The Starting Five

(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

TNT’s “40 Games in 40 Nights” NBA Playoffs coverage continues on Sunday, May 10th with a special half-hour edition of NBA Tip-Off at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by the Boston Celtics @ Orlando Magic (Game #4) at 8 p.m. ET.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“No, I just made the shot and I think that’s what happens when you start bustin’ someone.  They get upset like that and resort to bush league tactics.  We’re above that, we’re not into that and we’re just going to play basketball and keep trying to put wins on the board.”

– Celtics guard Eddie House, in an interview with TNT’s David Aldridge after the game, on if he said something to Magic guard Rafer Alston that caused Alston to slap him in the back of the head.

Game #1:  Orlando Magic (94) @ Boston Celtics (112) - Series tied 1-1

Announcers: Marv Albert, Reggie Miller with David Aldridge reporting

Miller on Magic guard J.J. Reddick: “(J.J. Reddick) knows he can compete, he can shoot and (opponents) aren’t going to out-work him.”

Celtics guard Paul Pierce on his team’s focus going into Game #2: “Our focus is on what our mind set needs to be to win the ballgame.  The sense of urgency has to be from start to finish.  We don’t want to go to Orlando after two games down 2-0.  We have to play this like it’s our seventh game (in the series).  That’s the way it’s got to be.”

Miller on Albert’s pre-game activity on Twitter: “I liked how you were Tweeting in the back before tip-off.”

Albert: “That was my brother.”

Miller on Magic reserve guard Anthony Johnson: “You can’t go under the pick with Anthony Johnson.  He’s a streaky shooter but when he gets on a roll, he can get going.”

TNT’s David Aldridge interviewed injured Magic point guard Jameer Nelson

Nelson on how he would slow down Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo: “(Rajon Rondo) is a great player and a great talent.  We just need to keep him out of the lane.  However we need to do that is what we should do.”

Nelson on when he will be back playing: “Hopefully, I’ll be back for pre-season.  I should be shooting in another month.  The only thing I don’t have right now is my strength; I have my range of motion.  I’m doing everything I need to do to get ready.”

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T-Mobile Halftime Report

Announcers: Johnson, Barkley and Smith

Smith on the Celtics stepping up their effort in Game #2: “Sometimes it’s not about X’s and O’s, sometimes it’s about effort.  I think on both ends of the court, it’s been defensive help and effort that have been the difference in the game (for the Celtics).”

Barkley on the Magic lacking a killer instinct: “This isn’t a must-win for Orlando but you’d like to see them have more of a killer instinct.  They are a legit team and for them to come out and basically half-ass it, it’s disappointing to watch.”

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Miller on what shooters need to do to get their games going: “When you are struggling with your outside shot, from a shooter’s perspective, if you can get a layup and get to the free throw line, it gets your rhythm going.”

Miller on Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo: “Speed kills. Activity dominates.  (Rajon) Rondo has been a little bit of both tonight.”

Miller on playing in the old Boston Garden: “One of, if not the hardest arena to play in along with the old Chicago Stadium.  You felt like those leprechauns were all over the place (in the old Boston Garden).  People talk about it.  Some of my worst games were in that building.”

Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy addresses his team during a timeout: “This series has got a long way to go but right now as a group, we look like we don’t want any part of it when they play hard.  We want it to be easy.  You are not going to become a championship team by being easy.”

Miller on the controversy surrounding Magic guard Rafer Alston slapping Celtics guard Eddie House during Game #2: “(NBA’s Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations) Stu Jackson is going to have to think long and hard about this.  You could make this same interpretation about an elbow.  Remember when Dwight Howard elbowed Samuel Dalembert in the first round?  A punch is an automatic suspension, but so should an elbow.  That was an open-handed slap and if you don’t suspend him then everyone is going to go around slapping people upside the head.  So this is a tough decision, emotions are high in a playoff game.  We’ll see what happens with Stu Jackson.”

TNT’s David Aldridge interviewed Celtics guard Eddie House following the game

House on the leadership of Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo: “(Rajon Rondo) picked up where he left off last game.  We had a lot of energy on both ends of the court and that’s what we need from him and everyone else follows suit.  He sets the tone and we follow it.  He’s our leader on the court even though he’s not the captain.  When he plays well, I think we all play well.”

