The Starting Five

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

TNT’s “40 Games in 40 Nights” NBA Playoffs coverage continues on Wednesday, April 22^nd with the Miami Heat @ Atlanta Hawks (Game #2) at 8 p.m. ET followed by the New Orleans Hornets @ Denver Nuggets (Game #2).

Complete upcoming TV schedule follows the notes.

-Mizzo.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“I understand what he meant by Charles carrying a team, but how could Reggie carry a team weighing 130/135 pounds?” — Kenny Smith on Reggie Miller supposedly reading a Blackberry Mailbag Question on air -‘What is it like to carry a team in the Playoffs?’ from him

“Reggie carried a team (and) Reggie definitely weighs more than 135 pounds. Those ears alone weigh 45 pounds.” — Barkley

TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com

Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith

Barkley to Ernie Johnson on the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship trophy: “That thing ain’t big enough to get your whole forehead in it.”

Barkley on Mavericks center Erick Dampier’s comments that he will ‘put Spurs guard Tony Parker on his back’ on his first foul in game #3: “I’m very disappointed in Erick Dampier, I think he should have said ‘every time he drives I’m going to knock him on his (butt)’. This little sissy NBA, if a guy comes in the lane thinking he’s at practice you have to put him on his (ass).”

Smith on the Boston Celtics losing forward Leon Powe: “They lack depth and the one thing that got them through the playoffs last year was guys like Eddie House, PJ Brown, all of these guys coming off the bench and making a contribution.”

Barkley on how the loss of Celtics forward Leon Powe will impact the Celtics: “Powe is a good player, but they still should beat the Bulls. They are getting beat by Ben Gordon and Derrick Rose. They are not getting beat by big guys…whoever wins the next game is going to win the series.”

****    ****    ****    ****    *****

Game #1:  Detroit Pistons (82) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (94) – Cleveland leads series 2-0

Announcers: Kevin Harlan and Doug Collins. Pam Oliver reporting

Collins on Cavaliers forward LeBron James’ passing ability: “I’ve always said that’s the best part of his game. You talk about all the other parts of his game; he’s a great passer and he loves to pass…LeBron loves to pass the basketball.”

Collins on Cavaliers guards Mo Williams and Delonte West: “What an addition as a second option (Williams), a guy who can create his own shot off the dribble, so can Delonte West and LeBron, which means that LeBron doesn’t have to make all the plays. They have other guys who can make plays, which is so important in the playoffs when teams scout you well.”

Collins on Cavaliers forward Joe Smith: “What’s interesting about Joe Smith, he was the #1 pick in the draft, and he’s played on so many teams you think ‘this is a guy you don’t want on your team.’ Actually, he’s a guy you love on your team. Everybody raves about Joe Smith; the way he is in the locker room and how he plays…There was very little learning curve for him. Joe Smith didn’t miss a beat (when the Cavaliers signed him).”

Collins on the Cleveland Cavaliers: “They have all the ingredients to be an NBA champion. So much of being a champion as a team is being a team that has that trust and connectiveness. You see it on the practice court, they love to play together.”

Collins on the poor season of the Detroit Pistons: “I know Joe Dumars is going to do his best to change this team and really give them a chance to have some success. I don’t know that any coach could have been successful with this team this year. It just never fit. Once the trade was made and Chauncey Billups was gone, this team has never been the same.  They’ve had injuries and they’ve just been disjointed.”

****    ****    ****    ****    *****

T-Mobile Halftime Report

Announcers: Johnson, Barkley and Smith

Smith on the Cleveland Cavaliers being a championship contender: “One of things you look for is diversity, you have a great player in LeBron James, but you have to diversify your funds…they are able to shoot the long ball, which really spreads the floor (and) they also are a threat to drive…what does that create, another avenue for the best player in basketball, on the East coast at least, to score.”

Barkley on the Detroit Pistons: “You can’t fake hustle. You either have to be into the game or not. Cleveland is trying to win the championship and Detroit has one foot in Cancun. They are packing up their stuff as we speak.”

****    ****    ****    ****    *****

Collins on Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey: “He just doesn’t believe in that jump shot yet. The difference between him and Chauncey Billups is that Chauncey would have been behind that three point line and shot a three.”

