Ian Thompson, SI

so called second half of the season kicks off tonight for the Boston Celtics they begin on rather lengthy west coast trip precipitated by the ice show here it. At the TD bank north garden they begin tonight in Denver against the nuggets. Joining us on the -- to talk about all things NBA as he has in the past from Sports Illustrated and SI dot com. Ian -- Ian dale on Michael again how are you a -- there you were doing great thank you might very well before we get to the Celtics I gotta say I -- I was mentally mister Michael during the break. The NBA is such a fraud league. When when. You have to Paula got out of retirement. -- to sign a phony baloney contract and pretend to plate from month so that you can make this big deal happen. I mean I guess the Celtics that the erratically signed bill Russell and trade him for Shaquille O'Neal out.

Well I mean the whole thing they did make these these complicated rules to try to keep the salary intact. Prevail while one team to advance to another team financially and one team -- helpful hole is trying to win. What they end up doing is they manufacturer four million dollar salary for a guy that was the -- new never never complain about. Oh and guys -- dollars. He's my new hero.

So you said they make up these rules to keep salaries in -- complicated rules. Where they be more complicated rules to stop this from happening again.

I guess I and even understand the rules that exist today Michael -- can't imagine with the new -- the difference between the NCAA and in the eight and they both have rule books that are needed. In the NBA rule book exists. Two find ways to funnel the money that the players. And the NCAA rule book exist will be to keep the money from it and the players. So -- of both rule books are just enormous and nobody understands that mentally violated one.

Let the good summary and let's not talk about rules anymore -- that the fact that it was both -- I wonder what your thoughts were. On the dunk contest is that I thought it was amazing that's what what you've done.

I mean I -- the current policies and maybe if it appears though it. And that is going to skip to the -- and I -- quite been I think -- right you try to create these. These guys with act like it was a serious thing and made the he'd do with done with nobody -- in I missed it the first time and they stand there close. In the people who all cheer like bunch of -- with. Local people all of these in this stupid judges hold up that whole thing was to idiotic. And and emperor wearing no clothes. And then for these -- come -- and actually have fun with it. I I I just think. These so belief that the way to win the fans back to -- the double on bowl. And I hope it's sort of catches we've seen all their games and even and we all in all sorts of ways -- music.

Only yes Dominic Wilkens last week if if there were just any other ways to dunk a basketball we have run out of you know ways that we can entertain and and man was I wrong because they came up with -- ways I never even could've imagined.

Yeah I watched the beer commercials I think and anyways in the in and then they come up with a new -- and it you know. It makes it left those yeah I'd -- I think there's you know Sunday's that is going to parachute down from the rafters. -- It is going to be all sorts of things. It won't evolve we have a laugh about it that if they can everybody's trying to be the next Michael Jordan in the bigger than. The only been trying to be something that is ever since Michael Jordan left and trying to pretend that that these guys Oakland's first name basis you know you know them all the stars India -- indeed they're they're really important people. And if they would just stop trying to prove that they were important. A that we would all in --

Well we'll get back to the Celtics in say they've had a fifteen game sample size for you to observe. They've answered a question how to they play without one of their top three players they've gone seven to without Kevin Garnett. You've seen him for for two games so do you think. I mean obviously they're 41 -- 91 of the best teams in the league but the playoffs are different story when you look. Toward the playoffs do you see the Celtics as the team to beat or there are they and a handful of 452.

There either -- for five teams and it's important that that they see themselves that way I think. As opposed to trying to protect their record in place. They they have to find some way to. Gain momentum and the growing as into the playoffs and that's going to be very difficult I think that's clearly what the strike -- right now. Trade clause in second place in distracting Celtics. A couple of runners on the track with his right to -- speed on the actual. And and he kicked in because Detroit there where the Celtics have been this year Detroit in the last couple years the team to eat. And they've run jackass in the playoffs in the have not been peaking and playing in the past well if we look back into the Celtics -- the past the first step in the you have no chances all of -- finals when it's if by some way. To be to be sending the playoffs with the very very thankful he would.

There are twice as many teams in the Western Conference with winning records than there are in the Eastern Conference ten in the west five and east and in all the big moves have been made by teams in the west were trying to to compete in their own conference and ultimately compete beyond that. The Celtics going to get trapped because the -- has yet they don't really have to make a move to do much in the east. And all these moves are being made in the Weston and the next thing you know there's nobody left to -- a -- get if they wanted to.

Well the prompt us felt the deal with the state they have nothing left to trade and when you look at their -- salaries eat. He traded every every -- they -- these two players and then also. And they went -- the house obviously impose the those were great -- also. But they really don't have without hurting their team they -- really can't. The that I don't have much left to trade as far as salaries get back to matching salaries. You have to trade a certain amount of money concerned about money back in the Celtics can't do that in the very difficult. So those that talk now has been that maybe Sacramento releases Tyrone -- you know as a must -- without them he -- his way back he back to Austin. We almost Sacramento right now I was in the middle of probably trading runner tests in Iran who might be part of that -- to sell.

