Danny Ainge

Backyard debate Joe broadcasting you'll live from the TD BankNorth garden -- replace Cedric Maxwell and Tony man -- arriving here we are we are now. Four hours away from tip off for team number one. Of the NBA finals joining us live here at courtside only four more hours -- any -- four more hours we have to wait has been a long. Five or six days -- he felt the same thing. I felt them I felt the same thing yes it's been very very long -- can intimate look at the people here. Don't you remember it was just like this in the actual resident assistant us in the rats in the building -- I I can you know it's funny you talk about four hours before I hate that reminiscent take you down memory lane with. Four hours before game back in the eighties was probably a couple you guys taken a few shots sit around talking and nobody out the floor. Right I was playing one on -- got -- that Larry was cute and we do keep Todd one in. And max was at mcdonalds it's exactly this -- for the champions they've. Listen there's been a lot of talk in the last few days about matchups in the in the series would it surprise you with that ball. If the matchups change from game to game during the course and -- and also surprise you. As if the matchups might be different at one end of the -- the other end of the floor and we may have some guys lost in transition.

Rival you know there's there's a lot of cross match ups and in you know ironically that's how was in the eighties to they begin their Lotta cross match ups whether I would guard DJ here -- Our magic I'm sorry but the DJ or I would guard magic are Byron Scott in the in the -- they were switch at the other end and so there was always cross match ups and worthy and Kevin was he going to guard Larry in. And they were all sorts of cross match -- at the forward and the guard position and then. But I think there will be some of that you know I I think that. -- to seem to see how they match up interest you see how we matchup I think things have changed the course of this game possibly and throughout the series anticipate a lot of changes and those matchups. Did you take when. It when you're. Playing that that first game was that important we're talking about. People take out of game one. An awful lot in yet I'm not sure it's gonna have that big a factor in the series -- the one team is picked up one win in the in the left at all. Well game one is important. But you know in 84 and 85 -- didn't seem to make any forty points or somewhere I mean we got destroyed and 84 and we won the series in the 85 we Memorial Day massacre and we had to lose in the series so. Both the game one winners lost that series so you know I don't care what the statistics say in all -- stuff -- meaning you've got to play seven games in. You know I believe you go and every series every game thinking it's forty minute game every series thinking it's a seven game series. And obviously going to try to win the series sooner but you -- you know just to dedicate two weeks your life and forty minutes every night that it's going to be war. -- what does that help your ballclub right now we -- but only Allenby and out. Will he be available and not. Yeah I think Tony be available he had -- it a good practice yesterday and you know even a decent practice today before so we -- of the available. Did it what what easier what your biggest.

Concerned in this series outside of the obvious questions of health and things like that what you look at NC Jesus is the one thing that.

The same concerns I have every game you know can. You know our defense has been good bit in it was our defense good against the Lakers in our offense has been spotty. You know how with the Lakers be able to stop us you know how well our young guys respond to this kind of environment how are the guys that have never been here before as a team. You know going to play together mean the same things that I had concerns ahead against Cleveland and Atlanta and in Detroit particularly -- so much experience at the same concerns that now. That happens give.

It's really I think. In this series is seems like you probably play a few more gas because doc was so tight with these David Duke that the other. When he gave me talent to Soviet gas out of the basketball gave. Walt the pitchers have walked in the impact on local bid toward sure the bid for the as a really just depends on the match --

You know I think it depends on a foul trouble -- guys are -- you know I think that. That dock with the way the schemes are spread out I think that that you know philosophically he'd liked it. Shorten the rotation and -- played in nine guys but you know. -- just how the game is going you may see some Tony Allen in this series you may see. In some more Leopold that we -- on the last series. And but the Lakers have good depth -- that a lot of and he can match that they do a lot of the same things Detroit in the and they saw me what's tapes and how Detroit where is able to disrupt those with the ball pressure. Of Lindsey Hunter you know Derek Fisher can get up their pressure the ball a bit particularly farmer who sits with Kobe at small forward they've really apply a lot of.

Pressure defensively and that's going to be something that we're going to have to battle in this series. How much is. This all changed the way. They play -- you know obviously he gives him on the offensive weapon not just as a -- as a -- almost -- changed with the dual function. Well positive in the similar situation that are star players find themselves in that he didn't have to do everything like he did in Memphis. And that his link it will bother us is -- not so much offensively although you don't hit it reaches over the top of of smaller guys and get second chance opportunities and in this roadblocks to -- over the top of smaller guys that. It's tough to finish around the basket with him and he's extremely long and but this. He enables them to play the way to Phil Jackson wants the way by throwing the ball into the post and work it off it and no they don't have anything about we'll end up but -- shot clock down in the big shock. So I think it's it's more like he's always that interior player and a perimeter player and finally it was back bogeyed another different. Players on the -- of terrific passer we really have to be able to defend him one on one defender three point shooters have particularly stop they're cutting.

Did -- what what was the the experience of watching games since that Detroit's -- fitness is important money you know you're home usually you there were you. Did you watching you by yourself -- you -- with your your.

