1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,120 Speaker 1: Welcome to this League Uncut in the rule of. 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 2: Twenty four hour NBA News. This is you, Chris Haynes. 3 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: It's time, works time, it's so time. This League uncut 4 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: is underway and on fire. This should be a good one. 5 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 2: Hey, everyone, welcome in to a very. 6 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 3: Special pre finals edition of this League Uncut. Chris Haynes 7 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:36,839 Speaker 3: is on the move, so I'm here, but not solo. 8 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 3: This is an absolute treat for me, a treat and 9 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:43,839 Speaker 3: an honor to be joined by truly one of the 10 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 3: best who has ever done it in our business and 11 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 3: knows more about the Celtics, the favorites in these NBA 12 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 3: Finals than anyone I've encountered on press row. I think 13 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 3: the last time we actually covered something together was at 14 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 3: the Rio Olympic in twenty sixteen. 15 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 2: But I am thrilled to be able. 16 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 3: To connect with him now, the one and only Bob 17 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 3: Ryan from the Boston Globe. Mister Ryan, an absolute pleasure, 18 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 3: sir to have you on well. 19 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 4: Thank you for the flattering introduction. 20 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 3: And these finals it's so much about the Celtics, obviously. 21 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 3: I live in Dallas, I'm based in Dallas. I talk 22 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:24,639 Speaker 3: Mavericks all day. I wanted to get the. 23 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 2: Full on Boston perspective. 24 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 3: So just from your seat, I mean, you've seen this 25 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:32,919 Speaker 3: team and I don't know how many of their twenty 26 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 3: three finals appearances. Close to all of them, I'm sure, 27 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 3: but this team in particular, facing so much championship or 28 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 3: bus talk. 29 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 2: How do you think they're going to deal with that pressure? 30 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 5: Well, for the record, my first one I actually went 31 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 5: to in person was sixty six Red Aurbacks last game, 32 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 5: Game seven against the Lakers. That's a story in itself, 33 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 5: and how we got the tickets. Anyway, there is one 34 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 5: very simple fact, and my opinion their co equal about 35 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 5: this finals. When the tournament, as Bill Parcells would call 36 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 5: it started, there were sixteen teams. Fifteen of them. We're 37 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 5: playing with house money. 38 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 4: From day one. 39 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 5: One had the weight of the world on its shoulders. 40 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 5: That one is the Boston Celtics. This is win or 41 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 5: bust for them. It's you know what or get off 42 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 5: the pot for them. And because they have knocked on 43 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:37,519 Speaker 5: the door now with this or pair for several years 44 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 5: and they don't have they haven't closed the deal, and 45 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 5: here they are with really no excuses except what can 46 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 5: not condition what porzingis will be in having missed thirty 47 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 5: seven days since he's last played, so. 48 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 4: We don't know how good he's going to be. 49 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 5: But they now have their team intact for the first 50 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 5: time since period one of the first game, and they 51 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:00,120 Speaker 5: have no excuses. 52 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:05,359 Speaker 4: They got to win. That's that's their perspective, So that's 53 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 4: that's it. 54 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 3: They really haven't been tested because of course the East 55 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 3: has been absolutely racked by injuries. But my sense is 56 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 3: they're not going to apologize for that because they have 57 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 3: this enormous pression. You're going to take a berth in 58 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 3: the finals anyway it comes. But I really am curious now, 59 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 3: just as overwhelming favorites, how they are going to cope, 60 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 3: not only with expectations but obviously the challenges that Doncic 61 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:34,519 Speaker 3: and Irving present to a defense. 62 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 5: When when the playoffs started, our number one question with 63 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 5: the Celtics was how would they fare with score tied 64 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 5: and two minutes to go against a good team because 65 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 5: they had just romped through the league and including winning 66 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 5: three games by fifty points. I said five oho not 67 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 5: and it's no one that's ever done. And they were 68 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 5: a little suspect. They lost two games to Denver unless 69 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 5: minute or so during the season which which gave you know, 70 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 5: people so well. See Denver knows how to do it 71 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 5: and they don't yet. Okay, so there's an open question. 72 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 5: They haven't fosd the deal. 73 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 4: You're right. 74 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 5: They they were lucky in that they played Miami without Butler, 75 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:18,480 Speaker 5: and they played Cleveland without with Mitchell hurt and then 76 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 5: Haliburton got hurt. So in each series there was somebody missing. 