Previewing the 2010-11 Boston Celtics

We haven't really touched a lot yet on Celtics and it's really the very beginning stages of training camp for them down a Newport, Rhode Island itself they Regina. The Bruins landed about 52540. This morning eastern time. In Belfast NORTHERN IRELAND they begin their European trip. Couple of exhibition games in Ireland and then they moved to up Prague in the Czech Republic where they will play two games against the Phoenix Coyotes. So we haven't really touched on either of those very much we've told a little bit here and there about pieces. I -- interest staying and I heard dock this morning on with the NC in and dock is just so good. In in an interview setting -- He's the anti Bill Belichick alchemy gives his stuff and I I think he's in that unique place where he knows that the end is not that far away. Obvious coaching tenure here so he doesn't really care you'll safe stop -- you know he'll he'll admit stop he'll he'll offer stop. I love listening to Doc Rivers when he's on what those guys I think he's so good at it. And I found it interesting because he came out pretty strongly against big baby the last couple days. Big baby first day of training camp media day. I don't know what my role is on this team they went -- got some big guys Jermaine O'Neal Shaquille O'Neal I don't know what my role is and -- basically said. Well if he does know what his role as he's not going to be playing much.

your role is to play. -- play. I think I did it to follow open your and your -- comment sure you know what he is is. These media savvy. It doesn't really give you anything. He really doesn't that's what those guys are great I think Doc Rivers and Tom Brady both have a a future in politics. And -- along Bill Parcells. They make you think. You're getting something. Insightful -- probably give you 2%. Of what they really can tell you since you're not used to hearing it hearing it from other people and you're getting at any percent and sisters so engaging -- think you really got to get something that's so their vote they're both very skilled at -- but -- at times. --

All -- little I lied to -- hear any coach will and and there are times when you have to and I and I understand that I really do. But I do think he shares more than most -- and he'll listen to him every Thursday during the season he offers up more than most. He's afraid to criticize publicly either in this thing -- big baby I mean say what you will about -- And criticize its own players now are killed criticize them as a group. You know we've got to play better we got to coach better I mean it's always in general as nation he'll never say and a par safeties don't play better we can't win anything and he'll never do that.

It's amazing how coaches will do that. And now I understand -- never why. When he first told me about it as -- why do you do that the Tedy Bruschi. Only he used to look at opposing coaches press conferences. -- that was part of his preparation every week he'd look at the press conference.

Not just to see if he can get tidbits all exactly about their not on saying not just to get tidbits about their teams. But to also Scott how they were doing and I'm guessing how where they handling questions like that not to say.

Knowledge is -- to protect -- that's exactly what you're looking for is that gonna see. How much he says he said to me it's amazing. How much information you can get from a coach during press conferences that they give up a lot solution I can a couple of so. Outlook and a Tony Sparano -- press conference -- Are. They lost for the jets. East just -- that team probably doesn't realize he was doing his Russian that team -- don't change. He says -- ask you about Chad Henne. What -- Dick Cheney. On Lanka at the que me five or six big time frozen on my back shoulder -- he really hung in there and made some difficult rose against a lot of looks and -- I -- a lot of pictures. There are shown a lot of pictures Anna -- had a lot of success basic you know putting really. I think you really left some yards out there in the red zone we have a rule about turnovers in the red zone and he really. I did a bad job there he's talking about. No one of their plays. On special teams. Is basically calling out the course special team and our -- specialty receptive to a better job well. It's hard to program your core special teams -- he's going on and on each is giving you. What to what their plays where what they were trying to do so maybe that that factors into. What we get here in Foxboro sometimes. And press conferences it is not gonna give you -- much he's not gonna get into detail about his team's. He is not gonna be that vivid.

I'm not doc will will criticizing and I used big baby is the example this week. But but gone back to your point about -- pretty smart guy. If you think he's gonna stand there in front of a pop up press conference setting at the podium or he's gonna go on DNC on Thursday morning and rip KG. Or or say something critical of Ray Allen or say something critical -- This year Shaquille O'Neal that's not gonna happen right you could pick your targets in big babies are great big bat. Bullseye on the back target any makes himself that.

Do you agree with they his comment and others and Danny just comment that I know I don't when they say this is the most talented group we've had no it's not. Well.

I'm I don't agree with that. I agree -- that even a little bit. So you're saying that the the world championship team of of a few years ago PGA down those guys yet more talent they were younger. This is a target they were younger that they were younger and this is before KG had surgery. It's before Paul yours was is banged up as he's in the last couple years before Ray Allen started to struggle with this which -- accuracy. And it's consistency. Team was better. Well how the team that got a year older in the offseason. Just their core guys. Pierce Garnett Allen they all there all year your older okay -- knows better you presume. No Kendrick Perkins. Who was there during championship year while at.

