Chris Mannix

Welcome end to a Thursday edition of the Dennis and Callahan Show it's Greg monsters Larry Johnson in -- DNC taken about ten days off job -- Perot in the big chair. Next week tomorrow it's a best of Dennis and Callahan and Larry Johnson US passport and you've got you cannot let go let's face it you're still all the non. For dear life to the Larry O'Brien trophy banner number seventeen. Will be raised -- sometime in November when India Celtics begin the regular season and here we are talking about the demise of the Boston Red Sox but still -- talk about as far as the NBA season is concerned with christmas -- Sports Illustrated oakcrest. It we enjoyed our time was it last year when you came by in the studio and lo and behold here we are about 365 days later would've bought the Celtics would be the reigning. NBA champions.

Yeah I'm not mean absolutely knew that the public and Lakers comic get like that almost perfect storm vote for the NBA and for both teams I don't think we could ever envisioned this scenario turning outlet out.

When you were looking at the Celtics in the beginning of the year Chris and obviously -- assembled the quote unquote new version need the new millennium version of the Big Three. Where are you predicting the Celtics would go.

You know I thought they'd be pretty good obvious that would have them you know as one of the top 3 teams in the Eastern Conference and obviously yeah. Title contender to be sure but. Well I think that word it was one no team has never won a championship -- that the top three players -- top three scores being that there. Yeah I think it chemistry -- he could get a base we have 67. New faces on the rosters of putting it in like back together no matter how you look at Michael -- you have another Kevin Garnett is. The ultimate chemistry guys putting it seemed like that yet ended -- going to be some problems. Although on the weights like -- that well expect -- to -- but anyone an academic and myself expect to be this good this quickly.

Well you know you look at it and although they've had success in the past and you know Garnett wanted MVP in every talked about he's you know great character player. Chemistry guy is -- he ever got was a Western Conference final the other two guys never got beyond now appears got throughout Eastern Conference final same for. For Allen. Was it just what. Garnett brought to the table these guys just more hungry than your average twenty something player if he had a pinpoint one reason why they were. Able to pull together and go beyond anybody's expectation what was -- that.

Well I think the that the biggest key of the team last year with a three start they brought in. Complement each other part -- and you bring into -- do the exact same thing to -- scores like play in the perimeter. Ukraine two big men like to play in the same position on the low block these guys. Acted nothing similar and it ran out of the -- was that is the perimeter shooter all peers like take all the baskets. Lleyton and be aggressive and try to get the richter like Kevin Garnett. Like the ball -- blocks they're there they spaced the floor very well enough of them against interfere with each other and that's -- the other thing that at that weight on -- was that -- Garnett. And Allen even while those guys really expired to beat collapsed second -- all you're always. And -- it has never had a problem take the last shot and aggressive in wanting the ball Layton -- heard about were going to complain about that I remember. -- senior interviews and and you know PD stuff going on and it it would stated he ran out with the collapse -- that would make lash -- appears to last I knew all along. It was always going to be all year that all the basket he's got that -- that chuck he's the leader of the team not to read what you gonna take it.

Well Chris is Larry Johnson -- and threw to the present one guy who was never afraid to throw one up when he needed to with -- the who brought a defensive intensity to this team as well as -- be able to throw three point news. What's your if you're a betting man what what's your prediction on him coming back to the Celtics.

I think you re signed up to that question about that got -- championship game which greatly up. What you're gonna get a lot of offers -- probably not going to exceed. The five point eight million ought to get -- not bought the company stock. Getting immediate actually you know they want to -- my -- three or four year deal from -- and totally about 23. Or 24 million but it is that it must have -- bought you did not want to brilliance this battle or against a guy like Corey Maggette and Britain and into the Betancourt Maggette and that night player result or mercenary you got a good out there. And scored a lot of points again they give you big production but he got it got to accept a limited rural Tibet support seeking to walker play. You know 35 or six minutes a night but he also is comfortable playing twenty minutes but Maggette not to -- complex and it rolled to reason that guys. I'll probably a little -- there's a reason to guide but it had the Mike Dunleavy to walk in the next he doesn't have a great commitment could be sent. It doesn't have that sort of -- team in first mentality -- he's the guy he won the truck and the calm down eating. You know by forty million dollars per year to one got. -- the opposing not a doubt in.

