Rondo goes Oscar on the Sixers in Game 1; Behind Pau, Bynum, Kobe and Metta World Peace, the Lakers eliminate the Nuggets (With TNT quotes)
(Photo by Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press)
Beans got his Lakers soldier back and combined with Gasol silencing everyone, LA now moves on…
Happy Mothers Day ladies. Thank you for everything you do. We love you. Also, RIP Eric Daniels. Thank you sir for the rock you were. We do this for people like you.
For all the talk about the Los Angeles Lakers, they sure did step up in a 96-87 Game 7 win over Denver. The Nuggets now get much needed rest before they embark on a fishing trip (Chuck’s Mom is hilarious). Much of the pre-game drama surrounded Magic’s comments about the job status of Lakers head coach Mike Brown. How ridiculous that was and it seemed typewriters everywhere steamed and rocked until they broke loose paper strewn with soap opera like opinions of something having nothing to do with an actual Game 7. The Lakers won buoyed by the return of Metta World Peace. Gasol had 23 points, 17 boards, 6 assists and 4 blocks in shutting everyone up measure. MWP had 15 and 5 in 44 minutes and Andrew Bynum had 16 points, 18 boards and 6 blocks. If this team ever gets it together they are going to the Finals. Straight up.
As far as the Celtics 92-91 Game 1 win over the Sixers, Rajon Rondo had his 8th career playoff Oscar. He had 13 points, 17 assists, 12 boards (5 offensive) and 4 steals. His foul line jumper, IMO, won it. Black Pharoah took no prisoners. His 29 points and 11 rebounds were a statement to the NBA world that he isn’t done. Andre Iguodala did step up like I thought he would in my piece and hit big shots late. He had 19 points 6 boards, 6 dimes and 2 steals but the rest of the team went tight and the Celtics stole a game that should have been stolen. The teams shot the same from the field (36-82 for 43.9%) but the Celtics hit 18-19 from the line, while Philly was 14-20. I like Ron, had the Sixers in 6. Still do because I think in a 7 game series, injuries and age will become a factor.
To the TNT notes…
TNT’s coverage of the 2012 NBA Playoffs continues Monday, May 14, at 7 p.m. ET with a doubleheader featuring the Philadelphia 76ers @ Boston Celtics (Game 2) followed by the Los Angeles Lakers @ Oklahoma City Thunder (Game 1).
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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith
Smith on the return of Metta World Peace to the Los Angeles Lakers lineup: “He puts everyone in their right place [in the Lakers lineup]. That means Kobe [Bryant] moves to the two-guard and you don’t have a small lineup with [Steve] Blake and [Ramon] Sessions.”
Barkley on Metta World Peace: “It’s funny that when the Lakers were up 3-1 [in the series], no one was talking about [Metta] World Peace. Now all of a sudden he’s the savior.”
Barkley on playing with players who aren’t engaged in the game: “I hated playing with guys that when they don’t score…they drift. They don’t get engaged [in the game]. When [the Lakers] take the ball out of Andrew Bynum’s hands, he gets frustrated…and he drifts.”
Smith on the Lakers having trouble defensively facing the quick point guards: “I can’t remember in the 2000s when the Lakers have done great against the pick-and-roll. This year isn’t any different. Every point guard that comes into Los Angeles gets into the pick-and-roll situation and has speed [does well]. Their difficulty with guarding point guards hasn’t really changed…it’s a defensive pick-and-roll philosophy that the team isn’t doing a good job with.”
TNT’s David Aldridge interviewed Philadelphia 76ers forward Elton Brand prior to Game 1
Brand on what the 76ers need to focus on in their series vs. Celtics: “We have to have great attention to detail. We can’t turn the ball over. Rajon Rondo gets on the [fast] break, he finds the perimeter shooters and gets guys easy layups.”
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Philadelphia 76ers (91) @ Boston Celtics (92) – Celtics lead series 1-0
Announcers: Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Chris Webber (analyst) with David Aldridge (reporter)
Webber on 76ers forward Andre Iguodala running the point more in certain situations: “Because [Avery] Bradley is doing such a great job on the ball defensively, look for Andre Iguodala to be the point forward because Paul Pierce isn’t an on-the-ball stopper. I expect Iguodala to have more point guard responsibilities because Bradley is doing such a good defensive job.”
Fratello on Ray Allen’s role with the Celtics: “[Celtics head coach] Doc Rivers has such great confidence in [Allen]. He puts the ball in his hands for so many different reasons over the course of a game. Not only just to score but other times, he creates shots for other people. Defensively, he has to stop the best scorer at the small forward position.”