77 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:25,679 Speaker 5: Now in Cleveland's case, Garland stepped up and made great 78 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:28,719 Speaker 5: against them. Andy and I got some contributions for people 79 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 5: as well, Siakam, et cetera. Anyway, they haven't been tested fully, 80 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 5: but they've done without their Keith component. And that's Forzingis now, 81 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 5: as far as Dawis is concerned. From our perspective here 82 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:45,280 Speaker 5: outsiders watching the West in the second half of the season, 83 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 5: we're focused on the battle at the top with those 84 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:51,359 Speaker 5: three teams who went up in a tie, as it 85 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 5: turned out, not to mention the plight of the Warriors, 86 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 5: the plight of the Suns, and the plight of the Lakers. 87 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 5: Nobody's paying attention to DAWs at all outside of Dallas. 88 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 5: And there they go, and they went sixteen on eighteen 89 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 5: in that run. And then they lose their last two. 90 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 5: I don't know what happened there, but but but they 91 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 5: end up great. But off the radar screen completely, no 92 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 5: one's talking about them. Their fifth seed, right, it was 93 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:22,040 Speaker 5: about Minnesota case and you know, and Denver, so they had. 94 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 5: They don't have outside pressure at all, you know, I 95 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 5: don't know what internal pressure they've created for themselves. They 96 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 5: deserve to be here. They won fair and square. They 97 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 5: beat these teams, and those two guys, the two stars, 98 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 5: the super are playing as well as they can play. 99 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 5: Irving it's a you know, Irving is coach is a 100 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 5: juicy subplot, you know, because of the return to Boston 101 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 5: and all that nonsense. But they've earned it and Nico 102 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 5: Harrison got a just reward yesterday and then Jason Kidd's 103 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:54,679 Speaker 5: reputation is being polished up now as a coach. 104 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 4: And it's all good with Dallas. 105 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 5: They lose, won't they won't be happy, But the rest 106 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 5: there's no disgrace involved unless they get swept or something 107 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 5: not just like that, which I don't think is going 108 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 5: to happen. 109 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, for me, it's really a second half surge kind 110 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 3: I don't know that we've ever seen anything like it. 111 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:13,279 Speaker 3: And we always talk about how rare it is to 112 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 3: make a trade and then win it all. Obviously the 113 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 3: Clyde Drexler to Houston in ninety five, but the Rockets 114 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 3: were defending Champs. 115 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 2: Rashid Wallace to Detroit, No, the one I. 116 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 5: Always think of. They don't win without him, and that 117 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 5: was a crucial Yeah. 118 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 2: And then Marc Gasol to Toronto in twenty nineteen. 119 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 3: But like for this to come together, the MAVs made 120 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 3: two trades for it to come together this quickly, the 121 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:38,720 Speaker 3: sixteen and two run you reference. I mean they were 122 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 3: twenty eight and twenty three on the morning of the 123 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 3: trade deadline. You're right, nobody saw any of this coming. 124 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 3: But of course, now with Kyrie going back to Boston, 125 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 3: how vitriolic do you think it's going to be? I mean, 126 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 3: that's one of the questions everybody's asking in the build 127 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:55,720 Speaker 3: up to Game one. 128 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 5: I don't think it's going to be as bad as 129 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 5: the outside will thinks will be. They'll be booze, there's 130 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 5: no question, I don't think. I don't think they'd be 131 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 5: throwing tomatoes at him or anything else. There was a 132 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 5: nice story in the Boston Globe today talking about how 133 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 5: he's been so well received in Dallas, and he's saying 134 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 5: kind of the right things, if you will kind of 135 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 5: explain away a little bit about way he was here 136 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 5: and what he wasn't said. They were outside circumstances. There 137 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 5: was a like a death in the family, and there 138 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 5: was other outside issues that were bothering him. On top 139 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 5: of whatever basketball is. Shoes still were and that was 140 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 5: five years ago. Now it's five years ago, So come on, 141 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 5: A lot lots happened. He's thirty one years old. At 142 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 5: thirty two, whatever he is, you know, he may have 143 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 5: abandoned some of his conspiracy theories and he seems to 144 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 5: be in the best place that he's ever been as 145 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 5: a professional in his head. You know, he never explained 146 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 5: why he left Cleveland. That was impetuous and stupid and 147 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 5: youthful indiscretion. Never explained it. For we knew he wanted 148 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 5: his own show, but he wouldn't say it. And when 149 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 5: he was here, I'll tell you I said three things 150 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 5: about him when he was here. One he's not as 151 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 5: smart as he thinks he