The Starting Five

(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

TNT’s “40 Games in 40 Nights” NBA Playoffs coverage continues on Tuesday, May 5th with the Atlanta Hawks @ Cleveland Cavaliers (Game #1) at 8 p.m. ET followed by the Dallas Mavericks @ Denver Nuggets (Game #2) at 10:30 p.m. ET.

Game #1:  Orlando Magic (95) @ Boston Celtics (90) - Orlando leads the series 1-0.

Announcers: Marv Albert and Reggie Miller; with David Aldridge reporting

Celtics guard Ray Allen on playing increased minutes during the Round #1 series against the Bulls: “A lot has been said about that last series and how we played every game, a couple of us were playing 50-plus minutes. But this is the time of year that you have to stay in the game. Last year I played 48 minutes, we played out in L.A. during the Finals and it’s like what are you saving it for? That’s what I’m thinking, what the rest of the guys are thinking, Doc (Rivers) is saying the same thing. Whatever it takes we are going to do what we have to do to win.”

Miller on NBA players giving their all during the playoffs: “I think that’s why (Celtics coach Doc Rivers) was adamant that he really wanted (to win) Game #6 in Chicago, so his older veteran team could rest.  I like what Ray (Allen) is saying, these are the playoffs, you get enough rest during the summer. ‘We are the defending champs, we are going to come out and we’re going to play every game. I don’t care, this is the playoffs, there is no time to rest, we’ll rest during the summer.’”

Miller on Celtics guard Ray Allen who is likely going to break Miller’s all-time three-point record: “Of course I love Ray Allen. In a couple of years he should break my all-time three point mark, and what better guy to do it? He and I had very similar pregame routines and I respect that from a player like Ray Allen.”

TNT’s David Aldridge interviewed Magic forward Rashard Lewis at halftime.

Lewis on what is working for the Magic in the first half: “We’re talking on the defensive end, we’re jumping out on the screens and we’re staying on top of Ray (Allen). When you get stops and you’re able to run out and get cross-matches and you got wide open shots, it spreads the floor a little for us and we’re a better team when we run.”

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T-Mobile Halftime Report

Announcers: Johnson, Barkley, Smith and Webber

Barkley on the matchup between the Magic and Celtics: “You can already hear the excuses coming, (the Celtics) were tired and blah, blah, blah. Orlando has a better team, they are too big, they are too deep and they’ve got too many mismatches.  (The Celtics) don’t have anyone who can guard Rashard Lewis or (Hedo) Turkoglu. People say (Kendrick) Perkins can guard Dwight Howard, not in his wildest damn dream can he guard Dwight Howard.”

Barkley on the Magic growing up during the series clinching Game #6 against Philadelphia when center Dwight Howard was out on suspension: “I think the one thing that’s helped (Orlando) the most is to stop shooting so many threes. They learned that better against Philadelphia when Dwight Howard was out. ‘We don’t have to settle for threes all night, we can put the ball down on the floor.’  I really think they grew up a lot in that one game against Philadelphia, the clincher, because they didn’t have Dwight Howard, who is a stud. But they have a bunch of good players, I like (Mickael) Pietrus coming off the bench, I like (Marcin) Gortat.”

Webber on why having Celtics forward Glen Davis overly involved is not a good move for the Celtics: “One reason why it’s such a good matchup is everybody says that Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis needs to take advantage of the post. I used to love playing against teams when they thought we had an extra small point guard or they had something on a mismatch and the person got out of character. No disrespect, but Big Baby is a guy who gets his points off of everyone else, he’s not a guy who is going to set up and post up and go off for 20.  When you see the main guys haven’t scored and you see Big Baby being a main focus, I think he should be a focus, but that’s fool’s gold because on the other end he can’t check (Rashard) Lewis. Not only will Lewis score or if he doesn’t score his penetration allows scoring for other people. That could be a real problem during the series.”

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Miller on the Celtics needing to resist the temptation to shoot jump shots: “Doc Rivers had a theme he was telling his team; stop settling for jump shots. You can’t settle for jump shots especially against the Magic. You know their offense with (J.J.) Redick, Rashard Lewis and (Hedo) Turkoglu, (they are) able to knock down threes, so you get lured into that false sense of security that you can shoot with them and you can’t. You’ve got to pound the ball down low.”

Miller on Celtics guard Rajon Rondo challenging Magic center Dwight Howard on a shot and getting the foul call on Howard: “I like the young fella’s courage right here, (Rajon Rondo) taking it into the Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard, who led the league in blocks as well…take the challenge and Rondo goes chest to chest and gets the foul on Dwight Howard.”

TNT’s David Aldridge interviewed Magic center Dwight Howard after Orlando defeated Boston in Game #2.