Collins on the improved play of LeBron James this season: “That’s what makes great players; attention to detail. I’ve said it on many telecasts, one of things that has really helped his game is being on the Olympic team for three summers. Now what you’ve done is taking this incredible athlete with so many gifts and now he is fundamentally sound. He repeats and does the same things over and over again.”

Collins on LeBron James overall game: “He was forced to be a scorer when he entered the league to give them a chance to win. I don’t think his nature is to be a big scorer, I think his nature is to get more triple doubles.”

Collins on Cavaliers guard Delonte West: “Delonte West is a power player in a point guard’s body.”

Harlan on the Pistons: “The question is does Detroit want to come back here for a Game #5?”

Collins: “They don’t look like it right now.”

Collins on the personalities of head coach Mike Brown and forward LeBron James: “When you talk to Mike Brown before the game, he is one of the most humble guys you could ever talk to. And you talk to LeBron James and you just want to be around him. Those guy’s personalities are what this team is all about, and that’s not by accident.”

Collins on the effort of the Piston reserves: “Isn’t it amazing when you play with energy and toughness what kind of results you get?”

Harlan: “It doesn’t take much, just work.”

Collins on Pistons guard Will Bynum: “This (Will) Bynum has some kind of speed and quickness and if he gets some consistency on that that mid-range jump shot, he can score.”

****    ****    ****    ****

Game #2:  Utah Jazz (109) @ Los Angeles Lakers (119) – Lakers lead the series tied 2-0.

Announcers: Marv Albert and Reggie Miller. Craig Sager reporting

Albert on Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan saying he expected his team to be ‘nasty’ in Game #2: “It’s hard to be nasty if you aren’t committing fouls. That was the first foul by the Jazz.”

Miller: “This is almost becoming a layup drill for the Lakers.”

Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan, interviewed by Craig Sager, on his team giving up 41 points in the first quarter: “I thought our guys were playing hard and trying hard, they just overpowered us.”

Miller on the toughness as a player of Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan: “I know another guy who could bring that physical presence, if I see Jerry Sloan go into that locker room and come out in that old Chicago Bulls uniform.”

Albert: “I don’t think that is going to happen.”

Miller: “It’s too bad, that might be what it’s going to take.”

Miller on Lakers forward Shannon Brown: “They thought Adam Morrison was going to get the bulk of the minutes coming out of that trade (for Vladimir Radmanovic), but it has been (Shannon) Brown and his relentless effort at the defensive end, especially going against bigger guards.”

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant on teammate Shannon Brown: “That just came out of nowhere, because none of us had really seen him play. He got an opportunity to play a little bit in Charlotte, but we didn’t really see him too much so we didn’t know that he could shot that ball so well, that he could handle the ball that well, that he could defend as well and make plays for others. He’s just been a pleasant surprise.”

Miller on Lakers guard Kobe Bryant: “This is almost like a Thanksgiving Day feast; he (Bryant) is just carving up the Utah defense.”

****    ****    ****    ****    *****

T-Mobile Halftime Report

Announcers: Johnson, Barkley and Smith

Barkley on the Jazz not playing enough defense to beat the Lakers: “The Jazz played no defense. If the coach calls you out for not playing any defense and you give up 61 points in the first half, that’s not good.”

Smith on Reggie Miller supposedly reading a Blackberry Mailbag Question on air -‘What is it like to carry a team in the Playoffs?’ from him: “I understand what he meant by Charles carrying a team, but how could Reggie carry a team weighing 130/135 pounds?”

Barkley: “Reggie carried a team (and) Reggie definitely weighs more than 135 pounds. Those ears alone weigh 45 pounds.”

Smith on the lack of adjustments by the Utah Jazz: “The whole Laker team is doing what they want. There has been no adjustment, and that is what the Playoffs are all about. It’s not about wins and losses, it’s about making adjustments and there has been no visible, there may have been talk in the locker room, but no visible adjustments.”

****    ****    ****    ****    *****

Miller on the Utah Jazz: “I’m seeing signs of defensive life by the Utah Jazz.”

