Bill Simmons

fourth and final hour Dennis Kelly amicably control this preview crap ball away in about an hour Jerry does get ready. On the night that we if you won the eased preview videos to get -- out some magic and Larry footage Rams these clothes line it's two teams split before think they have final I think -- or helping us that puts them my final perspective on this before they tap off tonight at 97. Harper informed espn.com a sports guy himself bill Simmons Billy power you today. Beside myself aren't happy you have to be. -- new new new nickname for FP Jose -- false prophet.

I'm reading Bryan's blog on Boston commons beware of false profits. He takes you to -- percent in this wasn't really a rivalry Celtics Lakers wasn't really rivalry. The Celtics own the Lakers the first eight and played.

I think private jet fighters and that it was a tongue in cheek. And pushed a friend mister Clinton negate dungy now.

It was a tongue in cheek when you wrote that the let the Celtics have no chance the Lakers will win there's not a -- doubt about it.

He understands that. I don't need to get my life. A book like translation who has lost in translation book yet they've built you know it's easy to say that the Kobe you'll score the Celtics will play -- and Garnett will be intense in the zen master will push all the right buttons our exercise in futility here in the first three hours today was not to predict which team will win and in how many games but. To pull a a a crashed in -- carnac if you will and that is identified both for a happens. Something we just didn't seek coming. In this series would you like to weigh in on this just something that we don't seek common but at the end of this thing after 45 or six or seven game -- say. Wow that was something we didn't -- coming but that made all the difference in the world.

I've said a rebounding and I academic preview can't today and I think that the sides in the rebounding. That the advantages that the Celtics haven't two spots I think that nobody is mentioning some music is. The Lakers debate is smart about it especially impressed and the the called it small forward. The other Lamar Odom is really his muffler put out for the tickets are is really power Ford -- that. And in the first class there is nobody really exploited that because they really go integrate rebounding you know like they've rebounded they went against conduct. And that's an average you know almost eighteen rebounds a game in the previous series so I think that's that's. The part where the Celtics might have real advantage if you look at like game five straight days they doubled to try to treat them again yeah. That I have -- and that people mention that and I do you think that's the biggest advantage but at conferences to.

How did you go from looking at the Lakers after the San Antonio series since and they can't be beaten to picking the Celtics in seven.

I wasn't it was six I was.

Not tongue in cheek it was a very comprehensive look at the dominance of the Lakers and you're alone well that was the day that the predictions came out and everybody nine out of -- everybody picked the Lakers.

Now being paid it. It was a reverse lock it's nonsense now.

That's what I was still in -- it's -- post route back in the Super Bowl that road create the Patriots where I achievements I -- that everybody. First dissected the pitches for the game like at some package of the destiny's -- and then with the Celtics I really try to avoid reading about the tendencies that would have -- did. I read about -- it is like the late -- others status and -- we its like everytime I wrote positive about them. So the first thing ever but that was kind of negative was pregame speech. And that was you know. From there they've been really can't -- big -- that that would maybe I'll -- the road courses here that nobody from the left foot.

If we allow for the fact that -- generally going to do appears doesn't Kobe is generally you know and do what Kobe does. If the question gets headlined as the battle of the costar for the second bananas. Of the 42 bananas to on each team. What do you think will be ranked first at the end of the series and who do you think will be ranked last Garnett and Allen for the Celtics assault and Odom for the Lakers who's coming up big. --

I think Alan has private at least that I have a bad of that in the big -- that. You know with with tears Peterson that guy to either in this series and it just seems like he should be dominated this series but is it that type of player anymore thank. -- IR AQ huge play half games in the first three days I really wonder with him whether he. And to actually scored thirty point 234 times in.

And what are Radmanovic is. I don't think that is that.

I think you may see that night for the first four -- five minute. In the corner and that's that it.

Penalized Allen on Kobe. See that for the first 45 minutes of the series and then -- so jump on.

In the regular season actually guided Kobe as surprising -- but it. In -- as it -- team defense they would collegiate -- can keep them. From the rim keep -- throw guys that it's just certain guys Adam and it just kind of been it's.

Or every dish as the -- dude don't get hot.