House on if he said something to Magic guard Rafer Alston that caused Alston to slap him in the back of the head: “No, I just made the shot and I think that’s what happens when you start bustin’ someone.  They get upset like that and resort to bush league tactics.  We’re above that, we’re not into that and we’re just going to play basketball and keep trying to put wins on the board.”

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Game #2:  Houston Rockets (98) @ Los Angeles Lakers (111) - Series tied 1-1

Announcers: Kevin Harlan, Doug Collins with Craig Sager reporting

Collins on the energy provided by the Rockets bench: “I love benches that can come in with great energy and that’s what happens for Houston.  They have speed and high energy players.”

Collins on the Rockets being a great free throw shooting team: “(Free throw shooting is) big because (Rockets) center (Yao Ming) is one of the best all-time free throw shooters in NBA history at center.  So when you go to him in the fourth quarter of a game, if he gets fouled and your in the penalty he’s going to step up and make them.”

Collins on Rockets forward Carl Landry: “(Carl Landry) has got a huge heart, he’s undersized and he has no fear.  He’s been on the offensive backboard (rebounding) because he’s just wanted the ball more.

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Rockets forward Carl Landry following the 2^nd quarter

Landry on what it means to be playing after getting shot in a carjacking a month ago: “It means a lot.  You always hear that every possession counts’ and every possession really means a lot to me know.  My life was in jeopardy about a month ago and I’m blessed to be here.  I’m just having a good time playing against the Lakers.”

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T-Mobile Halftime Report

Announcers: Johnson, Barkley and Smith

Barkley on the Rockets not lacking in confidence against the Lakers: “They say ‘Houston we have a problem’ well ‘L.A. we have a problem’.  I’m not sure who is going to win this series but the Rockets are not afraid and they’re not intimidated.  That’s the key to beating any team that is (seeded) above you.  The Rockets think they can win this series and I think it’s going to be a long series.”

Smith on how important Game #2 is for the Rockets: “This game could be the championship for the Rockets.  If they win this game, they could possibly win the NBA Championship because this means they match up with everybody else.  (The Lakers) are the best team in the West (Conference) and this could be the game to win it all.”

Smith on Magic guard Rafer Alston slapping Celtics guard Eddie House: “Rafer has done a good job (in Orlando) but that was uncalled for and out of line.  There’s no way you slap a guy in the back of his head.  There was incidental contact and (Eddie House) was excited about his jumper and bumped into him slightly but you can’t do that.”

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Collins on how a team’s best player can affect the entire roster with his performance:  “You look to your best player when you’re in trouble.  If he’s playing well, you get a feeling of security but if he’s struggling, it filters down to everyone else.”

Collins on the Rockets plans to contain Lakers guard Kobe Bryant: “The goal for the Rockets is to keep (Kobe Bryant) out of the paint, keep him off the (free throw) line and try to make him take shots under duress.”

Collins on the keys to building a team: “Your complimentary pieces have to fit.  When you get pieces that fit, you get what I call that synergistic approach where five guys almost feel like more.  The sum of the parts are greater than they are individually.  That’s what this Rockets team is.  It’s not always pretty but when they play well, they are a very tough team to beat.”

Collins on Lakers guard Derek Fisher: “Derek Fisher is quietly one of the toughest players in the NBA.  When he came back to the Lakers, he brought that savvy and toughness of a three-time champion.  Kobe (Bryant) trusts him so much. “

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Lakers head coach Phil Jackson following the third quarter

Jackson on why he was so upset with the ejection of Lakers guard Derek Fisher for his flagrant foul on Rockets forward Luis Scola: “We had an incident in the Utah series where a guy ran across across the court to hit somebody like (how Fisher hit Scola) and they called a foul, not a flagrant-one or a flagrant-two.  It’s an inconsistency with what (the officials) call and they are adamant that they are right about it.  We just have to play it out.”

Collins on Kobe Bryant leading the Lakers in Game #2: “You talk about a smart player.  Not only is he a brilliant player but he has a brilliant mind for this game.  Kobe said, ‘I’m not letting us lose tonight.’”

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

Bryant on the altercation with Rockets forward Ron Artest that led to Artest being ejected from the game: “We’re playing basketball and there is a lot of contact that takes place.  If you’re going to be physical, you have to expect players to be physical back.