Howard on allowing the Celtics to make a comeback in the second half to make it a close game: “We got complacent as a team, we stopped doing what we did to get the lead, and playing against a good Celtics team you can’t do that.  I’m not happy with how we ended the game, that’s not Magic basketball. We’re going to go in there and I’m going to get my troops together, we’re up against a good team like Boston, we can’t do that.  They played great. I told the guys in the locker room, ‘we can’t get complacent, we’ve got to finish these guys off, if we let them hang around they are going to come back.’ I’m not happy.”

Howard on why they let the Celtics come back in the second half: “We stopped doing what we are supposed to do. In the first half it was moving the ball, pick and roll, getting to the paint and getting shots. In the second half we did it one-on-one, we can’t let them set up in the half court on defense. We’ve got to talk about that.”

Howard on how he felt coming back from his one-game suspension “I was a little rusty, coming off it felt like I was out for 10 games after missing one game. I was a little anxious, ready to go, I’ve just got to calm down. I’m looking at film and will be ready for Game #2. It’s a win. And I came up with my wrestling name, Black Magic.”

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Southwest Game Break

Barkley on the Magic shooting too many three-pointers in the second half: “(The Magic) just went three happy in the third and fourth quarters and let Boston back in this game. It was just ridiculous. When you shoot a lot of threes they are just fast break starters, that’s all they are. When a team comes back that much you’re not getting good shots.  On a 24-second shot clock the only way a team can make up 30 points that quickly is you’ve got to be jacking up threes from all over the building.”

Barkley on the Magic letting the Celtics steal the momentum going into Game #2: “The thing that is frustrating about this game is (the Magic) let the Celtics get momentum going into the next game. (Orlando) could have done a lot of damage if (Boston) had lost this game by 25 or 30 points, it would have put a lot of doubt in their mind. There are some times when you win a game but you lose a game because now Boston is going to have all the momentum going into the second game.”

Smith on the advantage the Celtics have in the backcourt against the Magic: “There was one thing I noticed that I didn’t realize was so glaring and that is the Orlando Magic backcourt, Rafer Alston and J.J. Redick. Really when Boston got rolling (those two guys) couldn’t handle their backcourt with Eddie House, Stephon Marbury, Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen. The big advantage that Orlando has on the inside, now it seems that Boston will feel that they have the same advantage on the perimeter.”

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Game #2:  Houston Rockets (100) @ L.A. Lakers (92) - Houston leads the series 1-0.

Announcers: Kevin Harlan, Doug Collins with David Aldridge reporting

Collins on Lakers guard Kobe Bryant getting into a scuffle at the end of a play: “Kobe (Bryant) reminds me of Michael (Jordan) in so many different ways. Right now (Bryant) is a little bit flat, he doesn’t feel well.  He got a little upset at the end of the play. A lot of times when I coached Michael he looked for something just to get him fired up and get him into this game.”

Collins on Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic: “That’s what I call the irritant, (Sasha) Vujacic is a guy who gets up and does a nice job with his speed and quickness. His three-point shooting is so important, but he really struggled (with it) in the Utah series.”

Collins on the combination of the Rockets playing well and the Lakers shaky play for the first half: “(Houston has) done a nice job. I think a lot of it is the Lakers are out of synch right now. But like I always say, you’re not playing solitaire, so sometimes it has to do with your opponent. Why are you out of synch? The Rockets have done a nice job. I watched Phil Jackson who was not happy with the ball movement, thought there was too much dribbling. A lot of time with a layoff that’s what happens, (Jackson) was worried about the shooting.  They are a little bit out of synch, but a lot of it is how well the Houston Rockets have played.”

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T-Mobile Halftime Report

Announcers: Johnson, Barkley, Smith and Webber

Barkley on the Rockets needing to lead by more points after their good first half: “I think (the Rockets) are disappointed because it is their pace and they would like to be up more than three (points). The Lakers really didn’t play well, they came out really sluggish and it’s the perfect Rocket pace so they should be up more than three. I think if you’re Rick Adelman, ‘wow we played pretty good and they played bad,’ but they are only up three, so I’m concerned.”

Webber on the Rockets not taking advantage of the Lakers mistakes: “It’s not about how you play, sometimes it is whether you take advantage of the other team’s mistakes because there is going to be a run.”

Barkley on the toughness of basketball players: “I like Shane Battier, he got stitched up and he came right back out. We’re not soft like football players, they’ve got all them pads and helmets and things on. Seth Joyner, Hines Ward, Bo Jackson, T.O., softer than tissue paper.”

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Collins on the size of the Rockets creating tough matchups for the Lakers: “The size of the Rockets, Yao Ming, (Luis) Scola, (Ron) Artest who is strong and has that big body, now when (the Lakers) drive in there you’re not having those open lanes that you had against Utah, and it’s throwing the Lakers off here early. They are not getting those finishes at the rim that we’ve seen before. Lamar (Odom) has not been able to get the speed and quickness matchup that he had in the first round.”

