LeBron James knowing that his team could go down (two games) heading back to Orlando (for Game #3). This might have salvaged their chances of winning the (Eastern) Conference Finals because now they can go (to Orlando) and just win one (game) instead of two.”
Miller on the Magic getting off to slow starts in the first two games of the series: “If you take away the fast start for the Cavaliers, this might be a ten point win for the Magic. I like how LeBron (James), Mo Williams and the rest of the Cavs came out, but these slow starts are hurting the Magic. If (the Magic) could play them even in the first half, they could have a ten point win and be up 2-0 (in the series).”
Barkley on Magic guard Mickael Pietrus: “(Mickael Pietrus) played great defense against LeBron (in Game #2). He’s been fantastic.”
Miller on Cavaliers forward LeBron James’ work ethic paying off: “The first guy in the gym tonight, at 5:25 (p.m. ET was) LeBron James. That’s when hard work and dedication pays off.”
Barkley: “I don’t know about all that…he just made a hell of a shot.”
Barkley on the Cavaliers being back on their heels despite the Game #2 win: “Cleveland has got issues. They’ve got to do something with (Orlando’s) pick-and-roll. They don’t have any answers for (Hedo) Turkoglu or Rashard Lewis. They were very fortunate that Dwight Howard got into foul trouble (in Game #2). Cleveland is back on their heels and I’m not sure what they can do. Other than LeBron, none of their guys can guard Turkoglu or Lewis. LeBron is going to have to (defend) one of them because both of them are killing (the Cavs).”
Miller on what the Magic need to do to win the Eastern Conference Finals: “For the Magic to win the series, they are going to have to win (in Cleveland) twice. They blew an opportunity in Game #2 with LeBron hitting the (game winning) shot.”
Log onto TNT OverTime on NBA.com for a full replay of Inside the NBA and exclusive reports from TNT announcers.
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Keywords · TNT NBA Tip-off · Ernie Johnson · Craig Sager · Orlando Magic · Cleveland Cavaliers · Denver Nuggets · Los Angeles Lakers · Eastern Conference Finals · Western Conference Finals · NBA · Doug Collins
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