Ian Thompson, SI

Until I always say every time we have the lightning round. If somebody who's listening on WPI dot com there's someone listening in their car it. Now and Wisconsin. The closer while at the cab drivers on the -- it. Got a lot -- that leaves you in. From Sports Illustrated is there in the -- out what's going on him.

I've just been any jury did and coaches sent -- coaches clinic might cause some of that. Actually -- back to the Newark Airport.

He had I have I've just made the the point that the that the Celtics are favored to win the NBA title and and I'm I'm hitching it on this. I'm looking at the stats and there's no team. In the NBA that defends as well. As the Boston Celtics so the stats tell me that in my eyes tell me that too. There are no easy shot the D do you see the Celtics as the best -- the best team you see them at their best defensive team in the league.

Yeah they are -- numbers very loud and they've been great effort every night more so than any other team. They've been by far the most competitive team in the regular season. -- I don't know if everybody else's plate by the straight dynamic -- you know -- sort of kicking in you're -- to regular student to peak for the playoffs. Which is away dispersed and says the last two years on what Detroit's trying to end. You know even the Lakers because their trade and the end because there's so much more hope they're playing at a much higher level now in the world the first half year.

Thompson a little it is getting a lot of credit for this we'll look at the players in the second wire -- want to talk about the coaching side of -- not Doc Rivers does not allow his coaches is be media at least that's we've been told. But I'm thinking topped 7 can talk to you a little bit because you're different you're not just some ordinary media member. Yeah yeah the gradient Johnson so if you Khatami beat me a couple of things what is Tom took an -- doing with this team what is known for. That has helped them. Go from one of the worst teams that's you know deepens and last year 2006200721 of the best in 20072000.

I've been I've been banned from talking to Tom also so I can only guests but. First of all when you look at their team there aren't a lot of guys which day belongs on the all the defensive -- coming into this year. So remind kill bit of a few years ago and -- writing Jakarta and you're on the team Michael when it was charged -- They have guys who weren't -- great defenders but their late great. And heard it but now what they have this here is that you have one great defender Kevin Garnett. And and exploit harassing on the ball defender and -- out front. Yeah and and and everybody else is giving high effort to play defense. In my book Kevin Garnett to defense player of the year -- were changing the culture all franchised we're trying to piece together. And in two previous this new way of playing basketball. And he's he's been able to service will be eager to let the lead to guys like Paul Pierce rail where we're playing at a much higher level that that -- in.

What can hit it 6% to say that you said Kevin Garnett is is that the and a defensive player of the year I agree with. Why not the MVP may -- because we talk about defensive player of the year in at the guy has changed the culture and he's playing on the best team in the league. And the best team in the league also with the best defensive team and only why not make I got the a BJ.

Well throw -- most this year I've -- what you are saying that during that should be in the you know he didn't -- three weeks there with an injury but even more so. It's becoming harder and harder to ignore us. Dynamic effort from Kobe Bryant and LeBron James especially Coke you. -- both ends of the court.

And the airplane Kobe.

Not when -- yeah out what he's doing you know both then. He really is Michael Jordan to which shorter though so attribute -- call but I -- younger.

And and in general we talk about the MVPs of the MBA close the last guy. Who was who was known as a defensive player first to win the MVP.

all right it's. And conduct was very much as offensive -- com. Michael Jordan obviously it was not a player that you. He -- all -- and so it took pride in it and I think it's fair standard you. All the guys accountable placed 39 he -- thirty don't want to eat out there judging the.

Yeah I was -- house and earlier. If if basketball NBA had range factor like they have baseball or some some type of measurement to tell you. Just how great a guy is defensively what we what we have. Really is. Blocked shots I don't think anyone keeps us that on Kevin Garnett spent thirty minutes guarding this guy. And in the thirty minutes that guy averaged -- points per game and in doing that 62 times I had like 62 games this year essays -- fifty games this year. In the fifty games that he has been on the court. His command has average -- make up a number eleven point five points per game and shot. 40% from the field I think what we had stats like that. Maybe that the that the players would get more consideration as shut down guys and MVP candidate that.

In -- defensive player award has never made much sense to me -- Marcus Camby got it last year for putting up. The numbers the stats that can be gauged. And -- that's one of the worst defensive teams in the week in Denver and -- thank. You know it if you -- factors that -- you would. Raised the level of the year that you're okay -- it like giving -- MVP award of some guy who's averaging 28 point but losing -- And that made sense to me it -- never won the award that makes most sense either but that Jerry Sloan -- much air -- makes those so you know hey -- maybe not these awards makes any sense whatsoever.

at that that the natural Segway and I'll I'll leave you with this you know want to ask you. If it in our business in the media business especially with writing. We know there are guys we we call them writers writers in the maybe they don't get all the acclaim that they should but we know what industry how great they are how brilliant they are -- bill comes to mind me I think he's a genius. -- let's go to the basketball coaches coach -- who is known. As the best coach in the game for his acts and no ability and his motivational ability.

Well right now he's -- sacred pop approach. When I watch when he gave him the outside series last year the way shut down Steve Nash and are mostly took the speed -- game. That was seriously as they advantage and took another game and whenever Felix was about. Score 100 ever run maybe two or three baskets wrote called an out every time yes fruit -- on the temple that series. And it always. And he also kitchen guys hungry difficulties you always hear an MBA they're coached the player -- in the coach's way. But this guy has a very well. And yet he's been -- at the highest level for a long time so now of course -- he has Tim Duncan there but. You know right now you have to say coach it's game most of the players -- your ASCII group up.

Yeah and the reason I ask is this I'm I'm fascinated by by NBA coaches because when your team is really good. Like Phil Jackson -- coaching the bulls or. Or -- Casey Jones coaching the Celtics. You know both coaches are almost dismissed because it's become a great players of course they should be good how how how much coaching talent does it take -- got Larry -- as prime. What we we had a yet we try to dismiss coaches when the teams -- win. And we jumped on them when they lose and Doc Rivers is case is a classic case last year he was caught a terrible coach. Who had no talent this year when he does have talent. I don't think anybody saying he should be the coach of the year what are you.

Well I NC should be -- your contract a the they have certainly thanks from the opening. From the opening week I don't think you pick for granted that yeah you'll. QB get all these guys to play together you guys. Each of whom we're used to being startup team. It and no real clearly the third option that you hurt -- it all back to see them play. Better in other -- that would -- appears. I got Rondo is young point guard is doing very well he's gotten more out Centre court in -- in the past. And that benched it worked really a lot of questions about the bench with no backup point guard. To play it -- to hear what comedian of the best he's done about coaching job of anybody.

In the end it's always good to Tutsi. We're so happy that she checked in during the lightning round is our. Well we love the -- grounded into in the jackets you've called in from New Jersey in a -- just to talk to last. Makes us feel special so thank you.

I'm grateful for the era so posts.

I hit it in jobs and from Sports Illustrated SI dot com check got to stop it doesn't really. Really great job covering basketball