Mike Fratello, TNT NBA Analyst

Our next guest slowly working the second game tonight we'll have Baron Davis in the Golden State Warriors visiting Shaquille O'Neal on the Phoenix Suns. But in the first game tonight Marv Albert will be doing the up play by play. Reggie Miller will be an analyst and this guy will be an analyst as well bizarre of the tell -- straighter Mike Fritz hello joins us on the line Mike Dillon Michael -- how are. Good afternoon how are you today. Mr. for -- we're doing well always good it's not to you know that. We were kind of joking and a little earlier on about what a difference a year makes. You know you can't -- Celtics ticket I mean they're they're sold out for the season it's it's an event once again at the TD bank north garden just the simple here. And we got -- a glimpse last night of what could have been if the ping pong balls had fallen differently and Kevin Durant could've been a Celtic. With -- Seattle here last night I think Celtics fans are happy with the way things are.

I would say you know it's right that. Rookies that have all the potential and promise and I hope for the future it but it issue if sure as hell doesn't he wouldn't today go to.

it -- I'm telling you we're in Boston Mike we're really looking forward to you the playoffs the Celtics have clinched a spot -- much larger than that much bigger than that talking about that. Eastern Conference finals but before the -- get to that point. They would have to get by some talented teams one of them as the Cleveland Cavaliers what would you do again you know you -- for a long time would you do as a coach Jim -- approaching LeBron James. What what's what would be your philosophy.

Our position out yeah we got lawyers are only. I mean it it's that that is simple questions -- you're talking about.

That I ever really simple questions and I was doing that great reporting for the Akron beacon journal I don't think so.

Well I have. You know I'm not sure we have target words or what kind of blocked and we develop if you had a what against the -- the first we have you. If -- principles that you think you pitted since training camp and hopefully those solid and good that. You make adjustments game by game -- currently playing up against LeBron. Poses such eight different type of player because she's such a combination -- Society's straight. Power speed. These is perimeter shot is much improved to you know to let some -- work and hold him on becoming a better perimeter shooters bounces much better on a shot. It will be finishing -- well it going to his left him around the basket it's just the trade the eleven player deal that took place not only had. -- the usual numbers statistics improved somewhat. But abroad is that has skyrocketed with the issue of who plays remember we want Steve has been an injury team. This entire season they just can't seem to get it together as far as injuries go they'll assess if starting with training camp when Parrish on. And probably sat out and that's another thing of mine -- I don't know how many players have gone on to have good years -- sit out training can't. -- contract disputes or whatever it is to like inevitably they don't want to get hurt or they get come back but. Sorting what goes to a training camp -- now it right on through now what they've got -- doubt that Ben Wallace's out and which just return take ten minutes and in last night's game. Cleveland has been hurt so I think -- tell you how good LeBron really is. But he can carry history into the fourth spot right now on the player -- saw it today with all these guys in this city it's --

Mike -- TNT has to with the teams tonight Cleveland being one Phoenix the other that made. Big headline making moves at the trade deadline what did you think of Phoenix's acquisition if Shaquille O'Neal and has it worked out the way you thought.

I look better trying to resist. Teams played the stock market a little bit and and majority of the teams so safe stocks weren't. Welcome ruling wrecked their franchise will root for real world and hopefully years down the road their chief gene but what. Played very high risk stocks nose. Those two teams with Dallas in. Dealing with Jason Kidd and Phoenix in -- or Shaquille O'Neal because they gave up four time all star is 29 years old short married. The take on a 3040 you know you'll senator who -- has been. Going downhill as far as stats over the last couple seasons and it was question -- because of the injury that he had the last cup the issue black. Just how much he had left nobody questioned this. Desirable you know. The fact he still was the most dominant center physically and believe but which is not the same Shaquille O'Neal take a lot of pounding over the years these carry that big frame around a lot of years almost legs and feet so that was a concern we'll figure it out but obviously they felt that they were going to be able to win the west the waiting structured and the Phoenix organization -- take that gamble but. It's a huge gamble because you have not only this year but then. Two more years that. The twenty million a year that's forty million the next two years after it covered by -- checked -- so those those Jewish huge gamble by those two teams we'll see -- we get to the playoffs what they paid dividends.

It's become the playoffs might god TNT is going to have a blast showing the Western Conference playoffs and we're going to have a blast watching. Really -- Houston winning twenty games in a row the Lakers Phoenix Dallas Utah so many teams. What team do you think what might be able to emerge. From that cluster of teams anything that they do emerge what do you think the differences among all these talented teams in the west.

Just think about this before Houston went on this. 18 game winning surely they were intense place in the Western Conference that they were in the tenth spot. And now subtly they are and that number cherished spot or behind the Lakers all. Which is there an incredible run that that -- and that's where it you know Yao Ming twelve of those games now without -- so there are so many good teams in the -- I still can't. Take the title with San Antonio actually beat him in and you know I really liked it he. They just set some of these solid pieces there's so many good players and obviously very proper pitch they're outstanding coach. But the Lakers series -- felt that that anybody would hope we haven't it and VP type season. And -- always had the upset or pension or will Shaq you know that'll be huge army get instant. Can Dallas obligation -- and eat it now most people two years ago we haven't seen that Pena -- know what to the finals lost to Miami but. Or maybe chasing it did in the last sixteen to twenty games can help bring that group to get it yet is what it really upset people -- Adam got a terrific season won't need -- all of this quiet little league this year. And nobody wants to play against Golden State because of his style that they play I think that this is slaughtered today. Seeing that it Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony and it came along with you know Kenyon Martin and Camby had a big group. Bit out of the playoffs say by the way the twelve games over 500 and they are not in the playoffs so the west load.