And you know that that sort of thing that the people mention that this is against them. Some -- the Lakers team of never really played. At this stage before and that publisher picturesque -- lake George Parma are flat red benefits -- killers in the and then didn't --

What do you make of the point guard matchup we've got to lose this Charley Rosen on fox sports thing. Significant advantage Lakers in the Rondo Fisher matchup and I know. You know parishioners and handle all the time -- three point shooter and Rondo and external and distributes -- Who gets the edge.

I don't know what rather shows that do you have any idea that it that this is the guys that. I thought played the biggest game that anybody played in the class for the start thinking game private agreements is because Belichick and the Celtics credit check out. And Rondo played point thirteen -- played out of his mind you forget -- it down at the double digits in the first at. And he was really the main reason that -- And they don't have these games -- you just saying oh my god we have to take this cat they cannot come back yet so you know second you play against them and.

could sell. With blue league -- big ball shots in the series.

That except that led to the video game. What do you think about that they would they play conservative player he has.

They tried to sell I -- you think his first choice. His preference would be to play cosell and gets him out of them he goes in there and throws up a couple bricks and it's. He earned on the -- and he sits down and he lays down on the bench and and and house gets his turn -- went 47 minutes.

The other I played he has in his black and I think you know last series. They're terrified of Lindsay they're pressuring athletic center passes shooting guard you think about is not appointment but in this series. I don't think the Lakers can really -- and the way that the Pistons did any -- and -- the crowd fired up and you you can. Discount have a guy who can make it three. And completed cemented into the crowd he gets his teammates fired up like it back in this again it should be playing that's perhaps.

Will consult could get the crowd fired up to -- the addition on the.

The cavs have a shooting like what like 12% in the my ass like this is now like a -- like this is the guy looks like he's probably.

we shot fifty -- shooting 52% in the play -- you think he's goes over under 50% in the series.

I think he's right around there -- I don't think anybody is concerned about clinical do have its hitters I think the question. Is it is teammates don't show up as much as they did in the first round -- react to that deceit on the Bob that he. You know that we had so much about China. Was poking his teammates -- Tristan. At a Big Ten better. Yet whatever will he show that same chest is. You know being in the fourth quarter -- adapt and the -- he's you know the guys make sat in the in -- visitors. He went in the pot load. In game one game but that series and it didn't matter because he made every shot they weren't. But you know let let happens that -- that make every shot at this stage that's the question little wrong. Yeah could -- yeah it did they pay.

built us making of exercises in futility -- permits and subject I'd like to discuss and you will the effect -- impact you think. Officiating might have on this series only at the extent of do you think. Officiating is done through two different sets of -- as an example. Went to the best teams play each other I think it's officiated one way and went to black and blue teams play each other it's officiated another way. Do our -- are we going to find out tonight or certainly the first four games to here -- their or get to game five. Whether it's going to be sort of the -- officiating all the black and blue officiating.

Well I think it's going to be -- and and I think this is the biggest. Secret issues that the -- bad that nobody really talks about and as slipped and directing that they do different things different from into the game and you know think that is -- that is -- yeah. It's one of those things that in the first five or six minutes you have to realize they're caught everything today are all right there then that's going to live and everything today. And that's what does things that. You know I think part of it depends that in the -- after the game -- game by the.

And the ones they just announced tonight's but about a Foster and Rusch.

But that is usually good attitude on him. And as has been its avatar that I do think they'd they can show that descent to be that guy as -- Bennett Salvatore for games six. And has that even remotely surprised that somebody that. Well it seems to pop up when he -- aren't into instant then there's whatever -- could have made that incredible four point play cog its peers. I don't know -- if they just they because you know I don't know if you guys talked about is that there's so much money at stake. That these flatly I don't ABC games six and seven. And if they eighty million again profit is -- six and another is because that. So -- a statement that we talked about that much money at stake what happen. The Celtics in that -- whining games viva LA as a tipped back the bus and they get the perfect best recruit them let them. Not bad and had a crash the boards I was saying yeah.

Clear say there's a -- factor here yes I think ABC's behind at all what do you.