is. Two, this won't be 152 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 5: his last stop a boy? Was that correct? Three he's 153 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 5: searching for something in life, but he doesn't know what 154 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 5: it is. Well, I'm starting to think he may finally 155 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 5: have found it and got more power to him. Fine, now, 156 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 5: there's never been a question about his talent, this offensive 157 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 5: talent he goes to. He's a skill to guard at 158 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 5: his position as we've ever seen. The Mavericks are getting 159 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 5: the full benefit of you, of that blossoming if you will, 160 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 5: So you know, I don't wish him any of your will. 161 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 4: He seems to be a happy, happier guy and good. 162 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 5: But yeah, there'll be some the action, but I don't 163 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 5: think it's going to be the story. 164 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 3: You reference the nineteen sixty six finals being the first 165 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 3: you attended. I'm gonna guess that was still as a 166 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 3: young fan and not already. 167 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 5: Oh no, I was a junior Boston College. And here's 168 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:54,959 Speaker 5: the story. They win Game six in LA and tickets 169 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 5: go on sale for Game seven. In those days, they 170 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 5: weren't selling out. 171 00:08:58,120 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 4: Automatically every night, even in the playoffs. 172 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 5: They would always get there and you could buy four 173 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 5: tickets per person, and we sent one of our guys 174 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 5: in the dorm down to sleep overnight at. 175 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 4: The Boston Garden with you to how you did it. 176 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 4: That's how you got tickets. 177 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 5: You slept overnight in the lobby and you got tickets, 178 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 5: and so he would get one set of those tickets 179 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 5: and the other three tickets were a lottery, and I 180 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 5: won one of the lottery, you know, the dorm lottery 181 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 5: to get that ticket, which is how I got the 182 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 5: red hour backs last game. 183 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 4: So that's how it was. 184 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 3: How do you plan to consume these finals? Do you 185 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:34,439 Speaker 3: still go to the home games? Or you just take 186 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 3: it all in at home? 187 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 5: That graciously granted me a credential because I retired officially 188 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 5: at twenty twelve. I haven't covered anything since twenty twelve, 189 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 5: but I still do podcasts. 190 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 4: I do stuff. 191 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 5: I write Sunday every other Sunday anyway, So I'm planning 192 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 5: on being in present and accounted for on Thursday night 193 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 5: at the Boston Garden. 194 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 3: Yes, given your scene it all status, and again I 195 00:09:56,920 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 3: mean you you know, I'm not sure how many of 196 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,319 Speaker 3: the listeners, but you know I've certainly studied it to agree. 197 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 2: I'm sure there's a lot I don't know. 198 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 3: But of course I got to work for Dave Smith 199 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 3: in Dallas, and I know he was your former sports 200 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 3: editor with the Globe, and the way I've always understood 201 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 3: the stories that the two of you, in essence basically 202 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:16,440 Speaker 3: created the Sunday Notes page that I love so much. 203 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 3: When you were still a Celtics beat writer. 204 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 5: Dave took the boss of BILP sports section and turned 205 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 5: it into a piece of journalistic art, if you will, 206 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:30,679 Speaker 5: and emphasis heavily on the notes. I first met my 207 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 5: first notes column in the summer in nineteen seventy, after 208 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 5: my first year on. 209 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:34,960 Speaker 4: The beat in sixty nine to seventy. 210 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 5: The person who set the bar raised the bar for 211 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 5: the notes columns was Peter Gammons with baseball period. Peter's 212 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:47,079 Speaker 5: baseball notes columns were unsurpassed, and I did my very best, 213 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 5: and we were friends from day one. We started the 214 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:51,439 Speaker 5: Globe the same day June ten, nineteen sixty eight, this 215 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 5: summer interns and which used to have an anniversary coming 216 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 5: up next Monday. But anyway, I did my best to 217 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 5: match Peter Gammons's expertise in baseball with my basketball. But 218 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:07,439 Speaker 5: Dave was a tremendous sports editor for the Globe. At 219 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:09,079 Speaker 5: that point, it was just a Sunday sports editor. He 220 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 5: later became the sports editor. That Sunday sports page was 221 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 5: his baby. At the time, and he turned it as 222 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 5: something that really has never been equaled, frankly. 