Mike are you one of the believers in in the Celtics team that we've seen racked up this record a believer in terms of do you think they have a legitimate shot to win an NBA championship with this team.

Are happy you it and not put them had been out early here I said my situation they -- season. Fixed -- TNT -- senate but Detroit is going to come out of the east because one I was. Concern whether or not in the Big Three abortion would hold up physically. Well during the course in the end of the year -- that obviously there's that stretch of games well sure. You know how how how many games -- between those guys. And I was concerned about the bench -- are -- thought it would be bench there. And now. Obviously if there's the bench proving they can do their job in the big reason why I think. Play enough games together to get an outstanding record wind up any cheap pieces in his cell. And PJ brown that a veteran guys -- understand what what it's all about it's been a lot of playoff games before. So the so the team has gotten deeper and better. As we approach the stretcher --

Mike I'm so glad we're able to talk to you about this subject I'm going to ask you about coaching because we all. As NBA fans said the cliche is only two players league. And the coach is really don't have an opportunity to do a lot of coaching you don't have a lot of practices these are grown men can't have the same effect in the pros as you -- college. Youth coach in this league many years. How how much actual coaching do you get a chance to do -- me do you do you leave. An arena after practice satisfied that you have been able to get an all the stuff that you want to get across and -- you feel that. Even though these are 252829 year old men that they are listening to -- and giving what you're trying to you get across to them.

I think most coaches would tell you that when you walk out after practice on certain days. You know -- had a good practice you're able to get this stuff then you're able to get to. Whatever the mission was that they don't have the fact that you try to get that it whether it was. Improving your transition game whether it -- if what Pete that's what whatever it might be blocking out. You know you look at we had a good practice that we accomplished a lot they go to Beijing walk out spaced out well waste time they just weren't into it we've got very little out of it surprise becomes an execute eight -- Rolen is going through the motions of you planned and practiced at all what part of put it together you don't get anything out of the ghost of players. There's some reason vacation one of those basic it get your body into that they played. You know a lot of games are very few days -- you know as a coach if you need to be on the court that day. They as a coach sort of thought there's things that you have to learn to commit yourself others. Sometimes being lost has batted in practicing of the rested they get the recovered there bodies won't want to try to put something -- A new wrinkles of the offenses of the did what the defense. Having them rested having fresh legs and and a clear mind the right mindset. It is much more important see you gotta think brought out but there is -- lot of coaching just came back from four straight days following the Dodgers around training camp down in Florida and interesting to watch the managers and coaches. Both through the breakdown stuff that they go through -- always players can now wait before these exhibition games things they do. All the small things one thing that they they do actually station work is like you know basketball camps -- stations with a plate rotate. All the same thing in baseball they both feel to feel that they have. Once at a coaching the other with a base running of the not a station just -- bunting on an honor and I'll all the pitchers they've picked off the tension covering bases in. The small things at once they get into the major league season under 62 games when you really have time to have a lot of practices in Major League Baseball so. -- same thing yeah there's a part of coaching that goes on what you do this season obviously is it can't be as much as long as it is increasing leading up.

It's funny you should to they should mention that about you know trying to give guys days off and whatnot. Doc told the story today on the on the radio station Doc Rivers tried to give his team Tuesday off. And he said Kevin Garnett guilt to the mall and to go -- and I'm working out and stop it seems like you know if you have that strong veteran presence. They helped do some of that coaching for you as well.

No question having it haven't won a -- best players if not be best -- leading the way -- so much easier. What the head coach there's oftentimes -- editors are ones that great play it will make it forty that was part of leadership that. Larry Bird is always showed it is state -- that was committed two hours before the game that they can finish out sort Michael Jordan in Chicago and he'd -- choices they're very dazed look it was I'd say we can do -- they understood the work that we needed and it's Inzaghi got it tied in -- the big. What try to be later all the -- rested but. Gotta get an agenda got a piece of pop it and they're just do something that you would walk into the foul line whether it's getting on the stationary bike with the same way and have a veteran guys set its own makeshift. Pictures that much easier today tragic to make decisions to head coach estimate investment Aurilia also would give it. A leader to better connect really is a good players sure helps to coach out.

I'm -- it's my final question -- urine good company -- not only because you're on the air with. Two handsome and witty host but that Samkon -- is going to follow you up on the station and we want to talk with him in fifteen minutes twenty minutes. I'm just want to what you're scouting report is on -- so. --

I think it in all honestly how much of that -- is an alternate ending elbow. -- I didn't expect brought that I don't know anybody that is -- and it burst on -- he'd been around for a lot of years nobody years got to give him credit one -- is that he's got it going. Thank you will take the big shot will make the big shot. That'd be achieved what you points in very short about it aren't. Should it will be years so it was very. Thankful and fortunate that he wound up in this particular situation I think he understands all figured out he has yet what will be little bitty. Help this team get to than in the championship round in. Guys that make shots or big initially. Huge in his sleep to yeah play -- part because everybody's hero it and so while scouted we've got to get a guy when he has that moment that opening. Can take advantage of and they shot put points on the -- Sanders what those guys do that.

TNT has a big NBA doubleheader tonight game one the wizards in the cavaliers -- for tell will be there with. Reggie Miller Cheryl Miller and Marv Albert. And in the second game tonight Golden State visiting Phoenix it's always -- to talk basket with via the basketball would you Mike we appreciate stake in the time. -- can I thanks that is others are the tell -- trainer Mike for talent joining us