Miller on the poor interior defense of the Utah Jazz: “Every single time that Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum are catching the ball it’s in the paint.”

Miller on Lakers guard Kobe Bryant: “He reminds me so much of Michael Jordan, who had such fantastic footwork…It’s all about the fundamentals, the mechanics and the footwork that separates him from anybody else that’s currently in the NBA.”

Miller on the miscues by both teams in the fourth quarter of Jazz/Lakers Game #2: “Do the Lakers want to win this game or do the Jazz want to go get it? Both teams are like ‘you take it, no you take it.”

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Lakers guard Kobe Bryant following the game

Bryant on if the Game #2 victory was more difficult than it should have been: “Yes but (the Jazz) are a great team and they are going to keep coming.  They’re not a true eighth seed.  The style of play they have, they are going to keep coming and stay in the game.  We just have to try to shut the door.”

Bryant on the Lakers adjusting their game plan to shut down Jazz point guard Deron Williams: “We’ll do what we can but (Deron Williams is) an incredible basketball player.  When he starts to get going in a rhythm, you have to try to disrupt him as much as you can.  The key is to keep him off the free throw line and keep the other guys in check.”

****    ****    ****    ****    *****

Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai

Announcers: Johnson, Barkley and Smith

Barkley on the Lakers needing to maintain a higher level of play: “At some point, the Lakers have to kick into another gear.  They are a better team (than the Jazz) and they are just winning because they are a better team.  They’re not playing with any sense of urgency.  I’m looking forward to watching them play (Game #3) on Thursday because I want to see what attitude they come out with.  They have only played one good half (in Games #1 and #2) and have chilled out in the second half.  It might not catch up with them now, but it will at some point.”

Smith on the Jazz outplaying the Lakers and still losing: “(The Jazz) played harder and better (than the Lakers) but they don’t have the talent level to compete.”

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed injured Jazz center Mehmet Okur after the game

Okur on missing the first two games of the series vs. the Lakers: “It’s not fun at all.  I wish I was out there for the first two games.  It’s tough, you play all 82 (regular season) games and it’s just bad timing.  Stuff like that happens.  I’ve got to look forward to getting healthy and we’ll go from there.”

Barkley on players coming back from injury to play in the playoffs: “You just can’t come back in the middle of a playoff series and everything is going to be ready to go.  Anytime you have injuries where you miss an extended amount to time, it takes two to three weeks to have confidence in your body and get your conditioning back.  That stuff you do by yourself, those little trick drills, that’s not the same as trying to move against NBA players.”

TNT’s Pam Oliver interviewed Cavaliers guard LeBron James following their Game #2 win

James on being disappointed with the Cavaliers despite the victory: “I’m not happy, I’m very disappointed.  For the first time in a long time, we played the lead.  We can’t do that.  The one thing we want to do is to continue to get better and play hard all four quarters and in the fourth quarter (in Game #2) we played with the lead.  We didn’t play with the aggression that we’ve been playing with.  I was very disappointed with our team and we’re going to get that ironed out.”

Barkley on the Pistons being finished in the playoffs: “Do you know what the definition of ‘dead’ is?  (The definition is) when (Pistons reserve players) Will Bynum and Amir Johnson are defending your team.  When guys on your bench are saying (to the media) that they need to play harder…that’s why this (series) is going to be quick and painless.”

Johnson: “What are the chances of a (Cavaliers) sweep in the series (against the Pistons)?

Barkley: “100 percent.”

TNT’s Laura Green interviewed Orlando Magic center and Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard

Howard on the film session with head coach Stan Van Gundy following their Game #1 loss: “It was fine, he just told us what we needed to do to beat the Philadelphia 76ers.  He didn’t’ come down on us and it wasn’t a bash session.  There were a lot of mistakes made in (Game #1) that we need to capitalize on if we want to win the series.  We’re looking forward to Game #2.”

Barkley on Magic reserve Marcin Gortat’s comments that head coach Stan Van Gundy panics during games and makes the team nervous: “Coach Van Gundy has done a great job in Orlando but he is so hyper.  Teams take on a coach’s personality and I think sometimes he gets so animated and so hyper it makes the team uncomfortable but he’s a hell of a coach.”

