The Starting Five

Kobe seemed cool with trusting his teammates and gave them passes in spots where they could score. Similar to Orlando/Boston Game 2, this was a much better contest than the Game 1 blowout. Still, the Suns seem outclassed on both ends and went down 124-112. I had a conversation on twitter earlier and I asked when will Steve Nash be scrutinized just like any other player with 2 MVP awards? I don’t think enough people read what I wrote here but I digress…

I simply want balance. No special treatment of this athlete or that athlete. Of course I know it’s idealistic but a brotha can dream right? Right?

Phil Jackson is a genius for calling Nash out publicly before the series (carrying the ball).

He’s the only 2 time MVP award winner out of 12 yet to touch a NBA Finals center court logo…

Bad media…bad bad media. You deserve to go to bed without your supper. Now go show your Pop your report card…

Amar’e I don’t even know the player you are anymore. 6 rebounds? Six?

NBA TV’s extensive coverage of the Western Conference Finals continues on Sunday, May 23 at 6 p.m. (ET) with the NBA GameTime Playoff Tip-Off Show hosted by Matt Winer with analyst Mike Fratello.

TNT’s exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals continues on Sunday, May 23 at 8 p.m. (ET) with NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com followed by the L.A. Lakers @ Phoenix Suns (Game #3) at 8:30 p.m. (ET)

NBA TV Pre-Game Show

Matt Winer, Kevin McHale and Chris Webber

Webber on Lakers’ performance in Game #1: “This is the best complete game that they have played as a team. We have been waiting for the starters to catch up to the bench and bench to catch up to the starters. I think Lamar Odom’s performance gives confidence to the other guys. Not (Derek) Fisher and the starters, but to (Jordan) Farmar and the other guys. To me, the best thing about this was it was a complete game, the first one that I have seen in these playoffs from this Lakers team.”

McHale on the Suns’ chance against Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and forward Pau Gasol when they are on a scoring run: “None. The one thing that happens when you are stars is scoring. Your bench players are so comfortable, they are saying, ‘I don’t have to worry, Pau’s got it or Kobe’s got it.’  It is a very relaxing feeling for the role players.”

Webber on Phoenix Suns forward Amar’e Stoudemire’s comments that Lakers forward Lamar Odom’s 19 rebounds were ‘lucky’: “The lucky comment wasn’t right. I like where it came from, it came out of frustration. No one is President Obama. No one loves each other right now. See if it will get in Lamar’s head, which it won’t, but the comment doesn’t matter if tonight Amar’e comes out and has 25 points and 20 rebounds. I love this part. It is the pre-boxing match.  The only thing is ‘lucky’ is the wrong word. Amar’e’s weakness is rebounding so it should sting a little bit. Amar’e had three rebounds. I don’t know if that was lucky or laziness, but he only had three rebounds so he needs to address that situation.”

McHale on Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce: “(Paul Pierce) is so happy he doesn’t have to guard LeBron James. When you start getting ‘The Truth’ playing like ‘The Truth,’ you are getting a handful.”

NBA.com writer Sekou Smith joins the NBA TV crew from the Staples Center

Smith on the Suns’ attitude going into Game #2: “They have to believe that they have a chance to win this game and if they don’t they are going to be in a hole come Sunday night (in Game #3).”

Smith on the Suns’ mentality of playing defense against the Lakers: “The word ‘defense’ has not come up a ton. They have to find a way to slow the Lakers down. If they don’t find a way to stop them defensively, they are going to be in for a long night just in Game #1.”

Webber on Suns guard Steve Nash: “I see it being a tough night. Steve Nash is the James Brown of the NBA. He is the hardest working man of the NBA. He has to get everyone else in involved, but he can’t do everything.”

****    ****    ****    ****

TNT’s NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller and Kenny Smith

NBA TV’s Matt Winer, Kevin McHale and Chris Webber joined the pre-game show from their studio in Atlanta.

