Wyc Grousbeck, Celtics Managing Partner & Governor

Let's so let's play the game here for -- moment we're gonna talk to -- prospect and a second here now believe it or not this was all scheduled before we knew about. Kevin Garnett and at that time we had -- no I'll start at the beginning. Kevin Garnett was scheduled in the in the leadoff spot for today Celtics player of the week -- an and I mean literally -- gosh. We haven't scheduled for the entire season he was going to be our lead in in the playoffs. Now we kind of knew was the week went on net -- the chances of talking to Kevin Garnett diminished by the hour here. And and even up until last night you know we held out hope. Win out when he didn't talk to the media after the game our hope disappeared we scheduled wick is that. As the pinch hitter here in the leadoff spot known penchant for your leadoff guy but you know we're doing -- in on today's program. And and we'll do it right now joining us on the AT&T hotline AT&T your world delivered. He is one of the principal owners of the Boston Celtics what prospect a that your days even worse than are so far out.

I don't know what happened in your date I've had better once. Yeah. So -- We've we've talked about this we've speculated about this but Doc Rivers. Confirmed that this morning. -- you see the playoff prospects without. Kevin Garnett participate.

I think you. For all I think you'll participate in his Kevin Garnett wave which -- by -- sitting -- to -- query to get by the delicate BP -- expecting that at least. I think we just turned into hopefully the 2004 pistons. Which is instead of real stars want to talk to -- cut you know two all stars it's about the numbers and we're gonna. You don't -- try to give the companies which troubles we can't it can't happen. But he kept up.

What I'm curious and and we talked about this earlier in the week. Kevin Garnett health status seemed to change practically by the day you know he's working out he's going to be able to play can play against Philly no we sent them home. Were you getting the same back and forth even in in the ownership offices there that we were getting is just fans.

you know is that they were more open organizations and or openly about injuries. And other leaks and other organizations by far. And this kind of back and forth goes on and probably the 80% of the injury situations should just don't know there's guys that have the same thing we -- that are still out after treatments. It he's back in whatever Westport where we. So these things are not -- just. What's the word organic flexible you know they -- they do to change it to date he may be over communicate. But the current situation is not optimistic that a short turn -- going to be. Topic in the long term meeting. At the latest next fall. We expect to be -- we have -- percent and -- be addressed the question is in short term right council look into that.

More open than other -- National Football League anyway.

There's nothing. I just say we creditors that Kevin at a lower body injury and left to the debt and nobody would Doherty but we're a little more open and it has fluctuated.

Well let me ask you this Rick the second guessing for a bit. Was there any discussion of maybe scoping KG. And then have him be out for a few weeks and then possibly if you guys are fortunate enough to get out the first round. Have them available in the second round or possibly for the conference final.

Well and that really Michael I don't even really what I would try to build on what -- US is 6% you record. Not misleading anybody. I'm not sure its scope and -- isn't an adult tickets for -- to really disclosed that you know his medical interests right this minute but I do think that. If I hope they can -- you ever had surgery is like a believes the case so. He may have epidemics that's the point -- it they're redemptive scope but we're not second -- if -- thought he'd play came back 23 or four games. That it has attacked.

Doc said after the game last night that in his opinion this regular season this year was even more satisfying to him. And last year he won 62 was opposed to the 66 but as he pointed out you were without Kevin Garnett for a big chunk of the season. Do you agree with his assessment of this regular season.

Well I always agreement dark. As far as you don't have yeah exactly right as far as you know agree -- pursuit that's. -- I think he's right there's a different kind of satisfaction. It's starting -- into it because at -- like the -- in the rafters that's a good start. That -- changed a little tougher. It'll be potentially if we do you make deep run or somehow go all the way you'll be extraordinarily says. Under these circumstances that's we have -- sort of.

I don't want to look too far ahead but there's talk radio so want to look far ahead a little bit. And and talk about the Cleveland Cavaliers their everybody's. Darling right now they are the team to beat as far as some folks are concerned.

It just -- I know we talked about this the other day -- The lakers to keep you master it -- it you know experts agree so. You don't -- that you're you're you're convinced that the that -- compete with the now well I.

It is that the cavaliers earned a court they earned the best record they are clearly the chip which quality team. And they have I can do you know witnessed as well but it went right now. Williams now but that's -- they -- they are that they are they don't understand why there's a reason they're the favorites they're the favorites in we're gonna have to do something really heroic keep it to get to that we that Chicago on Saturday which focus but. I I respect Cleveland and -- would peace prizes it was the whole thing but a -- to have these are cute and.

anything about that playoff schedule women we know the game the first game is Saturday and and Monday. We have the full schedule out.

Tickets being released -- what he wouldn't know. Like game we're not gonna help you there -- 345. Possibly six I don't -- most do I think that's beaten down.

What is that the events. Well I would be shocked. -- it would. It would beasts shocked for honest lady. Thursday -- Chicago and so they after which it would be chart.

It would be shocking to me. Image and academic plan to be in Chicago on Thursday and Sunday but. They'll be ready -- it.

Well I'd -- at least a note that go to stories that --

At -- let me ask you about KG and you mentioned you know he'll be he'll be part of this thing in whatever way he can contribute. There was some discussion of that earlier about him not being on the bench when he was hurt he talked about how hard it is. For him to watch is he going to be able to sit up there on the bench and.