Log onto TNT OverTime on NBA.com for a full replay of Inside the NBA and exclusive reports from TNT announcers.

NBA Playoffs Action Continues on TNT and NBA TV

TNT’s “40 Games in 40 Nights” coverage of the NBA Playoffs continues tonight, April 22 at 8 p.m. ET with Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat visiting Joe Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks in the second game of the series.  The Hawks won Game #1 of the series.  Calling the action will be Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Cheryl Miller (reporter).  At 10:30 p.m. ET, Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets host Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets in Game #2 of their series. The Nuggets lead the best-of-seven series, 1-0.  Matt Devlin (play-by-play), P.J. Carlesimo (analyst) and Marc Fein (reporter) will call the game.  The night will conclude with the Emmy® award-winning studio show Inside the NBA with Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst).

The NBA action continues on Thursday, April 23 with TNT airing a doubleheader featuring Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls trying to bounce back in Game #3 against Ray Allen and the Boston Celtics.  The series is tied at one game apiece.  Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Doug Collins (analyst) and David Aldridge (reporter) will call the game.  The second game of the doubleheader features Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers visiting Deron Williams and the Utah Jazz at 10:30 p.m. ET. The Lakers lead the series two games to none. Sitting courtside will be Marv Albert (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter).  To finish the evening’s coverage, Ernie Johnson, Barkley and Smith will break down the action on Inside the NBA.

NBA TV will also continue to provide extensive coverage of the 2009 NBA Playoffs on Wednesday, April 16 with Game #2 between the Philadelphia 76ers @ Orlando Magic. Host Ahmad Rashad and analysts Gary Payton and Chris Webber will tip off the night at 6:30 p.m. ET with the game airing at 7 p.m. ET.

On Thursday, April 17, the San Antonio Spurs will battle the Dallas Mavericks in Game #3 of their best-of-seven series on NBA TV.  Rashad (host), Payton and Webber (analysts) will preview the game starting at 7:30 p.m. ET with the action getting underway at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Exclusive content, analysis from TNT announcers and replays of Inside the NBA are available on TNT OverTime on NBA.com. The broadband channel offers an all-access pass to the excitement and drama of the NBA Playoffs, with special features and reports being added throughout the postseason.

NBA PLAYOFFS ON TNT SCHEDULE

DAY/DATE

TIME (ET)             EVENT

Wednesday, April 22
8 p.m.	NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
8 p.m.	Miami Heat @ Atlanta Hawks (Game #2) Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Cheryl Miller (reporter)
10:30 p.m.	New Orleans Hornets @ Denver Nuggets (Game #2) Matt Devlin (play-by-play), P.J. Carlesimo (analyst) and Marc Fein (reporter)
Post-game	Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
Thursday, April 23
8 p.m.	NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
8 p.m.	Boston Celtics @ Chicago Bulls (Game #3) Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Doug Collins (analyst) and David Aldridge (reporter)
10:30 p.m.	L.A. Lakers @ Utah Jazz (Game #3) Marv Albert (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
Post-game	Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
Saturday, April 25
3:30 p.m.	NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
4 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs @ Dallas Mavericks (Game #4) Marv Albert (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Marty Snider (reporter)
6:30 p.m.	Atlanta Hawks @ Miami Heat (Game #3) Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Cheryl Miller (reporter)
Sunday, April 26
6 p.m.	NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com Ernie Johnson (host) and analysts Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Chris Webber
6:30 p.m.	Orlando Magic @ Philadelphia 76ers (Game #4) Matt Devlin (play-by-play), P.J. Carlesimo (analyst) and Laura Green (reporter)
9 p.m.	Portland Trail Blazers @ Houston Rockets (Game #4) Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Doug Collins (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
Post-game	Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai Ernie Johnson (host) and analysts Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Chris Webber