L.A. Lakers forward Lamar Odom on Suns forward Amar’e Stoudemire’s comments that Odom had a ‘lucky’ Game #1: “I’m not going to give those guys ammunition, fuel themselves up for them to get focused. It is what it is. I don’t think you can grab 19 rebounds and be lucky, but sometimes after the game, a guy has a good game and all the reporters come in and come to Amar’e and talk about Lamar, he didn’t want to hear it after the game. It’s all good.”

Smith on Lakers forward Lamar Odom being the key for the Lakers: “I said this before the series started, Lamar Odom is the key to this series. If he plays well it’s an easy win for the Los Angeles Lakers. When you think about the Lakers players, he’s the only one who, if you put him on the Phoenix Suns, would be a better player. Kobe (Bryant) would still be Kobe, (Pau) Gasol would still be Gasol, but if you put Lamar in this type of system he would play better than he plays with the Lakers because it fits his style. This up and down, handling the basketball, shooting three’s, being versatile, post up sometimes, put it on the perimeter, this is what he is good at. I’m not surprised that he can get 19 and 19. I’m saying if Lamar plays well, (the Suns) will lose this series easily.”

Webber on the lack of a defensive commitment by the Phoenix Suns: “Over the last two days I have not heard the word ‘defense’ out of the Phoenix Suns. L.A. is a much better team, but you don’t win games in the playoffs without playing defense. So a team that says ‘we can score more, we’re going to make shots we missed last game,’ that’s good. But are you going to get stops that you didn’t get last game? Rebounding is defense. I don’t buy into them having a chance in this series because no one really thinks about defense.”

TNT and NBA TV Insider David Aldridge sat down with the new owner of the New Jersey Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, in one of Prokhorov’s first interviews since becoming owner of the Nets. Highlights of the interview are available on NBA.com.

Prokhorov on the rumor that the Nets were considering Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski as the new Nets head coach: “Coach K is a great guy, but we’re looking now for someone with NBA experience. Frankly speaking, we don’t need to go back to square one. We need to focus on putting the strongest team we can get. Once we get the right couple of players all the things will fall into place.”

Prokhorov on why he decided to buy an NBA franchise: “I like business and I like basketball. Five years ago, you could hardly even think about this and now it’s done. I live in Moscow, I like big cities. My first desire was to have a team in New York because for me it’s a city like Moscow, the same crazy energy, a lot of traffic jams, it’s like a big, big city. I’m really fired up to expand the NBA reach from New Jersey to Brooklyn to Moscow and from Asia to Europe. That’s a great story.”

Barkley on Mikhail Prokhorov and the future of the New Jersey Nets: “How could you not like that guy? I like him a lot. That team right there is good enough to make the playoffs last year. That team has enough talent to make the playoffs, I 100% agree with him, with whoever they get in the draft. (Brook) Lopez is a stud, I love Courtney Lee and Devin Harris. There is no excuse for that team not to make the playoffs next year.”

Miller on his reaction to Mikhail Prokhorov’s statement that he will keep Nets President Rod Thorn: “The best thing (Prokhorov) said was retaining Rod Thorn, who is to me one of the best basketball minds in the game today. If that’s the case and he retains Rod Thorn, they have cap room, they have the number three pick and he has money.”

Smith on why the Nets are a viable option for impending free agent LeBron James to sign with this summer: “LeBron James loves New York City, as much as he doesn’t want to admit it. We can see that from afar, we don’t have to be in his circle to see that. So he has a great opportunity with a billionaire, LeBron James wants to be a billionaire. They have a shot at LeBron James.”

McHale on why he likes Celtics coach Doc Rivers against the Orlando Magic: “I love what Doc Rivers has done, Doc has come up with a great game plan. He’s playing (Dwight) Howard head up in the post, he’s not compromising his defense by double teaming, he’s not overextending on Jameer Nelson on the perimeter and allowing Howard to roll hard and occupy players. So first of all, he’s making Howard play one-on-one, they are getting on the perimeter shooters, they are making those guys put the ball on the floor and they are taking away the three-point line. If Orlando can’t make threes they can’t win this series. Doc’s got a great game plan, but with every great game plan the players have to execute it and they are doing a great job of executing it. By doing that they are really frustrating the Orlando Magic. They’ve taken the life right out of that team.”

