POSTED: Monday May 25th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the NBA Playoffs – Sunday, May 24, 2009
TNT’s exclusive coverage of the Eastern Conference Finals continues on Tuesday, May 26 with pre-game coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET, followed by Game #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers @ Orlando Magic at 8:30 p.m. ET.
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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller and Kenny Smith
Barkley on why LeBron James’s game-winning shot in Game #2 was more impressive than Michael Jordan’s series-clinching shot in 1989 vs. the Cavaliers: “I thought (LeBron James’ game-winning shot in Game #2) was better than Michael Jordan’s (series-winning) shot (in the 1989 playoffs) because (James’ shot) could’ve closed out a series, too. The Cavaliers weren’t going to win the (NBA) Championship that year (1989) and (the Magic) have a legitimate chance this year to win a championship. That shot may have changed their entire season.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Magic guard Courtney Lee before the game
Lee on how the Magic will react to LeBron James’ game-winning shot: “We’ve been in that situation before. In the Boston series, ‘Big Baby’ (Glenn Davis) came in and hit a big shot so we just let (LeBron James’ shot) fuel us for (Game #3). We need to make sure it doesn’t come down to a last-second shot. We need to get as much separation as we can.”
Smith on how great teams and players should play with a short memory: “I’ve been blessed to be on some great teams and be around some great players and they’ve always had short memories. So you don’t remember the last game (either) positively or negatively because each game has to be its own entity. Great players don’t remember the last shot they missed and great teams don’t remember the last game they lost. That’s the resiliency that you need to be championship team.”
Miller on the Magic needing more fourth quarter offense from Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu: “Dwight Howard needs Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu in the fourth quarter. Those two superstars need to get it going for the Magic. (Howard) is only averaging two or three touches in the fourth quarter and the fourth quarter numbers need to come from Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu.”
TNT’s John Thompson interviewed Magic forward Rashard Lewis in another edition of “Thompson’s Timeoout”
Lewis on how LeBron James’ game-winning shot affected the Magic: “It took a lot out of us. We were really upset about that last shot because we really felt like we had the game won. We felt like him hitting that shot gave them new life and reenergized their team. It gave them confidence that they are back in the series.”
Lewis on what the Magic need to keep up with the Cavaliers early in games: “We have to match their energy at the jump-ball. They come out of the gates and it’s almost like a shock to us. It’s like they are moving faster than us and hitting us before we hit them. If we can make it a ballgame in the first half, hopefully we can continue to play like we’ve been playing in the second half.”
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Orlando Magic (99) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (89) – The Magic lead the series 2-1
Announcers: Marv Albert and Doug Collins; with Craig Sager reporting
Collins on Cavaliers guard Mo Williams taking some difficult shots: “When you’re not shooting well, you want to make sure to get good (shots). I thought (in Game #2 Mo Williams) took some very difficult shots and when you’re not shooting well, you want to make sure you get some good shots.”
Cavaliers guard Mo Williams on LeBron James’ defensive play: “If you’re a fan or any kind or a reporter watching our games, (LeBron James) does everything for us. He does the things that you see and the things that don’t show up in the stat book. (He’ll track) someone down for a wide-open layup that 99.9% of the time would be a layup for any other team and he’ll get a block.”
Collins on the speed of LeBron James: “You just don’t realize how fast (LeBron James) is in the open court.”
Collins on LeBron James creating space for himself: “When LeBron (James) has the ball in his hands, everyone is looking (at him). But when he is moving away from the ball, he is actually freeing himself up (more).”
Collins on LeBron James needing offensive help: “When Delonte West and Mo Williams make shots, it makes LeBron’s life a lot easier.”
Collins on LeBron James putting pressure on the referees: “(LeBron James) is going to create all kinds of contact. He’s a very tough guy to officiate; he reminds me how Allen Iverson and Shaq (O’Neal) are (with) so much contact on all the plays. What’s the foul? Who’s creating the foul? Who’s creating the contact? He puts all kinds of pressure on the referee.”
Collins on Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu playing better on the road: “(Hedo Turkoglu is) one of these guys whose numbers are much better on the road than at home. Normally, players play better at home with the home crowd and the energy. But Hedo is a guy who has played much better on the road, especially in the playoffs.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Magic forward Rashard Lewis after the second quarter
Lewis on how the Magic need to find a way to contain LeBron James: “We’re closing out to their shooters hard but mainly trying to keep the paint closed. But LeBron somehow seems to find his way to the rim every time so we’ve got to contain him a little bit. He’s the only one keeping them in the game.”