NBA PLAYOFFS ON NBA TV SCHEDULE

Wednesday, April 22
6:30 – 7 p.m.	AutoTrader.com Pregame Show Ahmad Rashad (host), Chris Webber (analyst) and Gary Payton (analyst)
7 p.m.	Philadelphia 76ers @ Orlando Magic (Game #2) Local Announcers
9:30 – 10:30 p.m.	NBA GameTime presented by Hyundai (76ers/Magic Game #2 postgame) Ahmad Rashad (host), Chris Webber (analyst) and Gary Payton (analyst)
1 – 2 a.m.	NBA GameTime (Hornets/Nuggets Game #2 postgame) Ahmad Rashad (host), Chris Webber (analyst) and Gary Payton (analyst)
2 – 2:30 a.m.	NBA GameTime Ahmad Rashad (host), Chris Webber (analyst) and Gary Payton (analyst)
Thursday, April 23
7:30 – 8 p.m.	NBA GameTime Ahmad Rashad (host), Chris Webber (analyst) and Gary Payton (analyst)
8 – 8:30 p.m.	AutoTrader.com Pregame Show Ahmad Rashad (host), Chris Webber (analyst) and Gary Payton (analyst)
8:30 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs @ Dallas Mavericks (Game #3) Local Announcers
11 p.m. – 12 a.m.	NBA GameTime (Spurs/Mavericks Game #3 postgame) Ahmad Rashad (host), Chris Webber (analyst) and Gary Payton (analyst)
12 – 1 a.m.	NBA GameTime (Celtics/Bulls Game #3 postgame) Ahmad Rashad (host), Chris Webber (analyst) and Gary Payton (analyst)
1 – 2 a.m.	NBA GameTime (Lakers/Jazz Game #3 postgame) Ahmad Rashad (host), Chris Webber (analyst) and Gary Payton (analyst)
2 – 2:30 a.m.	NBA GameTime Ahmad Rashad (host), Chris Webber (analyst) and Gary Payton (analyst)
Friday, April 24
6 – 6:30 p.m.	NBA GameTime Rick Kamla (host) and Steve Smith (analyst)
9:30 – 10:30 p.m.	NBA GameTime (Cavaliers/Pistons Game #3 postgame) Rick Kamla (host) and Steve Smith (analyst)
10:30 – 11:30 p.m.	NBA GameTime (Magic/76ers Game #3 postgame) Rick Kamla (host) and Steve Smith (analyst)
1 – 2 a.m.	NBA GameTime (Trail Blazers/Rockets Game #3 postgame) Rick Kamla (host) and Steve Smith (analyst)
2 – 2:30 a.m.	NBA GameTime Rick Kamla (host) and Steve Smith (analyst)
Saturday, April 25
12:30 – 1 p.m.	NBA GameTime Rick Kamla (host) and Eric Snow (analyst)
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.	NBA GameTime (Nuggets/Hornets Game #3 postgame) Rick Kamla (host) and Eric Snow (analyst)
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.	NBA GameTime (Spurs/Mavericks Game #4 postgame) Rick Kamla (host) and Eric Snow (analyst)
9 – 10 p.m.	NBA GameTime (Hawks/Heat Game #3 postgame) Rick Kamla (host) and Eric Snow (analyst)
11:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.	NBA GameTime (Lakers/Jazz Game #4 postgame) Rick Kamla (host) and Eric Snow (analyst)
1 – 2 a.m.	NBA GameTime Rick Kamla (host) and Eric Snow (analyst)
Sunday, April 26
12 – 12:30 p.m.	NBA GameTime Rick Kamla (host) and Steve Smith (analyst)
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.	NBA GameTime (Celtics/Bulls Game #4 postgame) Rick Kamla (host) and Steve Smith (analyst)
6 – 7 p.m.	NBA GameTime (Cavaliers/Pistons Game #4 postgame) Rick Kamla (host) and Steve Smith (analyst)
9 – 10 p.m.	NBA GameTime (Magic/76ers Game #4 postgame) Rick Kamla (host) and Steve Smith (analyst)
11:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.	NBA GameTime (Trail Blazers/Rockets Game #4 postgame) Rick Kamla (host) and Steve Smith (analyst)
1 – 2 a.m.	NBA GameTime Rick Kamla (host) and Steve Smith (analyst)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 at 5:23 pm and is filed under Blogroll. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.