Webber on the Magic’s light hearted demeanor during the games against the Boston Celtics: “I don’t trust in Orlando’s attention to detail. I see missed assignments and I see all the crying at the end. Orlando is one of my favorite teams, but if they don’t put the hard hat on, just as if Phoenix doesn’t put the hard hat on tonight, they don’t have a chance to win the series.”

****    ****    ****    ****
Phoenix Suns (112) @ Los Angeles Lakers (124) – The Lakers lead the series 2-0.

Announcers: Marv Albert and Doug Collins with Craig Sager reporting

Collins on Lakers forward-center Pau Gasol: “(Pau Gasol) reminds me so much, maybe even a little bit better of an athlete and runner than a Kevin McHale, but he reminds me so much of Kevin McHale in the post, he doesn’t have any weaknesses.”

Collins on the Suns bench playing with a 14-point deficit in the second quarter: “One of the things about the Phoenix Suns bench, they’re coming in now with a 14-point deficit, there’s pressure on them. You look at the Lakers bench, they’re playing with a lead so their shots come a lot easier. That’s why it’s so important for the Phoenix Suns to play with a lead with their bench. It takes a lot of pressure off the three-point shots they have to live on with this unit.”

Collins on the Suns increasing the tempo during the second quarter: “Alvin (Gentry) has got to love this pace, all of a sudden it’s become race horse basketball. When it becomes scattered like this that’s when you start seeing those threes (from the Suns).”

Collins on Lakers center Andrew Bynum and his development returning from injury: “Just the bulk of Andrew Bynum and how big he is, he keeps that ball high, he finishes, he’s a good offensive rebounder. He’s done a nice job playing with that knee. He’s a young guy who’s learning the difference between pain and learning to play through that. That’s maturity. The fact that he sees Kobe (Bryant) and these guys play here every night has been a real factor in his development in that area.”

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Lakers forward Ron Artest at halftime.

Artest on the Suns leaving him open at the three-point line: “They are leaving me wide open. The right way to play is to get the ball inside for the triangle, for the Lakers offense, but they’ve been leaving me wide open. I was a little uncomfortable with it, but I was shooting 40% from the three at one point so hopefully they just go down.”

****    ****    ****    ****

Halftime

Johnson, Barkley, Miller and Smith

Smith on why the Suns should not leave Lakers forward Ron Artest open: “Ron Artest used to almost be a 20-point scorer in the league, so he’s not uncomfortable taking shots. You, can’t just leave a guy open who’s accustomed to scoring in the NBA.  I would leave other guys but you’re just disrespecting (him). These are pot shots, these are shots that you take warming up before the game. I don’t think that you can give an accustomed scorer those kinds of shots. You can give (Jordan) Farmar those shots, you can give (Derek) Fisher those shots, but you cannot give seven wide open shots to a guy like Ron Artest.”

Barkley on the poor play by Suns forward Amar’e Stoudemire and guard Steve Nash: “The truth of the matter is Amar’e Stoudemire and Steve Nash are not playing well. Those two guys have got to pick it up. We can talk all we want to about three-point shooting, but Amar’e and Steve have to play better. Steve Nash has got to play a lot better.”

Miller on the Lakers needing to maintain their focus to win: “There’s a way that the Lakers can lose – if they lose interest. That’s it. They are better physically than this team. If they just come out and show up and go through the motions, like they did against Oklahoma City in a game or two, that’s when the Suns can win a game.”

****    ****    ****    ****

Collins on the Suns giving too much respect to the Lakers: “(Alvin Gentry) sees (the Suns respecting the Lakers too much) on both ends of the floor, he felt that they were much more aggressive against Portland and San Antonio. The Lakers have knocked them back a little bit. The Lakers have taken a little bit of that confidence away from them.”