Why indicate I think it's that's essential I think he but it would -- to do with the dark. The -- but -- well they can predict we like his presence out there I think that. It's just that UC warrior in every way he is a very. That usual such companies as the most different -- It was -- that and over here and he just doesn't it his way and it works spurred him and he became you know decent player of the year. MVP formerly -- though champion. It's Kevin Garnett is that anybody else has -- been another one like him and if if you need to -- electoral. Just people keep his head together so we can respect that and it actually worked pretty well frustrate you but we have to like to have.

What did you learn about the team and KG's absence with.

I I liked some of it I mean there's just so relating to almost have the clout but you know -- let BP B obviously stepped up. We're out seek public spat that PG people seem to find. You know couple long. I it's great people back to -- has become a beast against. -- Paul dropped 31 affiliate I think twenty minutes with that. You know we're just gonna need to take it that leash off the dogs and it appalled going to have to step up huge it's gonna be all outraged at Rondo. And will see what happens it's totally different keynote can expect interest.

I I was actually very happy to see both Paul and -- looking very dapper in their suits on the sidelines yesterday. Because in the absence of KG I've been worried about the number of minutes that they played is that a concern for you as well.

You know as you might have heard Paul -- you -- you response to sit out the other night in that we can refused. He chapter when he's playing it he still feels young like kit and and I have to volleyed every bit of that energy. But got nice to see the vote to get a little rest last night -- you know get -- percent.

Isn't pretty he's a pretty incredible and underrated players Naipaul and even in this town though he won the NBA. The finals were last year but. I just don't get the sense of people really. -- understand how Grady.

Well I think that is one of postage to extort purposeful -- For me. As the currency -- over the place he is from Dave almost -- one early on it was like orchestra. Yeah -- was -- grownup but just some about it like couldn't pick that up from my vote yes every at bat. And he was polite flow -- But it goes and all newly divorced me is that. Yes or 80 we're dirty or he's perceived to be used that a heartbeat if these guys are always want to have here. If the partners agreed we extended all you know -- huge contract years ago to just submit that relationship and so we've seen it. We hoped for a -- and -- for all with you people with people. So western you know so. I think they're it has been a disconnect between the public perception of also typed in the way we know the best have -- but it's been very consistent.

Here's a great thing about it I think it ticks them off privately that people meant to them as one of the I -- three top five players in the league.

You know he's so he was -- proud -- you know he said after the final tickets at the problem and the world took a catastrophe. That's a pretty bold statement by the the other hand he does have dropped.

Tell me about home court advantage and more specifically. Home court for you in this building with your fans and what they meant to your team. Well the entire time you've -- them especially the last two years.

Most of them don't we just celebrated aren't we but we celebrated our pockets straight so. Last night in -- fittingly it was -- appreciation. But we try to appreciate the is that we -- it went -- but the team so as it's that we felt like owners or by a team because we've given so much. Let's what -- go to the people be yours and so. It's just a great feeling and the parade last Q was that real highlight with a poster with. Players. I can't wait for Saturday because we talk about it we get out you know. A different start -- the other it's been right there they realized go to different script it's a different movie watching it's not. You don't receive five repeating necessarily it's a totally different -- but it could almost at two. Problem that if if.

Remittances these the other day we're talking about Ray Allen getting power back ward. And he gets the red power backward and he suspended for a game. Word go up and -- and bears. -- but if they actually. Just -- I was gonna say that read like him and they've branded it a different kind of guy one of these. In low graceful. It's really nice guy who's who's who's -- he wasn't I remember seeing red -- Challenged deep brown. You he loved to play racquetball. So he's challenging in Indies that Obama. Is it's difficult for Cleveland would be with the mr. Shuster was there that the browns had to read a -- accused during this one. Race. -- I doubt it -- up to our next. Our hope absolutely if you read that.

Quickly a lot of his belt when he went over -- other -- the face Medicaid there's a story -- it hit its motor vehicles despite. Albeit just goes on if you had read when you're sitting with Britain's office of -- category. Like you got into McCain's you know you'd still -- two hours later.

Well it's as you said it might be different script but I think the movie will be fascinating to watch it kicks off Saturday afternoon. I gotta admit I had -- I have the Philadelphia seventy sixers penciled in this weekend but things don't always work out what you plan as we learn today.

I think it's going to be a -- it is too we're going to have to follow the pistons script and have to be the ultimate team in a couple of eventually stepping up and scored thirty we've got two guys to do it. It didn't get easier but it's still possible we want to just that we got to bring sort of the that's I was -- we can't Saturday at that we don't let him do that but I. I you know it's going to be unbelievable if we can make another run at despite opposite we do this would be as great story is as Lester.

Not only have you been a leadoff hitter twice now on the -- program. Today you're a pinch hitter in the lead I shot.

Well I I'm afraid it was a week checked slide by this is ready to battle the ball okay.

Not yet yeah out of wept up 475 on base for.

I don't know I hope we can't look at upland -- that it probably inflated but. Anyway it -- put this way it was no pro prospect. With.

We appreciate the time is always good luck they. Are okay we're excited what prospect on the Boston Celtics on the eighteenth tee outlined. AT&T. Your world delivered.