223 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 4: In American sports journalism, not the way it was at 224 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 4: the Globe in those days. 225 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 3: I still try to do Sunday notes, but it just 226 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 3: doesn't look quite as pretty on a computer screen as 227 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:31,959 Speaker 3: it does when it when you have a whole page 228 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 3: of NBA notes, That one full broadsheet newspaper page with 229 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 3: nothing but NBA on it is. 230 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 5: You know, we had in our peak, of course, in 231 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 5: addition to the four major sports golf, tennis, we had 232 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 5: the great Bud Collins, the greatest American tennis writer or 233 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 5: whoever lived Bud Collins writing. We had Jokin Caannon who 234 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 5: wrote road racing when that was you know, in the 235 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 5: aftermath the Bill Rogers winning the Marathon at seventy six 236 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,960 Speaker 5: and set off a road racing craze around here. So 237 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 5: in college college notes as well, all these notes are 238 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 5: you know, is uh. At the same time those days 239 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:08,679 Speaker 5: are gone, the big four are still around. You know 240 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 5: that we still have our notes on football, basketball, hockey, 241 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 5: and baseball, but but we don't have the notes the 242 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 5: way we used to have all the others. 243 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 4: That was that was the golden era, the old the 244 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:19,840 Speaker 4: eighties were the golden era for a lot. 245 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 5: Of things, and and and and the NBA particularly and 246 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:24,000 Speaker 5: certainly journalism. 247 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:24,439 Speaker 4: It was. 248 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 3: So Having covered the league for as long as you have, 249 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 3: I'd love to hear your thoughts on Dancic. 250 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:42,079 Speaker 2: What strikes you about his game, what you like, what 251 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 2: you don't like? 252 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,560 Speaker 3: Give me just your view of There's only one don't 253 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:48,959 Speaker 3: you make of donches to this point, there's only. 254 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,200 Speaker 5: One don't like, and it's what everybody knows. You know, 255 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 5: stop complaining. You know, the whining thing is, it's tedious, 256 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:57,000 Speaker 5: it's old. Now you you've been around to stop it, 257 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 5: you know, come on, just play now. Everything else he's extraordinary, 258 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 5: and the shot making, the court vision that the remarkable. 259 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:07,559 Speaker 4: Way that he goes about at his pace. 260 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 5: I'm going to use a reference that probably will be 261 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 5: over the head of too many of the younger people. 262 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 5: He doesn't go at seventy eight, he doesn't go at 263 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 5: forty five. He goes at thirty three and at third rpm, 264 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 5: and no one disrupts him. He does his piece, that's 265 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:24,319 Speaker 5: his pace, and no one can bother him. He goes 266 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:28,839 Speaker 5: wherever he wants to go, and nobody stops him. He's 267 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:30,679 Speaker 5: a pleasure to watch. It's all there's to it. And 268 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:35,439 Speaker 5: then the shot making, I mean obviously is extraordinary. You know, 269 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 5: he's just he's great, and he and djokitch of you know, 270 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:41,840 Speaker 5: you have to stink of them in the same vein that. 271 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 4: Really and they are. 272 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,760 Speaker 5: They're remarkable and you know, the world's ucky to the 273 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 5: best bowl, world's lucky to have him. 274 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,199 Speaker 3: I mean all season long, when I've talked about the Celtics, 275 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 3: I mean, look, their regular season resume is ridiculous. 276 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 2: It's one of the best we've ever seen. 277 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 3: Okay, they didn't make a run at seventy two or 278 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 3: seventy three wins, but apart from that, their regular season 279 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 3: resume has everything. But I have to admit from Afar 280 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 3: from fifteen hundred miles away, and I haven't seen them 281 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:13,679 Speaker 3: as much as you, but I still don't fully trust them. 282 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 3: Maybe it is the crunch time failings that you stick 283 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 3: with me, but like I haven't fully shaken the skepticism. 284 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 3: And this is the series that they're going to have 285 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 3: to do it and can do it once and for all. 286 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 3: But Tatum and Brown as a duo, just where do 287 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 3: they kind of fall in terms of the Celtics pantheon 288 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:34,600 Speaker 3: and how they're viewed locally. 289 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 5: Well, one of the problems when you come along in 290 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 5: Boston is that you're now bucking the history. 291 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 4: You're now being thrusted into the history. 292 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 5: Of course, we've had some duos, of course, starting out 293 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 5: with Kuzi and Russell, and later Cowans and Hablet check 294 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 5: shall we say, and of course Bird and the Kale. 295 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 4: But Parish makes. 296 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:56,480 Speaker 5: Three, you know, yeah, and now the latest one of 297 00:14:56,520 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 5: course when the championship was Garnett and Pierson down grenad 298 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:01,200 Speaker 5: and Pierce. 299 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 4: They're making their mark there. 