Webber on the 76ers: “They are one of the few teams that the team is stronger than their individual talent. Coach [Doug] Collins has done a great job.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
O’Neal on the Celtics playoff mentality:“When you’re a veteran team with championship experience, sometimes you think you can turn the switch on and off. Right now, it looks like they are just going through the motions.
O’Neal picks the Celtics to win their series vs. the 76ers: “This is going to be an ugly series. Boston isn’t going to sweep but they’ll probably win 4-2.”
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Fratello on 76ers center Spencer Hawes:“He’s a skilled big man. He can face up and shoot the ball, he can use either hand and he can pass to open teammates. You have to like that in a big man.”
TNT’s David Aldridge interviewed Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo following the game
Rondo on his Game 1 triple-double:“I tried to do the intangibles. I was struggling, as well, scoring so I tried to do more for my teammates.”
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Gamebreak
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Barkley on speculation that the Lakers could fire head coach Mike Brown following the season:“If the Lakers were to fire Mike Brown…that would be a travesty.”
Smith on the state of the Lakers: “There will be changes in Los Angeles if they lose in the first round of the playoffs. This franchise is going backwards; they aren’t going forward if they lose in the first round. You can’t continue to go backwards with your star, Kobe Bryant, aging.”
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Denver Nuggets (87) @ Los Angeles Lakers (96) – Lakers win series 4-3
Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play) and Steve Kerr (analyst) with Craig Sager (reporter)
Kerr on Lakers forward Pau Gasol: “Gasol is the Lakers’ best passer.”
Kerr on the Nuggets offense: “The Nuggets best chance at scoring is by pushing the ball and it all starts with the defense on the other end.”
Kerr on Nuggets forward JaVale McGee: “He’s extremely raw. He doesn’t have much of a post game. He’s working at it but he’s so much better playing off the ball on the weak side coming in for put-backs and dunks.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
O’Neal on the Lakers first half of Game 7:“Let’s keep it real. Game 7, with all the speeches and calling people out, [the Lakers] are supposed to be blowing [the Nuggets] out…period.
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Kerr on Lakers center Andrew Bynum’s performance in the first round: “I like Bynum’s activity but he hasn’t been able to find his rhythm offensively [in the playoffs].”
Kerr on Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson: “He’s impossible to stay in front of because he is so fast and strong.”
Kerr on Lakers guard Steve Blake in Game 7: “He’s been enormous in this game.”
Kerr on Nuggets head coach George Karl: “George Karl has been masterful throughout this series.”
Kerr on Lakers forward Metta World Peace’s impact on Game 7: “There’s no doubt that World Peace has had a huge impact on this game [with] his hustle, strength and defensive versatility.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Lakers forward Metta World Peace following the game
World Peace on playing Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round following his suspension for elbowing OKC’s James Harden during the regular season:“It’s none of my concern. My concern is playing the game of basketball. Everything else…isn’t important to me.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith
Smith on Nuggets guard Andre Miller:“Size doesn’t matter, Sometimes it’s just effort and heart. Andre Miller showed that.”
Barkley on the Denver Nuggets: “It was interesting watching George Karl coach and make adjustments. He went small and they made a fantastic run. George Karl did a fantastic job going small. Ty Lawson was phenomenal but they couldn’t get any rebounds. That was the difference in the game – offensive rebounds.”
O’Neal on the Los Angeles Lakers: “Offensively the Lakers bigs didn’t have a great game. Defensively, presence-wise they had a fabulous game and played well. They did whatever it took to win this game, but it is going to get tougher in this next series.”
Barkley on Bynum improving after seven years in the NBA: “You don’t get much better after seven years. You are the player you are going to be after seven years.”
Smith: “The only player that I’ve seen get better after seven years is Steve Nash.”
Smith on what Lakers center Andrew Bynum is missing: “What’s missing is the consistency and performance.”
O’Neal on Lakers/OKC series: “It is going to be tough because one: Kevin Durant is mad because he thought he should have won MVP. Second reason in order to be the best, you have to beat the best. Kevin Durant is tired of being No. 3, No. 4. This is his chance to prove that he is the best. No. 3, James Harden is going to be playing out of his mind. No. 4, the OKC bigs saw what JaVale McGee and [Timothy] Mozgov did to these guys. They are not scared. I’m going with OKC in this one.”
Barkley on Nuggets center JaVale McGee: “I think we are going to see some special things from JaVale McGee. He has a good coach and a stable organization around him. He’s just going to get better.”