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Lakers coach Phil Jackson after the third quarter.

Jackson on Sager’s suit: “Try to get you away from my bench with that Bozo the Clown suit you’ve got on there, you’re scaring my people. Look at this thing.”

Jackson on what the Lakers need to do to win: “We do have to play better defense, we’ve got to tighten up, they made some great shots at the end of the quarter. We have to tighten that up a little. Offensively, I think we got going a little bit. I’m still not happy with the way we are using Pau (Gasol).”

Collins on how the Rockets need to respond to the comeback by the Lakers: “This is where the Rockets can’t start looking over their shoulder. When it has happened to you (many times), all of a sudden it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. This is where they’ve got to be tough, this is where they’ve got to dig in.”

Collins on Rockets center Yao Ming: “I’ve got to tell you, I love this Yao Ming. You talk about giving your heart and soul. Do you know how hard it is for him every single night to drive that body up and down the floor?”

Collins on the Lakers’ loss being a wake-up call in the playoffs: “It was like it was too easy, ‘we can score whenever we want to,’ and tonight that’s not been the case. (The Lakers) are going to get their message from the coach, Phil Jackson has been through a lot of these battles. Sometimes you’ve got to lose the home court to get that edge back.”

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Rockets center Yao Ming after Houston’s win over the Lakers in Game #1.

Yao Ming on hurting his leg in the fourth quarter: “This injury is not that hard, the moment I got hit that was pretty bad, but I knew I’m fine. I just needed to walk around a little bit and let the sore go away so I can come back to the game.”

Yao Ming on whether hurting his leg made him think back to his previous knee injuries: “No, don’t take it that way, that would scare me.”

Yao Ming on stealing the home court from the Lakers in Game #1: “I think we are hungry to win the first game, like we had in the first round, we set the tone for the entire series. We know we have to respect them and come back strong in Game #2, but tonight we are really proud of all the players.”

Yao Ming on the defensive play of Ron Artest and Shane Battier: “You have to give our two best perimeter defenders credit, Shane Battier and Ron Artest did an incredible job guarding Kobe (Bryant). Obviously we need to put more effort in there in Game #2, but tonight they did a great job on him.”

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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai

Announcers: Johnson, Barkley, Smith and Webber

Barkley on the Lakers having trouble containing Rockets guard Aaron Brooks: “I don’t think it was a wake-up call, I think the Rockets just outplayed (the Lakers).  They outplayed them in every aspect of the game.  The Lakers need to speed up the tempo of the game because the Rockets want to play a lot slower.  But (the Lakers) have one big problem…(guard) Derek Fisher cannot keep (Rockets guard) Aaron Brooks in front of him.  (Brooks) broke down the defense every single time.  (The Lakers) have to play (guard) Jordan Farmar because he’s a better defender than Derek (Fisher).  Derek is a great player but he’s an older guy who’s played in a lot of games.  It all started tonight with Aaron Brooks.”

Smith compares the Rockets/Lakers match-up to a boxing match: “It looks like a guy (Lakers) who had an easy fight playing the Utah Jazz.  Then all of a sudden, he’s in the ring against someone who is fighting back in the Houston Rockets.  So you went from a guy who’s dancing to a guy who’s slugging.  The Rockets are slugging right now.”

Barkley on what it means to the Rockets to win Game #1 after the Lakers dominated their regular season series: “I don’t think it means anything but it puts them in a good position in the series.  The regular season means absolutely nothing right now.  The Rockets are in good shape right now and the Lakers are clearly in a must-win situation for Game #2.  Every game is different in the playoffs and you can’t worry about what happened in (the regular season).  The next game on Wednesday night, the Lakers are going to come out fired up.”

Webber on how the Magic need to run an up-tempo offense: “When (the Magic) run, they can shoot three’s in transition because they get their feet set, guys are coming down and lay-ups are available.  If they don’t (run), the offense is in trouble.”

Barkley on the Celtics struggling with match-ups against the Magic compared to their first round series against the Chicago Bulls: “This series is a different animal for (the Celtics).  They’ve got a bunch of tough match-ups (against the Magic).  It’s going to tough for them to match-up against (Magic forwards) Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis.  The game of basketball is all about match-ups.”

Smith on how it could become more difficult for LeBron James to win multiple MVP Awards: “Once you win (the MVP Award), the expectation of what you can do in the regular season changes.  So if he has this exact same year next year, the expectation is ‘you’re supposed to win 60 games, you’re supposed to have 25-30 points a night and you’re supposed to be in the NBA playoffs and Finals.’  The Shaquille O’Neal syndrome, the Kobe Bryant syndrome and the Michael Jordan syndrome of always expecting to be greater sometimes hurts you.  I don’t know if he will win (multiple MVPs) because there will be other guys who have years you don’t expect.”

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