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Release Date: 6/11/2012 Notes from NBA TV’s NBA Finals Conference Call -- Monday, June 11 NBA TV and NBA.com will feature extensive coverage of the 2012 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder with pre- and post-game analysis, game highlights and full post-game press conferences throughout the best-of-seven series. Participants: Greg Anthony, NBA TV studio analyst Steve Smith, NBA TV studio analyst Albert “Scooter” Vertino, Turner Sports VP of Content, NBA Digital Smith on Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant: “What you see is refreshing with a superstar like Kevin Durant. He’s a dynamic scorer with patience. He allows [Russell] Westbrook and James Harden to be themselves. He’s a superstar at a young age and he gets it – how he carries himself, plays the game and the way he handles the media. To top it all off is his love and passion for the game…it’s a treat to watch.” Anthony on Durant: “Kevin Durant is what’s great about our game right now. Anytime you have a player who is as likeable off the court as he is effective on it, that bodes well for the game. You usually don’t see guys this effective this early in their career. He’s accepted the role of being a leader on the team. He’s such an efficient player and has such a high basketball IQ that it allows ego to be put aside. He understands that he can’t win unless Russell Westbrook is a superstar and James Harden is a great player. His ability to allow those guys to have their role on that roster speaks volumes about who he is as a person.” Anthony on how the Miami Heat should defend Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook: “Ultimately, if you’re Miami, you’re going to want to make [Westbrook] a jump shooter. It’s harder to guard the pass so you want to make [Westbrook] a volume shooter and not allow him to get in the paint and break the defense down.” Anthony on Heat guard Mario Chalmers: “Don’t discount Mario Chalmers as a defender; he’s a really good player…Chalmers has quietly had a brilliant season for the Heat. He’s been as consistent in his role as anyone on their roster.” Smith on whether the Thunder are experienced enough as a team: “Experience means a lot but, if you look at the Thunder, they’re ready. Miami has guys who have been there before but OKC isn’t a team that’s struggling to get in the playoffs. A lot of people picked them to win the West [Conference]. They have the type of young guys that are ready for this moment.” Smith on Thunder head coach Scott Brooks: “A lot of players have that capability to become good coaches. Scott Brooks is becoming a really good coach…after this experience [in the Finals], win or lose, he’ll be even better.” Anthony on the Heat vs. Thunder match-up: “This series comes down to how well your best players will play…bench play will be important, but not as much as how the stars play.” Smith on Heat forward LeBron James’ focus: “What I’ve gotten a chance to see in this year’s playoffs is [James’] focus. His focus has always been there, but he understands now what really needs to be done. His [playoff] numbers can rank with the greatest of all time. His Game 6 was one of the greatest playoff elimination games I’ve ever seen. The way he scored [in that game was the next evolution in his game]…he understands this moment and is not going to let it pass.” Anthony on Heat forward LeBron James embracing the pressure during big moments: “I think LeBron is finally learning how to embrace the pressure. He is now at peace with himself and I think that is why he is performing better in bigger moments than he has done in the past. I think you are going to continue to see that in The Finals between he and Kevin Durant.” Anthony on Heat forward LeBron and Thunder guard Kevin Durant having similarities on the court: “In a way, I think they are more alike than they are different. Both guys are so team oriented; both guys understand that they win when their teammates play well. There have been times when they have both had to take the game over and they both have a skill set that is conducive to that. I think they have far more similarities than not. They have great basketball IQs. They understand in order for them to win, other guys have to be in a position to play well.” Anthony on the advantages of Thunder big men against Miami: “Physically you can see where there are some advantages for OKC. What will be interesting for Kendrick is who can he guard in this series? Miami doesn’t have a true low-post player. There are some advantages but not as big as one would think because Perkins is going to have someone to guard. Big men are like great white sharks, if you take them out of the ocean, they are not scary. That is going to be a concern for OKC. Can Perkins have the impact when he doesn’t have anyone to guard on the block? I’m interested in seeing how he plays as this series progresses.” Anthony on Thunder guard Derek Fisher playing for a sixth championship: “He is like the mini-me version of Robert Horry. He has hit a lot of big shots over the course of his career to help his team win championships. He has been such an integral part on a lot of really good teams. That is always a huge advantage and benefit. It seems as if he is starting to get in an offensive rhythm for them. Derek Fisher is a great player in his role. You don’t win without guys like him.” Anthony on the affect of Thunder assistant coach Mo Cheeks on Scott Brooks’ bench: “He is extremely important. Most really good coaches, in essence, have a strong cabinet. You have to have guys that are going to make you think. You have to have guys that can give you different perspectives. With Mo’s experience, that is extremely important to have. He was a good player, he’s been a head coach in this league, and has played for good coaches. All of that experience and his ability to translate that to Scott Brooks has definitely been helpful in his success as a coach.” Anthony on the impact of the 2-3-2 format during The Finals: “It is more difficult to win three at home, when you play them consecutively. Basketball is a game of rhythm. The visiting team can get a much better rhythm when they play you three straight times in your arena. That will definitely make a big difference. I think it is so important that you can get one of those first two games as a road team. Literally you want to treat these first two games with a Game 7 mindset; you have to figure out how to get one.”
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