Yeah it's what you like that it was one of the rare opportunities and it really sit and watch a game with my family so that was on special. You know this is nerve racking is in the game you go ahead Williamson and I've been you know what here hear -- you've been. I don't that you -- is that your way half would be did you. That's the I think it did but I do oh I happened was that I'm a watch and pull the we of the table blitzer -- played. -- we'll use him yeah we go to the you know basically it was it was great what happened. Well both gave them made this deal. And I watch in this the ball both in the corner over the ball as well to hold it now the is a couple of from well in public said. I'll watch them the grip but it -- did end up with them turn to a brother of the movie theater.

Yeah I didn't hear that I didn't I yeah. Hope it I've -- but -- the last three -- public we like look at notable thing that we.

is the best part about it last few years he's been able to walk in the city nobody recognized the right now everywhere he goes people we had to ask them. That's but that's funny because that was obviously in the same thing at the same time all.

I don't look at that and I just at turned into a basketball there and the bandit the -- if but got. Literally bit I was sitting right here as Cubs -- here it is.

I wasn't at its class and instruments and that is really get that'll let on I didn't lose the --

They listed winning two of those games in Detroit the team that had struggled to win a road game. Against Atlanta and Cleveland. Do you feel they've learned something here do you are you seeing. That we talked before about the fact that they were -- we weren't really tested during the regular season hadn't faced a lot of adversity. Suddenly backs up against the wall they come up big -- up there and win that game three now they come back they win game six do you see a difference in this team maturity --

I mean I do particularly in the young guys that I think our our our all star veteran players have been playing pretty good most of the time but. You know down the stretch in Atlanta we we we had to melt downs defensively and offensively it wasn't it wasn't the team that I watched play all year long. Cleveland was a tough environment and I didn't think we we played this much intensity so I think we've learned in the Atlanta series in the Cleveland series. And that you know it against these teams you can't ever rest you can't ever -- which is emphasizing that day in and day out in. It seemed to click in against Detroit and now hopefully we can just continue to. There's any -- that that I would give my players -- stay. With that no matter what happens no matter what you must limit their roles but just don't give up to stay in the game emotionally and mentally and and stay together that's the most important thing. Do you feel the other right now with some young players way lately run though it hurt seem to really role in that last series. More than that really ever spoke perfect broke -- a terrific job of scorn that did the I -- perfect terrific in the last four games in a row he he played outstanding. And you know so sometimes you you don't know if it's because of the match -- I think that -- felt hat and a great deal of confidence as the series went on that he could play. And that you know he can guard these guys that he can score on them and -- think he had an advantage in the air and and you know -- John he's had his ups and he -- downs like like any young player would in this situation so. You know we're just hope but he's going to have some of those throughout the series to win and hopefully the other guys can step up when he's not playing well and -- provide that support. For him in in all the rest the starters.

Two -- do you see the same -- minute porno scene to see -- present after game six. Look like this confidence --

Well also played gold for.

he carried us in the first half coming he kept us in the game in the first half game six's numbers weren't staggering but. He had thirteen points and into the first quarter that we couldn't score any other ways to raise performance in game six was huge. You know I've never been worried about -- Cleveland they did and number on him and I think that that affected him mentally. And going into the Detroit series and it took him a game -- to really get going again. But Cleveland the way they defended him -- mean it took him out and out. We didn't make them pay enough we didn't we didn't make Cleveland's Steve just -- enough for taken -- out and then it just took away a little while to keep going back. You know but -- really we believe -- obviously see how good a team we are when he's making those shots he's making some tough shots and now we're going to need we're going to need all everybody and.

All cylinders in order in this series you mentioned earlier about how people underestimating the Lakers because they won't work some full court pressure applied some pressure on your. We facing a big game where your team has got to come out play a little bit more physical -- Eastern Conference style basketball. As opposed to what the Lakers do up there.

The Lakers obviously play a little bit different style but it's not as drastic as people think I mean I think there's only two. Two to three possessions different to the course of the whole year. I think that's really blown out of proportion eastern and western and I think that the personalities I we used to think that as a player to I didn't notice any difference when we played Portland it was very physical and Lakers were physical too especially on the street in the fourth quarter of games. You know Rambus and worthy mean those guys were physical players magic was an extreme fifth street with his hopeless cause. I mean they did is they played for salvo when this game slowed down the you know they're not backing down I think that. You know I'm not sure any team has an advantage in the does that cal of the of the scheme I think that it has more to do it execution making shots and and you know displaying good solid defense. Soft as cotton -- toward him soft as cotton magic please.

Did you did so we'll wait during the Cleveland series right thing landed ask you wouldn't you rather place a little more up tempo of what had been. I'm shown on the court during that up to that point in the series is there a temple one way or another that. Suits you better in this series.

You know we've been plain we've been running on mistakes so it's all predicated on our defense and Lakers shooting. If the Lakers amiss in long shots and we can get run we're going. If we can get deflection and the turn in the steals were going you know after made baskets we're going to get into our offense and the Lakers have very much the same they're going to run on your mistakes and so. It's it it really so much of that I know this sounds simple but I always say this are you make shots. You know when when -- make shots and Paul makes not to KG makes shots and John makes us were really really good. And when we're struggling to make shots and sometimes the -- incest things to do with that the same thing it's -- Detroit. You know they when they were making shots and in this one game there's 193 pointers made and another game there's four. I think that the deep fences all the different I mean sometimes it really comes down to make good shot.