But I think they're counting Kendrick Perkins when they're saying you know he's going to be back at some point this season. At an all he'll do is that even more -- there's going to be there's so much more talented than they've been. With Jermaine O'Neal Shaquille O'Neal went Perkins comes back doc talked about this morning they've got to rebound much much better than they did. If you're replacing Rasheed Wallace who the Waltz through the regular season with Jermaine O'Neal and Shaquille O'Neal lights and that's a that's a step up free.

But keep in mind bill and I know Shaq is a ton of fun to talk to literally a ton of fun talk to. Engaging funny all this stuff. You'll walks you Waltz of the regular season 20. You just do with a smile on this race and you won't be as annoying but the officials. He's just -- guy. Shaq is gonna give you maybe fifteen games in the regular -- count on it. 5055 games either you'll get hurt. War you'll decide that. And this is really. Where OK I'll wait until a regular away to the post season because that's why this team brought Meehan. He's the same way. So you have 88 -- the oldest player in basketball on your team. You've got. An older you're older Kevin Garnett you're older Paul Pierce year old Ray Allen. Kendrick Perkins -- out until 2011.

And you're better. At what he said he's insane battling mortally talent it.

I think they are more got a better doesn't got a better resident yeah -- talent I mean Jermaine O'Neal Shaquille O'Neal have more talent then then you know PJ Browner. Yes I think they do is.

He didn't say anything about eight she talked about -- you're get blocked in about age and they're talking about talent.

They're saying they're two different things and it does out their old now say I disagree. Agent talent or not same thing. Talented he is an immovable force he has a rebounding. In in that in this regard -- rebounding force that they haven't hat. Deputies do kitty do it for you know 82 games in the playoffs courts not O'Neal is not a rebounding force.

Shaquille O'Neal -- we -- rebounding force if you're telling me.

They have it will we can turn the clock back five years yes -- immensely talented absolutely the most talented team I've ever seen. How can you talk you talk about somebody's talent in not factory in their age.

and how could they not O'Hare.

I think I think that they are a more talented team than we've seen here. I think Nate Robinson's backup point guard ability is more talented than they've banned may have had -- fact that issue -- backup point guard here. Now whether or not he continues to maintain the attitude that he's had since he arrived. Another question and I understand your concerns if that's what you're concerned that they are not concerned about his attitude talent he's got the talent I'm not concerned about his attitude. I'm concerned that -- to guard. Who was -- which is what Eddie House was to address I have Nate Robinson and Eddie House. I think that's a step up talent wise for your team.

And now we introduce another word -- criticism I mean. He's a lot more athletic. But Eddie House. Or how good Eddie House was on this championship team. How good James Posey was on this championship teams so because they got some names from yesteryear. And I'm happy to have them okay it's going to be fun to watch him. Just in terms of personality. But they have the Shaquille O'Neal. Is well past his prime. Jermaine O'Neal is past his prime he's not done other guys down the right right but they're all all of these guys. Hall of famers here hall of famers never will be hall of famers all of these guys have already. Asked over the mountain now we're now we're going down now we're going downhill. Some of them art art are two miles past. The peak of the mountains the number. 125 lecture.

it's quite as dramatic is as what you're saying I understand your point. I I think what they're talking about is the talent of a guy like Shaquille O'Neal the talent of a guy like Jermaine O'Neal the talent of a guy like Nate Robinson. The talent level of those players is above the talent of the backup players they've had in the past. I say the backup players because they're starting players are basically descent now Kendrick Perkins is out to start. Will probably be out till after the first of the year but he's not on -- he'll be back. -- have him you'll have the big debate same basic starting cast. What you've done is giving yourself -- second unit that's much much better than you've had.

What -- what we don't but the Celtics. Is kind of forget how we felt in June. We felt in June. After they lost to the lakers in game seven now some people felt like Kendrick Perkins would've made a difference it. Those people are our way to green up for for my from my taste because. Kevin Garnett at three -- three rebounds in game seven. Rebounds. A 125. -- the -- to 25 offensive rebounds. After Perkins go get a few. We got -- the other team has 25 I don't know if you can make up that difference so. The way we felt after some people thought after game seven I want to speak for everybody. That was that was their last. Real opportunity. And they they -- gonna have to tweak some things. Because this team's age was really gonna start to work against them how much working to get out of Ray Allen at this stage of his career how much work to get out of Kevin Garnett. Who who spent a great portion of last year dragging around his dragging around is away. In what they did was get older. Yes so I don't know I still think the talent is there -- I think there are more talented team. The -- now -- take that group from 070 wait and I take my chances that was. That was one of the best teams in Celtics history. It I think that team. Was better. In this team.