300 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 5: They needed they need a ring that fully enter into 301 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 5: the discussion. But both you know, but the Tatum, particularly 302 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 5: his hors historical ranking. You know, we've got you know, 303 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 5: our Rushmore all Time five kind of thing going, and 304 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 5: and he's knocking on the door to get included in 305 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 5: that all time five thing. 306 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 4: It's no doubt. 307 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 5: Uh, they're they're not the same player, They're different, you know, 308 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 5: he and Brown. I think they've become very complamentary. That's 309 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:32,240 Speaker 5: what a E as well as I. And it's it's 310 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 5: a power. It's a formidable duo. And they can go 311 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 5: out and get you sixty and they've done it. You know, 312 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 5: more than one stif each had thirty point games. Tatum 313 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 5: has made himself into a pretty damn good defender. Brown 314 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 5: originally that was his calling card, and he's back playing 315 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 5: the way he used he once played defense. Uh, the 316 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 5: big problem with Brown has been ball handling and turnovers 317 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 5: and bad judgment and drimming into crowds. 318 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 4: And he doesn't go to his left particularly well even now. 319 00:15:57,760 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 4: But boy does he go to his right strong. And 320 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:03,240 Speaker 4: he's a great finisher and his three point shooting has 321 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 4: gotten better in the current NBA. 322 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 5: They're in the discussion is the best duo and sixty 323 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 5: four wins is certainly a testament to that. And you're right, 324 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 5: your skepticism is warranted. That's still the story here until 325 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 5: they do it. You know, the people are not fully 326 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 5: buying into their any historical greatness or anything like that 327 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 5: until they win a championship. Until they and you have 328 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 5: to figure somewhere along the way, you're going to have 329 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 5: to do it in the finals by winning a close game. 330 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 4: You're not going to win four games by twenty. 331 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:34,640 Speaker 5: That final exam. It's a final exam, and we'll see 332 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 5: how they they pass. 333 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 4: It's past fail. 334 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 3: Well, every guy in this team can shoot the three ball, 335 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 3: and that's something Dallas hasn't seen. Oklahoma City and Minnesota, 336 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 3: their last two playoff opponents, definitely had limitations when it 337 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 3: came to stretching the floor, and Dallas exploited that this 338 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 3: is going to be a completely different situation. 339 00:16:57,600 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 2: But just I think I know the answer. 340 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 3: But I want to ask you a team that shoots 341 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 3: from deep as much as these Celtics, what is that 342 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 3: viewing experience like for you? 343 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 5: You're talking to someone who is who believes that the 344 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 5: three point shot is the worst thing that happen in 345 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:18,440 Speaker 5: basketball in my lifetime, and it has distorted the game 346 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:21,240 Speaker 5: at every level and now is unfortunately, it's become the 347 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:24,120 Speaker 5: currency of the game. So you know, it's a live 348 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 5: by it, die by it circumstance some nights. And this 349 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 5: is why I get so frustrated. And this is where 350 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 5: Perzingis now can fit in in a way that they 351 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 5: have not had in the past. They've got an option 352 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 5: now than a seven foot three guy who actually does 353 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 5: know his way around basket as well as being able 354 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 5: to shoot the three. But he gives you an option 355 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 5: that you don't have to rank up another three. 356 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 4: It worries me. 357 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:53,119 Speaker 5: I mean, you know there are highly dependent on it 358 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 5: and yet are good at it. They had a game 359 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:57,400 Speaker 5: this year which all starting five at at least three each, 360 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:00,400 Speaker 5: and to come off the bench with two three point 361 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:04,159 Speaker 5: shooters Richard and Hauser. Now, Sam Hauser has been in 362 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:06,360 Speaker 5: a slump. He had a very good year, but he's 363 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 5: had a bad he's had a bad playoffs so far 364 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 5: shooting and well the time off, you know, has he 365 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 5: been able to get a shot back in this ten days? 366 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 5: It'll be between their last game and Thursday night. But 367 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 5: right A Horford shoots threes. They all shoot threes, You're right, 368 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 5: and back where both of them do, White and Holiday 369 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:27,880 Speaker 5: and of course Tatum and Brown. Yeah, it's the three shot. 370 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 5: Point shots are everywhere. But that's the tricky thing for 371 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 5: any team that is it. Do you will you accept 372 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 5: oh it's not our knight and go try to win 373 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 5: another way? You know that that's been a question here. 374 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:40,119 Speaker 2: Yeah, and then Porzingis. 