So that one we've always made me think it was over the first fourteen to -- right. When you look at these teams did you talk about the -- it. And I think their reluctance to me championships predicated on. -- do you feel confident because your team has been -- he hits a team in the league all your lol cute he'd get stops critical critical.

I do and I think that that's one thing that I -- have a great deal of confidence in this is that this is high powered offense. But I feel that through through the ups and downs of the game in this the slums of our shooting that are teachers can keep this in the game and give us a chance. But give it to me it's all its not offense it's not be fans it's just an attitude. When we're rebounding our offense is better when we're really focused and playing committed -- we moved the ball better it's all kind of body language of confidence that we haven't won another. And it's not like we. Play good offensively don't play good defense and it all has to be on staying focused on on the simple things that -- preaches regularly and that's move the ball. Share the ball and you don't -- defensively.

I get rid of these game ones before SE a newcomer and as a seasoned veteran. If you look at this game tonight we don't have a lot of guys that have been around -- seems doable Lakers one earlier on the Celtics. Is there a little bit of jitters -- the first game is it different than playing at a conference final.

You know I I don't I don't remember that when I've been in six NBA finals and I don't remember what do you mind that's what it is you know what could it could be made -- this. -- night to understand but I'm. You know I I feel like it's another game easy as you get more experience in the league you can learn. That these games you don't really change much you don't change your routine and it's another game sometimes emotions get going the first few minutes of the game but. He -- calm down and they just become another normal game becomes a lot more than effort everybody else watching. But for the players I really do think it becomes and then you know as you get down to closing -- series out. Then there's pressure that mounts you know within the pressure can really build up as the series goes along but I think early in the series everybody's pretty loose and you know sometimes emotions -- these two really bad shots and to do some really dumb things but usually get through that early in the game did you find that they were different in the because they are such -- expect actually even more so now timeouts are longer televisions and -- to give you more time to think. When things are breaking down you get a little bit more. In a time to sit around and talk about stuff. I think he should calm me down I think you should prevent the long runs because you have more time in -- you certainly don't need as many much time on the bench resting. With -- all the TV timeouts and can't even imagine -- we Unita bench hasn't.

I -- played 48 -- you -- all of the remote -- the TV we've had more time now but I remember a lot of times you guys talked about. -- It inning again I guess if you're not doing well what are we don't go well at a very good thing we talked about before a little while you don't want to stop -- The routine evidence that won't. Your body is that right now about a minute two minutes fool you come back got you get ready to play. When you have ESPN and all the overtime about it gives you maybe five minutes and just stand there. The most sometimes who live off I would ask you this did because -- that is such creatures have it. This has to be -- definitely crazy happened -- the clock game. Because he has routines that he likes to follow if he might be affected more than anybody on your back booklet.

Well that could be -- we've been playing at 830 you know throughout the whole playoffs at least in the Eastern Conference finals the last six games we've been gearing up toward this so. I think the half hour isn't drastic there might have been an adjustment from 730 games you know to the 9 o'clock games but because we've been doing 8 o'clock in the first round 830 the second third round. I'm not sure that there's much difference it ripping up to yeah ramping up to that I really thought.

We ask one final thing before we let you go this time last year you were getting ready. For the draft. Figuring out what was going to happen there you know what you do obviously that you had not become lucky you were going to get them a perfect five that he had a DTD ever think in a million years that you're related you'd be sitting here courtside. Getting ready for game one of the NB not you can be has gone against the lake I can't. You can Nuggets and true and spending the -- choose to death and what spending the last five or six days. Watching all of those highlights with you guys wearing little brief underwear running up and -- did you ever think that this could be every heavily. Reality to --

You I didn't at that time away -- I think they got really excited about our team in September and October when you know was pretty much done -- we would give me and then when we got to training camp. I was excited I felt like this was possible. I never thought I wasn't sure what -- Mina felt like we were one of the top eight teams in the league that could we get to this point without without having experience that. I can't tell you that thought that that would happen. I just thought it was possible that it can happen in you know thank goodness. Doesn't really matter what I think it matters what you know -- and Paula KG in those guys have been committed in the and they have stayed together and they showed great chemistry throughout the entire season things haven't been perfect all the time that. They've done a great job of providing the leadership and their intensity this entire season.

We got we got to a three days off there I'm thinking about for the debate it's just when defected take you with. It took him to Little Rock hotel at the -- Cardiff by the way you gotta be really jealous right now docked one place. Sox got to place them to. I'm sorry I'm with you gotta work an invitation -- ideally you got to work it out he would he would have we to believe two years ago he was going to buy a home that I don't -- a -- cells that apparently -- of them -- and I sense. -- all right guys welcome back to the NBA finalists have some fun okay -- couple weeks and -- usually take a quick -- we're back with more I -- But