Why don't you think about it you know Posey having the championship experience in Miami understanding what his role would be I mean this guy really was instrumental being on the Big Three because he absolutely understood what contribution he could make -- change from night -- night but ultimately understood he was a role players and accept that that.

At critical that's 100% critical you need guys understand their role in the Garnett Allen appears the guys -- the ball was shot -- the -- beat that you want -- learned. About court Maggette brought the years that he wants to be named you got high profile guy and the guy that averaged 22 point two and what he should -- demand for everybody. But -- got to pick up the seven million may last year in. And BA got its going to be a -- on -- illegal between not you know he's not a guy you want to put on this team with this extra.

By you know if we were talking about this last October we what is -- that. Bring Corey Maggette we don't need opposing we need -- another star this team from four -- twelve was Bob Ryan offensively said is a weak weak team may be the worst in the NBA we would've wanted Maggette. Over -- yeah.

Maggette reminds me of Vietnam era to a lot is Ricky -- I -- you bring in the -- like better but a big numbers in big situations -- assault. And be unhappy when you'd need on the bench or not being put it. -- you situation you don't want to bring a guy --

Isn't it clear though Chris even even the talked about Maggette -- bringing Chris -- to -- last night he'll meet with them today the Celtic to trying to emphasize that -- a -- Which is exposed to a certain extent against Atlanta -- lack thereof.

Yeah I think that your that's probably true I mean but again you know. -- you're not an athletic and -- don't -- I think one guy that I'd like -- Redick center is for all the on the seat patently although he's got a myriad problems the don't all the -- an out call on the a couple of years but he is. Team guys -- got it was a lot on oral opening every one of his teammates. Without Chris Anderson came back but you know in play a lot -- when he left in the tank and watch you practice with our during the play out and in shootaround it's really only looked really I didn't look like. I got -- in the best shape at the a lot to give. To a team but he is extremely athletic if you lose PJ brown Yugoslavia big meant to create a guy he might like it's an agreement.

Did DNA work his magic again it would -- a marker.

You know well this that -- has that -- walker out. Look at love walker you -- can't get a couple of park last year yet that. Illegal alt key player not a great jump shooter this point but he is an aggressive. Drivers aggressive go to the basket he's at other times last year he Alicia who about where that eight -- it -- Michael Beasley or Bill Walker just that good. At times -- didn't. Not really sure -- it right not after a couple of got on the board I would think flier on at 31 got the Hendrick Jordan I mean got at actually know art a lot of skills. And sometimes when you -- I doubt they'll argue here with Kevin Garnett he's suddenly developed our overnight and you just want those situations where. Where you don't know what you're going to get from Perkins next year because shoulder injury bring a guy that's a legit seven foot who has been compared to Dwight Howard. As part of raw talent wise but scouts he's the guy would take a -- get a guy like real likely. Robert that -- this have indicated India ready right now he's a -- score. It was not the best shooter but he got it can get put up. Ten or twelve point nine excepted rule for your call -- that -- cultural winning program. And I'd like that a graduate big flyer on the 32 -- like it was already. You know making -- making a lot of the same mistakes in the next and I -- not coming to Ricky kept the decision -- a lot of what your agent has been any guide that Indian BA. The salary cap situation for rookies is is almost sentence don't you know you gonna make. Make every yes I think -- not coming into the bad thing not a bad press -- what sport what it.

Barrett is appointment that -- an overall did general consensus is that football the coach is the most important in in this sport -- baseball. The bit of basketball but to a lesser degree but talk a little bit about Doc Rivers in the job he did this year.

Well I think you have to I -- in and they did a great job defensively especially in bringing tobacco and China would -- it a lot to do with that he's -- well the Branyan and what that was a great -- and a great decision but it with a team like that. -- believable and ego is it is just it is that the only thing you really do adopted a masterful job. -- of making sure these guys all were on the same page all you know we're hardly get the shot the right moment I know Garnett -- eligible willing. Except lesser role but you know that what do what Rivers told you bring in Arabic and understand appears -- guy and it's a team that was built for winning right now and that just that. If I think I was this chronic cheap director I think -- a terrific job of making sure these guys were all think they pick the number one thing get the credit dockers.