375 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:42,720 Speaker 3: And when Porzingis was in Dallas, I was amazed, obviously 376 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 3: having covered pretty much every dribble of Novitzky's career, and 377 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 3: you know, he really is the one who to me, 378 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:54,679 Speaker 3: revolutionized the game. In terms of making it acceptable and 379 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:57,160 Speaker 3: even desired for the seven foot or to step out 380 00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 3: and shoot the three. 381 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 2: But porzingis I mean he range. He shoots it with such. 382 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 3: Ease, five seven, ten feet farther away than the line sometimes, 383 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:10,000 Speaker 3: I mean he just makes it look so easy. 384 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 5: He shoots it from Caitlyn Clarkland, which we used to 385 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 5: call curry Land but now it's Clarkland. My mouth drops 386 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 5: open sometimes when I say I'm going he's not going 387 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:20,720 Speaker 5: to it? Yeah he is, He's got I'm serious. Yeah, 388 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:24,119 Speaker 5: you're absolutely right, that is at seven to three. That 389 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 5: the range of factor is not just his foot's on 390 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 5: the line. Boy, I know you're right, he's three and 391 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 5: four feet behind that line. 392 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:31,359 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's it's a phenomenon. 393 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 5: It's it's the new world, you know. And look at 394 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 5: when Beyana. You know he's going to he's the next one. 395 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:39,880 Speaker 5: He shoots them from from down there. And I'll tell 396 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 5: you he had a tremendous year. And right from the 397 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 5: beginning he was impactful, and he was impactful in defense 398 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:47,480 Speaker 5: as well. And he passes better than I had no 399 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 5: idea whether he's had any court vision. 400 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:53,520 Speaker 4: At all, Well, he does. And he had a really 401 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:54,400 Speaker 4: outstanding year. 402 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:57,440 Speaker 5: But the number one thing has been, you know, keep 403 00:19:57,520 --> 00:19:59,359 Speaker 5: him on the floor. It's always been the case, and 404 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:01,359 Speaker 5: and they weren't able to do it so far in 405 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:02,920 Speaker 5: the playoffs. And now here he is and we'll see 406 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 5: how far he goes. 407 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:06,479 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, his playoff resume is so limited as 408 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 2: it is. 409 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 3: And now, like you said, you know, he's missed nearly 410 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:13,439 Speaker 3: forty days and has to come back and play a 411 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:16,040 Speaker 3: key role in the series. I mean, it's as much 412 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:18,040 Speaker 3: a key variable as anything in this series. 413 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:20,200 Speaker 5: But a good thing about having him back against this 414 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 5: team is with those two young aerial artists centers there, 415 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 5: Gafford and Lively, you know, we know the nature of 416 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 5: their game, we know how they play, we know the 417 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,399 Speaker 5: things that they bring to the table for Dallas and 418 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 5: absent him, they're not too big. But with him and there, 419 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 5: you know, there's a possible you know, antidote to the 420 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:44,080 Speaker 5: antics of Messrs Gafford and Lively. 421 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:45,680 Speaker 4: But I mean, I think Lively is going to be 422 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 4: a really good player. 423 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:49,479 Speaker 2: Now that's going to turn out he's the god's end 424 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 2: of their So. 425 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 4: That's going to turn out to be a hell of 426 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:54,119 Speaker 4: a pick. And you know, I mean Gafford is that 427 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 4: think he does what he does. 428 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 5: He's not going to bro out in this game, but lively, 429 00:20:57,840 --> 00:20:59,480 Speaker 5: I think he really got something nice there. 430 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:10,440 Speaker 3: Well, as you mentioned, you're still writing every other Sunday 431 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 3: in the Globe and you remain must read to this day. 432 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 3: And I wanted to ask you because I know you 433 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 3: wrote a piece about Bill Walton, someone we both dearly 434 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:21,360 Speaker 3: loved being around. I know you got to cover him. 435 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:23,199 Speaker 3: I didn't get to cover him as a player. I 436 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 3: only got to know him in his broadcasting incarnation. But 437 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:29,919 Speaker 3: I would love to hear a reflection or two just 438 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:34,880 Speaker 3: about Bill, because I think he's just one of the truly, 439 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:39,120 Speaker 3: truly unique and enduring characters that this league has ever seen. 440 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:41,080 Speaker 4: Yeah, there was nobody like him. 441 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:45,320 Speaker 5: He occupied a specific niche first of all, as a player, 442 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 5: he was a human clinic as a five man, all 443 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:54,760 Speaker 5: that nobody occupies today because the center position has been 444 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:57,800 Speaker 5: devalued and changed. But in the old days, when we 445 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 5: played real basketball, before the three point hostile takeover of 446 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 5: the sport, you know, this guy showed you how to 447 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:05,960 Speaker 5: play a position as well as anyone who's ever played it. 448 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:09,879 Speaker 5: Health was his issue, of course, and you know in 449 00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:14,159 Speaker 5: fourteen seasons. He missed three full seasons and his final 450 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:17,280 Speaker 5: season only played ten games because of injury. So his 451 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:21,400 Speaker 5: career doesn't stack up the way with the great players, but. 452 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 4: His short term does, and at his best. 453 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:27,600 Speaker 5: He was as good as has ever been at both 454 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:30,199 Speaker 5: ends of the floor, bust, rebounding, and of course the 455 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 5: best passing center until Jokich now who is challenging him 456 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 5: for that historical honor and no one else. Those are 457 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:40,080 Speaker 5: the two, So let's stop the discussion right there. So 458 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:42,280 Speaker 5: it's either one of those two or the best passing 459 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 5: center ever. As a guy, Bill was just the most enthusiastic. 