I say no thanks on Tyrone -- by the way what do you say.

Well I think doc -- has a great relationship -- and -- with a couple of trust with them and in the in the Atlanta locker room he's going to be really because he was one. We've been one -- walk but real salt. -- they're going to miss that in and so he would fit in with the Celtics in those terms. And it was you know -- the -- the game -- on -- and later as a on the south oval that he can hurt. Who's going to bring the ball for the Celtics against pressure especially in Detroit when these teams it's going to be going to happen game after game in its biggest insult. When Rondell in game.

Well I do you. I guess you do you give any way to the Sam can sell rumors that have been out there Gary Payton rumors any likelihood of those two things happening -- one of those two things happening.

I don't think I just don't see Gary Payton. These people coming -- make -- difference and so that is age you know -- I think he'd rather have Dario and Eddie House like that and in the law you know and Terry he has. Then so be different I was going to get out of the clippers the tight fisted owner -- so it applicable a lot of money I think there. I watch it turns out that happen this just from what I see I just don't see it happening and stand because it's still those clear that he hasn't. It is not and so -- you can give money back and -- you know maybe there he's got something going on to start.

What did you think when Phoenix acquired Shaquille O'Neal what did you think of the move when they Amanda.

I was the only ones American the so I -- when I covered our old series last year's in San Antonio. And I that the media doesn't times when he was able that that turned into half court. And the problem the problem against San Antonio Amare Stoudamire and felt -- one that's recruit on the and because Kurt Thomas was in the game and about fifty feet from the basket Tim Duncan with guard Kurt Thomas without guard. -- state currently when it. You know like six shot from out -- go ahead. It'll out Tim Duncan and by the written -- which prevented Steve Nash Barbosa penalties that it has seen you it would drive to the basket. And Tim Duncan one series defensively and I have a garden but he went mars himself now if you got Stoudemire and Shaq. In the game together. And -- standing over there on the baseline was from the basket and Steve Nash and driving and Tim Duncan must now. Guards guard -- on national also now -- adopted it's not worth it Stoudamire without. And I just think -- half court offense -- a lot better in the -- they have the best cornerback -- let me see -- to what I like between.

How many years is check they'll have left in your opinion.

They have they have one of the most progressive like trading status in either. And they claim they've they've already made the difference in the way he feels that. -- I'm not redirect the -- out. I think he was the victim of playing for a very bad team and it's -- to eat healthy that works based around him and he's going to happen I I really think we're going to the the -- and ability to be effect next year --

How big a difference will Jason Kidd make for the Dallas Mavericks.

That's what trade that's really hard. Two envisioned from the field I mean but how does so with the Lakers there was news think about it Rico welcome them too well. And for me it would be -- to. This you know Shaq would help you even know nobody is.

Suddenly I agree with you okay we'll say yeah okay that makes you a lot they're so position still a matter of fact you go to all your friends that I know.

I've said that a group -- but with Jason -- They're going to be played with different style now because if we wanted to play very old executing style with the team. Is that it's going to want to play more fluid you know -- to get in -- way. So it -- the hard thing for his feet but ultimately they had to make the trade but I think if we just -- losing team you know leader on the court with sort of stand up to them. You know -- over their drawing all the way who's going to take charge of making -- happen on the court. There's this in the media that there was the disconnect developing between that team coach. And now they have a real leaders come out there and he salvaged the season and that's -- the biggest winners in the week. I mean he he went with USA basketball summers -- and that's from terrible into the scene plays out in accuracy and he's going to be then you look like when he can great. As a matter -- I think it's going to be great trade now I can't explain it with a.

If you voted for our MVP today would Kevin Garnett gets your vote in if not hope.

I've been yeah I've been to work him back and forth on. And I'm glad we don't have the vote now I think it's unfair to vote now because the first half of the season is really meaningless in the NBA the Celtics had a big advantage over other teams in the sense that the Celtics really trying hard in the first year. Where's the love of the teams played their way into it. Which you know then -- away when he so. I would say right now it's it's real tight course street with Goran and run teams. And what it looked Kobe Bryant you know Chris Paul has to be right up there with New Orleans there's there's the best team in the west right now in. He's statistic we have ability and speed that I'm I think it's something very fun to watch and it's not right this sort of remind me.

And we always appreciate taken the time to talk some -- with -- thank you very much it. -- see it in Thompson from Sports Illustrated as -- dot com you can read his stuff on line or in the magazine whichever. -- you prefer he's got a -- stuff that's on line today a couple of different stories