Accurately that and that is different from without any bidding what do ended that as the NBA. I think -- very carefully select who's officiating. The games and who gives whatever team any two in the best chance to win that is that legal probably not but it's something that. Seems to happen again that members. In a couple comes in the past I've actually been able to protect that which referee which show up in which game I don't know I should be able to predict that that's associated.

And you see you've seen a lot of good so we have not a plea he didn't play in the games it's Celtics he was. Buried down there in Memphis what what can you tell us about him we don't know what do you expect from him in these next few games.

The the with his top. The thing about cents these packed into that big of bad this this is honest things they made -- actually remembered. I is to the staff remember where was about the -- because this is one of those guys that. Was really one of the two or three best they'll post players in the entire NBA. And that's and that's somebody's giving effort to rest -- in two that it neverland and -- bat -- that's the civic body lap like that. So little Lakers got him it really solve every problem and a because I'd images kinda didn't have a low post scorer and that's somebody previously played forty minutes a game. That year came back and who could easily been into the China I mean it. You know you look at that shady just think is ever going to change that actually elect swung and it titled where in the -- season.

I could think of one on the on July 31. --

I don't know -- in decent shape. Bet if you look at each made a couple might play it and keep west does -- how to how to destroy it happened bad trade ending up leading eighteenth that.

Alando Cabrera and just in Doug Mientkiewicz.

let's get ready and it's that well but even at the time member about them a lot of people didn't make that trade they completely jaded now.

Now that's nonsense everyone and rejoiced.

This is the -- that whatever happens. A couple of the Lakers counterparts make you know whether try to keep it came as protests there. This is crazy this is unfair I cannot believe that this is the -- they made and this -- at Pavlovic was was one of the leading guys and I think. You know this smoking gun position it was that list of them what is that you lasted just let leftist but now -- working with the Lakers as a consultant. And the other that they waited. They -- they didn't -- dictated that that was in three weeks in yet for some reason they decided that was the best and the maximize the size side -- and asset.

I think is a good time joined them if you agree for -- to take this moment and apologized to one Oakland Doc Rivers and say. I like -- happy days I was moved and moved route wrong. Yeah.

I did they keep it very jab and nitrates -- it he's.

All right that's not quite there when -- that's progress than.

That's and they immediately that he posted solid game seven of the Cleveland days.

His body of work he won 6266 and another twelve so.

I can't really took credit for twelve and hit the -- in the past against Atlanta and Cleveland and as it is street scenes that. I think feel better about it -- four weeks I would say that but. And it it is Celtic.

weeks ago you didn't feel good about him in the regular season.

I didn't really feel anything because that team was built to be a dominant regular season game and it had a great defensive assistant -- and as I think it was. Kind of misty in the ship -- and Agassi and this is where it was is -- touched I think he said he learned a couple of things cities and now he's got certain occasional bit. I think is -- that you just can't play want I want it and not play in the next game. And England that's and -- it's okay to play. Got big minutes it's okay apparent that this 45 minutes in the class because. These TV -- statistics mean at bat first place of so you know it's really not a big deal kind of place where --

The bill -- to at least admit you took the cut and paste sections that are computer that says. Doc Rivers has never taken his team past the first round of the playoffs then it'd change as well he's only take them past the first round of the playoffs once now he's never got into the and that the cup finals.

About it becomes and it showed really appreciate it.

He's really nice -- yeah I thought he lets us it is yeah wanted to tie up elusive on the insulting towards the end of the -- ultimately will be assault have his way with Kendrick Perkins or will Kendrick Perkins had his way with assault and I'm out -- a basketball science of course.

I think this I think because thought things dimension because the set have multiple guys to throw -- them. That's suspected that they can put KG am Pete gave Barrett. The crafty better you know budget chicks. You gotta rest three guys speculated that basically playing about as -- with the side that out of the people that match now match that is the real proud that he. Yet disease as that. If you -- 11 pop. Key stats I role playing gesture ain't complaining bitching in nineteen is he is one of the way guys take it -- he's somebody that good.

Everybody has not like -- in his bat and takes everything in stride stride yeah.

silently smolders. It always is he trying to materializes in the thing is that going to explode this hour like openly agitate directory.