Bryant on Cavaliers guard LeBron James winning the MVP Award: “I’m very happy for him to be honest with you.  He’s put in a lot of work and it’s well-deserved.”

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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai

Announcers: Johnson, Barkley and Smith

Lakers guard Derek Fisher on quiet guys normally being the toughest: “There are a lot of guys and teams who say they’re tough and look like they’re tough, but they actually aren’t that tough, it’s just the appearance of it. Often times your strongest, toughest people don’t say a lot, it’s the quiet ones you have to worry about. Your grandmother will tell you that, ‘watch out for that quiet boy sitting over there in the corner,’ because that’s the one that will go off at any minute.”

Barkley on Rockets forward Ron Artest: “There are a lot of guys you want to fight and (Ron Artest) is not at the top of the list. He’s like down at 25.”

Smith on the Rockets surrounding Yao Ming with tough, aggressive players: “What (the Rockets) constructed around Yao Ming are pit bulls. He’s not the pit bull so they said, ‘we’re going to bring guys who are pit bulls in around him.’ So they have six guys, I counted them: Chuck Hayes, he’s a pit bull; (Kyle) Lowry at the point guard position, he’s a pit bull; (Luis) Scola is definitely a pit bull; (Shane) Battier is a pit bull; Ron Artest is a pit bull and (Carl) Landry is a pit bull. So you have six guys that the only way they play well is to play physical and get under your skin so this is going to be a physical series from now on and it’s going to get more physical as the series goes on.”

Barkley on Rockets forward Ron Artest approaching Lakers guard Kobe Bryant after Bryant’s foul was misattributed to Artest: “The refs missed this call.  Ron Artest is saying (to Kobe Bryant), ‘you can’t hit me and get away with it.’ I respect Ron Artest, you can’t let someone elbow you in the throat. I’m still trying to figure out how he got the foul.”

Barkley on a thrown elbow by Lakers guard Derek Fisher against Rockets forward Luis Scola as Scola was setting a pick: “This is really close to being a suspendable offense to me because (Fisher) turned around and looked (at Luis Scola). If you think guys are setting dirty picks I personally think you should run through them. Only if a guy is setting consistent dirty picks you should send him a message, ‘you can pick me but you can’t hit me with dirty picks.’ The thing that bothers me is (Fisher) turns around and looks. To me, that’s an elbow. If they suspended him the Lakers can’t complain.”

Smith on Magic guard Rafer Alston hitting Celtics guard Eddie House in the head: “(Rafer Alston) has to be suspended for that.  It’s an embarrassing play, you can’t have that happen in the NBA.”

Barkley on Rockets forward Ron Artest being the kind of guy he would want to play basketball with: “I have a rule whether a guy can play with me or not. Ron Artest can play with me, I always say I want tough guys who can play with me. Ron Artest can play with Charles Wade Barkley anytime, he’s a fox hole guy.”

Johnson to Barkley: “What are you doing over there, Chuckster?”

Barkley: “Looking for something.”

Smith: “What are you looking for?”

Barkley: “Andrew Bynum.”

Barkley on Lakers center Andrew Bynum not being involved in the series: “I’m disappointed because I like Andrew Bynum, but he’s not playing well.  He didn’t have a good match-up last series against Utah where they don’t really have a center, but he’s playing against Yao Ming who is a legitimate center and he’s not playing well. Everybody kept saying he was the missing piece, I didn’t realize he was the missing piece.”

TBS MLB analyst David Wells, during his debut on TBS, addressing Charles Barkley: “Hey Charles, look at me. I’m about 300 pounds lighter than you and I’m not going to let an 80-year man (NBA official Dick Bavetta) whoop me in a race. No chance. I’ll take you anytime in a race. I think his thighs are bigger than my stomach. He’s fat. He’s the Daddy Dirigible.”

Barkley’s response to David Wells: “Let me tell you something, if David Wells ever outruns me, I don’t even know, I’ll do the worst thing I could ever do to myself. Boomer can’t outrun me, I’m offended. Boomer, I should come to your house and slap the hell out of you if you even dream about outrunning me. Only way he can outrun me- you know those little dog races where they put a rabbit out in front? We put a ham hock out in front of Boomer, a ham hock, a neck bone or a pig’s foot.”

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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