460 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:50,440 Speaker 5: He was enthusiastic about everything. When he got into something, 461 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:52,359 Speaker 5: you get into something, you know. You could start with 462 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:54,879 Speaker 5: the grateful dead thing, you know. I mean that is 463 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 5: well documented. I have been to his house to see 464 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 5: the collection of grateful dead instrument that he has in 465 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 5: his first floor of his house, among many other incredible 466 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:06,159 Speaker 5: collection of things he has in this he had in 467 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 5: his house. But the dead thing was when he got 468 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 5: into them. He got into them, you know, and you 469 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 5: know we all know that. But he was just an 470 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 5: enthusiastic person. And this is from a guy you know, 471 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:16,679 Speaker 5: and you know everyone who knows him. 472 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:16,840 Speaker 4: Though. 473 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 5: He was famous for ending communications and ending phone conversations 474 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 5: by saying, I'm the luckiest. 475 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:23,520 Speaker 4: Man in the world. 476 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:25,640 Speaker 5: This is a guy who at one point had such 477 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:30,879 Speaker 5: debilitating back pain that he considered suicide. And at one point, 478 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 5: this goes back about twenty some years ago before he 479 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 5: finally got picked up and got some fusion and got 480 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:39,040 Speaker 5: his back straightened out to a where he could refunction. 481 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:41,160 Speaker 4: But that this is a guy. So here's a guy 482 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:42,200 Speaker 4: who had a near. 483 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 5: Death experience who's telling us he's the luckiest man in 484 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:45,640 Speaker 5: the world, and he believed it. 485 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:49,440 Speaker 4: There's no replacing Bill Walton. He was especially even. 486 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:52,440 Speaker 2: Being Yeah, no question, I mean I got to know him. 487 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:55,639 Speaker 3: I was My first job covering the league was as 488 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:58,040 Speaker 3: a Clippers beat writer. He was a Clippers announcer, and 489 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 3: very soon into my beat writing life, he would call 490 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:05,840 Speaker 3: me and ask me for reflections, information, rumblings, and I'm 491 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:08,400 Speaker 3: sitting there thinking every time, I was so what can 492 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 3: I tell Bill Walton in the basketball He made you 493 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 3: feel like the most important person. 494 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,640 Speaker 5: He gues and so many people, I mean the breadth 495 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 5: of reaction, you know, the people, so many people that 496 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 5: he would make feel where you're, you know, your best 497 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:23,200 Speaker 5: if not your best friend, you're in their inner. 498 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:25,160 Speaker 4: Circle, you know. I mean, he God knows how many 499 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:29,280 Speaker 4: hundreds of people with that that came away with that 500 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:30,160 Speaker 4: takeaway from him. 501 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:33,879 Speaker 3: Last thing before I let you go here, there's about 502 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 3: twenty five more things I want to ask you about. 503 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 2: But I did want to ask about this. 504 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:40,400 Speaker 3: One because I heard you tell this story once and 505 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:42,359 Speaker 3: I just I had to ask about it again. 506 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:44,520 Speaker 2: I think it was the seventy six finals. 507 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:48,679 Speaker 3: You said you covered it and Paul Westfall by that 508 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 3: point was a son now and just covering that finals 509 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:56,720 Speaker 3: after covering him previously. Just if you could walk me 510 00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 3: through the seventy six finals. 511 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:02,439 Speaker 5: The whole thing was that at that point Tommy Heinsen 512 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:04,159 Speaker 5: and I were having a bit of a of a 513 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:09,200 Speaker 5: journal of a professional falling out, shall we say, And 514 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 5: after the first game of the series, I wrote a 515 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 5: column and he came in and was fuming about the 516 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:17,320 Speaker 5: column and saying that I that people could get their 517 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:20,040 Speaker 5: game plan by buying the paper and it was not 518 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:20,920 Speaker 5: not so It's ridiculous. 