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T-Mobile Halftime Report
Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller and Kenny Smith
Barkley on how Magic center Dwight Howard needs to play smarter on defense: “(Dwight Howard) has to be smarter. You can’t help your team sitting on the bench. Sometimes when you are a great player, you need to say, ‘I need to give up these two (points) and I’ll get more on the other end’.”
Barkley on the inconsistency of the officiating in the playoffs: “We’ve got to have a conversation when the playoffs are over about the officiating. I love the officials but the officiating during the playoffs has not been very good. It’s been terrible officiating. They call every little bump foul and they aren’t sure what a flagrant (foul) is.”
Miller: “It’s not so much that they are calling every little bump, it’s the inconsistency between a flagrant-one and a flagrant-two. I think the rules committee needs to get together and expand replay (reviews).”
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Collins on Magic center Dwight Howard becoming more active in the paint: “I like (Dwight Howard’s) activity. They are really looking inside to him and if he can take his time and get some position, (the Magic) can get help and free up a shooter. They can play inside and out, which is their strength.”
Collins on Cavaliers reserve center Ben Wallace: “When you help off of Ben Wallace, he’s an opportunity scorer. When he gets to the offensive boards and gets some dunks, that’s when he is at his best.”
Collins on Magic reserve guard Mickael Pietrus: “(Mickael Pietrus) is a guy who had a lot of injuries this year and they actually got him (as a free agent) to be a starter and to get a little more athletic at the two-guard position. They didn’t know what they would be able to get from Courtney Lee early (in the season). (Pietrus has) been very effective for them.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy after the third quarter
Van Gundy on the Magic having a hard time defending against LeBron James: “If (LeBron James) dribbles, it’s a foul and he’s on the free throw line. It’s very hard to play (against).”
Collins on Dwight Howard needing to expand his game: “(Dwight Howard) is a work in progress as a low post player. When he can step off the lane, face up and shoot a little bank shot off the glass, then his game will start expanding and he can play away from some of that congestion.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Magic center Dwight Howard after the game
Howard on the Magic winning Game #3: “We just kept fighting, that’s what we do, we fight to the end. We can’t worry about (anything), we can’t worry about the calls, we can’t worry about anybody else. We just have to get out there and play.”
Howard on what he said to referee Joey Crawford that got him a technical foul: “I didn’t say anything to Joey Crawford. My response was to the other team. I didn’t say anything to Joey Crawford. I’m not stupid enough to get in his face and say anything so I try to keep it to the other team. It is what it is. We can’t worry about anything else, we just have to come out and beat (the Cavaliers).”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Announcers: Johnson, Barkley, Miller and Smith
Barkley on the officiating in the playoffs: “The referees have been very inconsistent throughout the playoffs. I shouldn’t say that they stink, but I’m going to say it. They’ve been stinking the whole playoffs.”
Miller: “Which one is it? Do they stink or are they inconsistent?”
Barkley: “They’ve been both in some games.”
Miller on Cavaliers guard Mo Williams needing to get more involved offensively: “There really wasn’t any consistency to (Game #3). LeBron James has been a one-man gang and you wonder when Mo Williams is going to get involved offensively. His offense has been non-existent.”
Smith on Mo Williams needing to be more aggressive: “Mo Williams has to be more aggressive and make plays for himself and his teammates. I think they are too dependant on LeBron to make every single play for the team.”
Barkley on Orlando getting past the Cavaliers’ defense: “(The Cavaliers are) not as good defensively as everyone thinks they are because they aren’t stopping anybody. Orlando is getting any shot they want in any situation.”
Smith on someone on the Cavaliers needing to step up offensively to help LeBron James: “You have to make shots, end of story. If you’re Cleveland, you have to have someone other than LeBron get more than 20 points. There’s not a championship team where one guy gets 40 (points) and no one else gets 20 (points). Every single game, somebody has to step up.”
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 · NBA · Basketball · NBA Playoffs · Lebron James · Kenny Smith · Charles Barkley · Magic Johnson · Orlando Magic · Cleveland Cavaliers · Hedo Turkoglu · Rahsard Lewis · Dwight Howard · Marv Albert · Mo Williams · Doug Collins · Joey Crawford ·
Name: Jeff Pomeroy
Organization: Turner Sports
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