Collins on Suns center Channing Frye needing to compensate for his poor shooting: “Channing Frye has now allowed his poor shooting to leak into every other phase of his game. He’s not rebounding, he’s not defending. You need to play with passion, you can’t let your shooting define you. You’ve got to do other things when that’s not working.”

Collins on Suns forward Jared Dudley: “Jared Dudley has played well tonight. He’s been all over the floor, giving his team a huge lift. That’s what he’s done all season long, he’s been that glue guy. Tonight he’s a big part of why the Suns are in this game right now.”

Collins on the Lakers being satisfied with the Suns taking two-point shots rather than threes: “I’m wondering if Phil Jackson is saying, ‘we’ll live with those two-point jump shots as long as we keep the Suns away from the three-point line because they have really stretched out that defense on threes.”

Collins on the Suns needing to improve their defense against the Lakers as they head back to Phoenix for Games #3 and 4: “The Suns will play much better at home, we know that, they have a wonderful crowd. But they are going to have to do something with their defense because right now the Lakers are having their way.”

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Lakers guard Kobe Bryant following the Lakers win over the Suns.

Bryant on playing with forward-center Pau Gasol: “It’s been great. As soon as he came here he fit in instantly. Since that point it’s just been about making it even better, perfect what we do together.”

Bryant on the impressive performance by forward Ron Artest: “(Artest) started out in the playoffs shooting poorly, but during the regular season he was a consistent three-point shooter for us. It’s just about him getting back on track. He made them pay tonight.”

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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai

Johnson, Barkley, Miller and Smith

Barkley on how the Suns can beat the Lakers: “They’re not going to slow down the Lakers.  They aren’t going to get any bigger.  They are not going to slow down the Lakers.  Most people picked the Lakers to win the series.  It worked (for the Suns) in the third quarter when they went small.  That was the only time that the game was competitive.  In the third quarter they made their run because they went small.  But they are not going to get any bigger.  I don’t think they will win the series but how could they win the series?  I would go small with my starting lineup and try to out-run (the Lakers).”

Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest joined to the post-game show on-set

Artest on trying not to shoot the ball every time he gets the opportunity: “It’s more that I want to play the right way in my first year here with the Triangle (Offense).  So I don’t want to jack up every shot on every open look.  But then I found myself hesitating and I’m still open and I’m shooting and missing so you have to let it go.”

Artest on if he fully understands the Triangle Offense: “(I understand) the basics.  We don’t have a playbook, so I’m in there learning.  Just in the last month, I’ve been talking to Phil (Jackson) about what I need to do better.  But with the Triangle Offense, there’s no playbook.  So I don’t know when to drive and when I drive, there’s someone there.  If I drive and spin, someone is there.  So I just have to wait.”

Artest on if he prefers to play against a big Suns lineup or a smaller one: “You don’t want to talk too much trash but whatever lineup (the Suns play), we’re going to play them and play to win.  Luckily, I can guard fours, fives, twos and threes so it’s really not an advantage (for them).” 

Miller on the Suns picking their poison when facing Kobe Bryant: “The Suns are going to have to pick their poison.  Are they going to double-team Kobe and get the ball out of his hands?  Tonight (they tried that and) he had 13 assists.  Or will they let him go crazy in a one-on-one with Grant Hill or Jason Richardson and he gets 40 points?  You can’t be able to do both.”

Barkley on the Suns needing more production from Amar’e Stoudemire: “I don’t like doing this but I’ve got to call out Amar’e Stoudemire.  He’s got to play better.  He’s got to rebound and you can’t be calling guys out if you’re not going to play better.  Kenny, what’s my favorite saying?  What do you call a power rebounder who gets six rebounds?”

Smith: “A small forward.”