519 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:21,200 Speaker 4: He was. 520 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:24,400 Speaker 5: He just was over the top of it. So when 521 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:28,359 Speaker 5: we got the Phoenix for games three, and four. Rather 522 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 5: than the state at the hotel with everybody else, I 523 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:33,439 Speaker 5: stayed at west falls house and we went back for 524 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:33,920 Speaker 5: a game six. 525 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:35,120 Speaker 4: I stayed at west Fall's house. 526 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 5: So this has got to be the first and only 527 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:40,679 Speaker 5: time that the primary journalistic, uh you know, person of 528 00:25:41,119 --> 00:25:43,360 Speaker 5: covering a team stayed at the home of the best 529 00:25:43,359 --> 00:25:47,080 Speaker 5: player of the other team. And but I gotta tell 530 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:50,120 Speaker 5: you quick my favorite anecdote that comes out of that. 531 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:52,960 Speaker 4: So Paul had a pool. 532 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:55,600 Speaker 5: Swimming pool, and of course we we have a time 533 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:58,240 Speaker 5: difference in my you know, I have that right quickly 534 00:25:58,359 --> 00:26:01,120 Speaker 5: to get back to Boston. 535 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:03,479 Speaker 4: So I'd be done writing about three or four o'clock 536 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:04,840 Speaker 4: in the afternoon. 537 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 5: At Phoenix time, and I'd go to the pool with 538 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:10,679 Speaker 5: Paul and his neighbor, Alvin Adams lived down the street, 539 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 5: and somebody else came. And there was another guy who 540 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:16,160 Speaker 5: would come and he had nowhere else to go, something 541 00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:19,240 Speaker 5: to do, hung out at the pool. And he was 542 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:21,720 Speaker 5: the guy who was the thirteenth man on the twelve 543 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:24,760 Speaker 5: man roster. He was the son who got left out, 544 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:30,639 Speaker 5: some guy named Riley. So yeah, thattt Riley was just 545 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:32,440 Speaker 5: very happy to have a chance to hang out of 546 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:35,800 Speaker 5: Paul west Fall's pool too, So it was a very 547 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:36,639 Speaker 5: social series. 548 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:38,600 Speaker 4: But that's what I say now. 549 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:41,280 Speaker 5: The longest and the short of it is that I 550 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:43,719 Speaker 5: got off the beat that year and I didn't have 551 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:46,919 Speaker 5: to be around Tom Heinsen for but we we vounded 552 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:51,280 Speaker 5: each other at a testimonial dinner for his old roommate, 553 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,000 Speaker 5: Jim Blusketof, and I was there and he was there, 554 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:55,439 Speaker 5: and I want to him with the bar and I said, well, 555 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:57,320 Speaker 5: it's spoiled your evening if I say hello. 556 00:26:58,000 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 4: And he said now. 557 00:26:59,280 --> 00:27:03,879 Speaker 5: And that was the beginning of forty two years of 558 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:05,359 Speaker 5: we were friends, no problem. 559 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:08,240 Speaker 4: It was over. No longer the day to day and 560 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:08,720 Speaker 4: it was over. 561 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:11,600 Speaker 5: So with all that all came out of the seventy six, 562 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:14,560 Speaker 5: the seventy six series against Phoenix. 563 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:16,199 Speaker 2: I mean, I'm trying to picture it. 564 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:18,159 Speaker 3: I've now heard you tell the story twice, but I 565 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 3: still can't really imagine hanging out with Westy and Ryles 566 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 3: like that during the finals. 567 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 5: But Riles, Yeah, Ryles, that was he was, you know, 568 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 5: he was the guy left off the roster and yeah 569 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:33,200 Speaker 5: he got you know, his path to becoming pat Riley 570 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:37,640 Speaker 5: and he worked a carpenter or something at one point 571 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:39,800 Speaker 5: and then of course he was chick. He then became 572 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 5: Chick Hern's you know guy, his color man, not the 573 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 5: chick ever needed one or made much use of one. 574 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:49,040 Speaker 5: And then eventually he was assistant coach and West had 575 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 5: got fired and he got the job, and and and 576 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 5: the rest is, they say, is great NBA history. Pat 577 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:56,440 Speaker 5: Riley becomes the great. 578 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:59,879 Speaker 3: Guru, another one of a kind of personality in this league, 579 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:02,159 Speaker 3: as are you, sir, and I am so grateful that 580 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:04,240 Speaker 3: we were able to connect and do this. I won't 581 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 3: be at Game one or Game two, but I hope 582 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:09,800 Speaker 3: I make it to five or seven so I can 583 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:11,879 Speaker 3: see you in person, shake your hand and thank you 584 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:15,960 Speaker 3: for doing this. Fantastic to get your perspective on these Celtics. 585 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 4: Entirely welcome. 586 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:21,760 Speaker 2: There he goes the Hall of Famer Bob Ryan. 587 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:26,040 Speaker 3: That will do it for this edition of This League, Uncut. 588 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:27,320 Speaker 2: Chris and I will. 589 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:32,080 Speaker 3: Be back together again very soon for another episode. As always, 590 00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:37,440 Speaker 3: please follow rate review the show, stay tuned. 591 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:40,480 Speaker 2: We'll do it again very very soon. 592 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:44,360 Speaker 1: And that'll do it for us. See you next time. 593 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:47,840 Speaker 2: This League uncutage and iHeartRadio production. 594 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:54,479 Speaker 1: Chris Hanes and Mark Stein 595 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:00,640 Speaker 4: Defict