Well you know we've had this argument on Saturdays for the last several weeks about how were instrumental Doc Rivers wasn't grant you you know you have to be psychologist in this day and agents. Beyond Xs and dollars and you have to understand your players. But yet is. I mean what was the most import was it Garnett. Or Doc Rivers who really was the team leader this year it seems to me is if once Garnett hit the park K. The Celtics coalesced as a team all not trying to downgrade Doc Rivers or denigrate him in any way. But it seems to me the single most influential by far. Was Garnett.

Well actually he ultimate team player and we just said that before you -- can. You know -- put it together make it you know in almost instantly they want things I was reminded over the it was Garnett. Made the point of making sure Paul Pierce the last guy introduced during pregame introductions and not just. -- but not from the get picked up a lot of a lot of people you know really focus on maybe that. At the big things sometimes you know the star player with a one excuse slot when Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant or Shaq where you are in a that would out of his way to make sure that pierce knew that this is still is -- got like that. Other indictable mean not -- contributions on the court but the wages. And he brought in to get every sort of rallied around him as the as the focal point of a like Iraq for the media market thinks I think. Yet not yet not. I think we're we're docket all I can act while I was one of the people calling production firing in the last year. I think he's -- about.

I didn't press he got he got to be a very intelligent insightful astute coach this year was amazing and has from nationally did you go to didn't go to work -- go to basketball camp over the summer -- take a course what was that they got so intelligent.

I think doc will be the first what do I -- the only way to. -- great coaches we have a great player let that it would happen bought.

Chris any concern from the NBA when you look at the draft this year how many freshman players went near the top.

Yet there at the concern I mean that legitimate concern that that they didn't design this. It's want to dumb rule -- call it or players mark of one you know what -- really want to admit it more like all of college in make you got go. For two years are -- that you know play one year to develop and believe to develop overseas that are not what he's got coming -- trickier now the NCAA in the NBA. In the end it -- exactly Indian problem they're not really worried about you know coaches recruit guys committed -- on the early and it probably want to make the college game better. They're looking to make their game better first -- the little -- Corleone young situation the -- David situation I don't think. That I would hire themselves what they weren't one of things we don't know from the flat the flat strap -- situation like. That we avoided I mean we don't know comedy got -- come out a lot of -- late the second round and not trap at all but one thing. I think no Wheatley and all the extra for years but I think are an optimal situation in -- going to look at this a two year -- I think this actually happen. The next three years but everybody on -- but the players association the NCAA I think the next three or four years -- might have to be two years removed from high school a lot but in the end it.

Yet the other day. Just quickly the other quick thing I I feel the NBA should keep tonight on this nothin' you can do much about it but this LeBron James situation when he becomes a free agent does he -- managers -- woke up we Jays the does that come. Does that become a problem in -- sense that the you know these guys kinda are working out of land down my rolled if -- Cleveland fan right now I'm not feeling too good about that.

Well I can't wait and he -- and I can't wait but he -- he rap song about what brought into it right around the corner you know that's coming up where. He started think that would Roger -- Brooklyn or wherever they're going to.

Why is he got in my -- it doesn't freestyle like -- did. You dollar -- thing.

I could have not Belichick like decapitated yeah I'm not that would give the at the moment but you know it you're out there it is. It's a problem right now is that you know the NBA doesn't want a cute that the can't bring you can't really. Interfere with you got have been friends for a long time it didn't like allergies regular major cricket based solely on that he's got up front you know -- and a LeBron what I did it well -- The difference for a very long -- I think that yeah at the obvious overtures by the Mets again it LeBron James or more conservatively but the net. Agreed to a trade -- when it was since Vince Carter. Cleveland's Wally Szczerbiak would have been the most obvious obvious play at all I'm -- trying to get the project that would put them. What Wally Szczerbiak and implement each had a lot of -- are looking -- probably went about twenty games. But you very well positioned for 2010 when when LeBron becomes created I think that's. More a concern right now you can look at do we think you can cute guy can't grip or pocket -- was front I think that's. Not something that's going to be brought up very often mound we'll we'll be brought up and not know the legal making go to a.

Hi Chris Maddux from us Sports Illustrated Sports Illustrated dot com nephew -- buddy Kevin -- formerly of the Boston Herald thanks for the -- catchy double line. Our thanks as always Chris managed here on Sports Radio WE