Barkley: “That’s exactly right.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett

Garnett on the strengths of the Celtics: “What you are starting to see is the depth of our team.  Rasheed (Wallace) comes in, ‘Baby’ (Glen Davis) and (Rajon) Rondo has emerged and has played well in the Playoffs.  Guys are gathering points together but collectively on defense is where the consistency has been.  We just grind it out on the defensive end.  That’s what it is going to take to beat (the Magic).”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson

Nelson on what the Magic need to do to get back into the Eastern Conference Finals: “We’re not hanging our heads at all.  We know this can be done and we have to take it one game at a time.  Our focus has to be much higher than what it was in terms of game-planning situations.  Our execution has to be better as well.”

Smith on how the Celtics had a perfect storm to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals: “To win an NBA Championship a perfect storm has to happen.  Not only the fact that you’re playing your best basketball, you have to have the best match-ups.  (The Celtics) have found the perfect match-ups leading up to the (Eastern) Conference Finals.  The points where they are strong in, the other teams are weak in.  And the other points the other team is strong in, they are ok.  They aren’t terrible but they’re ok.  That has been the perfect storm to get them to this point.”

Phoenix
Player	Pos	Min	FGM-FGA	FTM-FTA	3M-3A	+/-	OR	Reb	A	Blk	Stl	TO	PF	Pts
A. Stoudemire	F	40:47	7-14	4-7	0-1	-14	3	6	1	2	0	5	5	18
G. Hill	F	31:32	10-17	3-3	0-2	-6	0	4	3	0	0	2	4	23
R. Lopez	C	17:45	2-4	3-3	0-0	-8	3	6	0	0	0	1	1	7
S. Nash	G	35:55	4-8	2-2	1-3	-9	0	3	15	1	0	5	1	11
J. Richardson	G	36:23	10-17	4-4	3-7	-12	0	3	1	0	2	0	1	27
J. Dudley		30:20	5-6	0-0	5-5	+2	1	5	4	0	3	1	6	15
G. Dragic		15:33	1-6	1-2	0-2	-5	1	1	2	0	1	1	0	3
L. Barbosa		11:37	1-4	0-0	1-2	0	0	1	3	0	0	1	2	3
L. Amundson		11:29	1-2	3-5	0-0	-7	1	4	0	1	1	0	2	5
C. Frye		8:39	0-5	0-0	0-2	-1	0	1	0	0	0	1	4	0
E. Clark	DNP — COACH’S DECISION
J. Collins	DNP — COACH’S DECISION
T. Griffin	DNP — INACTIVE
D. Jones	DNP — INACTIVE
Totals		240	41-83 (.494)	20-26 (.769)	10-24 (.417)	-	9	34	29	4	7	17	26	112

LA Lakers
Player	Pos	Min	FGM-FGA	FTM-FTA	3M-3A	+/-	OR	Reb	A	Blk	Stl	TO	PF	Pts
P. Gasol	F	44:17	11-19	7-10	0-0	+18	3	9	5	2	1	3	2	29
R. Artest	F	40:14	6-9	3-4	3-6	+6	1	5	3	0	2	2	4	18
A. Bynum	C	18:25	5-5	3-4	0-0	-2	3	7	0	0	1	1	4	13
K. Bryant	G	43:02	8-18	4-4	1-3	+14	2	5	13	1	0	2	2	21
D. Fisher	G	33:41	2-8	2-4	1-3	+4	0	0	5	0	2	2	2	7
L. Odom		33:18	7-10	3-4	0-0	+8	3	11	4	1	3	2	3	17
J. Farmar		14:19	4-5	0-0	3-3	+8	0	1	0	0	2	1	4	11
S. Brown		12:44	2-4	3-4	1-1	+4	0	1	2	0	0	1	2	8
D. Mbenga	DNP — COACH’S DECISION
J. Powell	DNP — COACH’S DECISION
S. Vujacic	DNP — COACH’S DECISION
L. Walton	DNP — COACH’S DECISION
A. Morrison	DNP — INACTIVE
Totals		240	45-78 (.577)	25-34 (.735)	9-16 (.563)	-	12	39	32	4	11	14	23	124

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