I don't -- moments last series Perkins committed and an intentional foul and a and then complain to the draft.

You know yeah -- I was you know a lot of complaining backed up by replays that show that he's as Atlantic but it.

Ed -- errors isn't the MVP and Kobe isn't the MVP. Who is the MVP.

I think kinda had a better chance to ineptitude -- yet I really didn't get that. Who got seven the Lakers it's unclear and if it's it's going to be -- Lamar Odom. On paper that's similar to KG should be able to take down map and that's not something investigative. But it pales to the but he issued over and that thing. -- batting and did -- value that he's going to provide to the Celtics stupid tech in the ankle becomes the basket intensity I would pick him up appearances and.

Before we let you go back that -- week we have to ask we hear normal Ellis. That Rick Reilly has the nicest office and ESPN corner like window that there -- who's babbling brook and wet bar and -- like this cubicle. The window not that you have like this H&R block -- it.

There I don't know offices movie that he had bad information because -- did not as.

This is an answer is it truly is making three million a year which is just a little more than you.

I don't think that you -- as he remembers well. -- and your number is so that advocate of.

You are you happy now that you working with Rick --

I don't think it's really changed pilot and -- then. He touches match so there's an.

That's the embed the -- yes. I could net his athletic.

He's raising the bar wouldn't agree your next the negotiations will be a little easier on thank.

He's he's really is in the bar. Morally financially he's raising and how over the press has just have to -- brad.

Did you write the you're talking again with ESP -- not having sex is that little us.

I said that I would lose sleep and the catch -- news. As back in bed and -- having sex.

so you have become a prima -- you would get that right.

I may actually had -- attitude they had. Think that I.

Would you tell us -- hotel your staying able to say whether -- her daughter and how's that.

I think -- that the you learn from your Sports Illustrated experience that it's very hard to read for acting out. I think he would agree with being on the.

I try to figure out what stuff was changed in -- column with that took go and that would count lame all. And now they sit they -- do -- that you moments that the years. All the time firefighters to -- home runs that the dangers and that's just what the hell would. Five used to the day.

And you sled -- do that in this. He -- back.

Nobody looks back check him -- and -- month -- everybody believes kinda. --

It's our second. I mean just -- just -- these threats to admit that in the process that can they keep believes big compartments and don't let that.

if Rick -- indeed making I don't know somewhere in the neighborhood and and that's in Simmons future. I would like doing yours and every reference for the rest of my life for three million a year.

I don't really care about the rhetoric about the fact that illustrated afterwards oblique that's like that it would you do it. -- yeah hundred old world you. I just like and one 801 I'm ready to stand out.

If you wearing a -- current Celtics Jersey tonight or throwback Celtic -- tonight.

I have actually eight vintage. Unit -- that's missing now where it's something that looks like it's old but it's really disseminated at -- selected in the class I think that's. But on the aware that there's an ugly rumor that there. That demand has teach it in the seats here for a game why am I am hoping that people that put them and he liked appointments.

What is your what is your -- to -- Meditation is great and I don't just assures that a solid numbers on a name.

That's agree ensure that the societies that I comic plays I'm of the belief that team that and should wear. Shirts -- and whatever they aren't seeing in the cause that the team whereas in -- they don't have to have to all of the same I'd -- like the steps are glad. Never understood that mentality that's deep in the sports now. You guys that eat at mysticism is tacky it Dahlia yeah 16000 and White. What is the color of the surrender flag this complex that it was a little -- this -- they think that it --

All right bill enjoy the game that I appreciate the title talk about how -- be right right now every day now they'll.

Yeah that there every game it looks -- Edwards. I want it more than it anywhere it says he can't take after the dog wins the championship we use that you were the the wrong I I would have to yeah I -- she is in the championship yeah -- coach.

I think it'd be a big fan now that he bought a penthouse suite in the palms casino in las Las Vegas for like his retirement moment value and he would be spending some quality time together.

I don't think they haven't got as a person I -- backed it that there would be some plays down the road we have like a sentence that had six at bank. It is future banner and actually excited.

He's him just won't be tonight. It'd I'd they'll think I'm bill Simmons of me as the end up on the sports guy with the -- and talent