Danny Ainge says the Celtics tried (but failed) to acquire NBA sensation Jeremy Lin

It's gonna hurt the -- more money make up opportunity swing to Gordon writes that three goodnight everybody. But the important thing is filled with old you you know so -- you know favor. They -- for the exits at the garden as the five game homestand is going to come to a crashing finish. At a very disappointing loss to the Celtics with the road moving ahead.

Man that was an ugly one last night at the garden Celtics are as Sean just said are now out of the rough but. Doesn't make any difference to us it's our weekly get together with the president. Basketball operations of the Celtics Danny Ainge mr. injury today.

Today and we Gregory and eager to sell. -- I know you're on the road and a regular basis throughout the entire year you're out scouting from you know and -- not only all of this country but all over the world to find new players. The Jonas out on on win.

Wait like chair at somebody nobody could have predicted that he would be that scared it's. Oh it's it's opportunity. And -- the opportunity played finally but property opportune. We need to play system that -- eat. And I'm really happy for the break it is it really odd story.

gets cut by Golden State did you put a waiver claim in on him. Yeah we did actually. But we had a worst record in Houston of Houston was able to acquire. Houston dumps of the day the first day of the season to put waiver claim on him after Houston long ago. We did not at a time we have a whole roster we.

I did it tell us the first time you saw him play and what your impressions were at that time.

Unless the first my -- play it was that Harvard. I think it was the Harvard Cornell Cornell was top twenty team. I liked what I saw of Jeremy he wasn't very good shooter in college. But he was a tough kid a Smart kid good side -- not let them. He's improved right now from what she was it and it. I'm not surprised that he means it MBA. But obviously I am surprised at this kind of impact this is with with his first start.

When you saw him did you say I guess is Tommy or markers quoted as saying. In his junior minister can get paid one data play bass what did you think. Did you get paid to play in the NBA or did you think it was gonna have to be. You know some type of.

Delicate set wouldn't that surprised at him making in India roster like he did it out of the gate. And you know he played very well and disperse summer league he played well and it's easy. I think everybody in the NBA is where Jeremy and -- this past week in. -- win when -- needed guard someone has gone down with injuries -- maybe a third point guard was in consideration for every. -- well now. Even amongst Indian circles and and European. But. You know again this story is is an amazing he's been able -- Not just done. Numbers and putting up plot point which is rather surprising. It was attempting twenty shots again. That's probably the biggest stock -- But that you may impact at -- team and they're winning. Even -- the schedule. He is he has. Provided some sparks big plays down to the game that has allowed to win and that's that's been the biggest prize.

Yes what do you say that because. The more you read about the -- the more you hear. I talked to and the people they tell you they were well aware of all. And a lot of it has to do with roster replacement. I know that for. For Houston it was a -- A factor in that. Com. They were set with -- rather with the Golden State that they were set with a new coach. And no summer camp this past year because of a lot -- do you think that the locked out mother played. Com. Some into this whole story of why he didn't get picked company didn't have an opportunity to show a little bit more.

Well maybe I think that is I think that's legitimate opinion but I do think that. Also you play and behind that curry. And that there -- opportunity for him to do what he's doing now opportunity to play. As a bit player actually all the time there's many guys that are that back it up. Really good NBA player all around believe -- periodically step up to prove that they're much better than anybody's spot but. Nobody -- Kind of start and that's that's the separation of this story that makes -- even more unique but Specter said he had a perfect opportunity and he's really. Her orbit stretch -- level and taken advantage. Export it was such extreme comparable. -- coach competent and it's like the star of a thirteen -- like it was when he was playing at Harvard not that shocking.

But I cannot have confidence in what he's done over the last six games -- February 4. I'm not sure that Mike and Tony your of the of the knicks had great confidence and when they threw -- into that. Netscape because we keep on here there was a possibility that dumped a strong probability. That in February 7 with contracts to be guaranteed it. They are gonna guarantee you is.

Well I I believe that and that and I think that that that probably is the case but. You know he made the most of that -- up another day in another day and after a -- after. What starts. You know he were the toast of the -- and so. You know again and it says it's on -- on to the NBA it's great to be MBA and what are what a fantastic story.

Now let's talk about your team here for a second daddy you went to last night's game. Facing -- Detroit team that it had to road wins all year not a very good basketball team there. And and they were able to hang around and then pull away in the fourth quarter how to lose a game to that team.

Well offers up a perimeter defense was atrocious. And but I would say that. Ben Gordon here we've seen many times before and it stuck. Are terrific basketball players and they haven't had a great year this year but they are capable. As most NBA players are capable of -- And those two guys really hurt us along with -- Munro who is good you know. Leak party -- big guys trouble last night in those two perimeter guys just. It's a terrible whenever they want.

32 with 35 over the last two games from your point guard the Chicago game. If fifteen assist -- at six last night all doesn't touch the ball of all the first quarter. Com re barely touches the ball in the in the first quarter is that what you want go forty here.

You know I I think production. All I mean we we want to score no matter who scored. And you have to -- but the defense gives you. And last night Rondo did a fantastic job taken with the defense equipment that that the match up words. Him on the post the matchup was -- the hole I mean each other very good percentage especially early in the game. I would get into the ram we need him to be aggressive before going to be pitching. I don't think that -- rate didn't have a great night. Simply because Rondo. What is scoring. I think I think that they had tough matchup they were able to create space when they get that opportunity it. They can play their pesky. Obviously they're the amount of shots again it's going to be. I determined a lot by the aggressiveness of Rondo but we brought that to -- it was able he was are easy to point -- On most possessions and he did what he should --

I'd imagine before you make any trade you have to know where what you're trading foreign and who you are as a team. And this has been such a strange season with a lock out. 48 games and and we've got fewer than forty games remaining in the season that's just strange. And it's it's up adjustment for everybody you know. Pour your team is after 28 game dementieva since the Boston Celtics are fill in the -- you know.

I've got blown -- I don't accept you know I would say that we been a very good people it's a team. Of we are one of the top deep into teams in the league which is sort of -- Gartner the over the last few years and that remains. Our offense has been sporadic but you know what's been -- we have been the last couple years we need to get better offensively. And you know last night was a deep concern. Laps that far more than the opposite. And you know they were just able to get kilogram weight too easy on us from the permanent record setting and that's not that's not in our identity but it's. Side you know yet Detroit has been a good team this year but looking at the talent on the team -- And advocate Brandon Knight is a terrific young player and Tayshaun Prince at a Turkey in last particularly the that we did a great job against pierce. And you know that -- good team last night they're not a good team and in and night out based on the record but that scene last night was better. But they've played although they almost beat San Antonio that I or -- to watch that game. And they look good sense to us so maybe they're just. The -- been very consistent. I think you could see the value -- last night that Chris Wilcox that it had entered the game himself. You know not happened all those guys and production. We were -- that we can't rely on one or two that carried each side we really need to spread around it and last night we didn't have you know just even double figure scoring and an eight or nine rebounds KG and and solidifying our defense I think that would. We missed him -- tremendously. We.

You have to if you keep review team is that good defensively and they're built on defects. I don't understand how you've had a favorable home schedule. You've only played nine road games the fewest road games of any team in the league you -- and more all the games. Which means between now and the end of the season you're gonna to play ten more road games and own games. And -- you're only eleven and eight. At home. Losses already. At home and you lost to get some bad teams out there how could be that good defensively. And -- that tore a hole so -- Danny would you -- have to play always -- games.

Well good question and that must tell you that our offenses has been under par and we turned the ball over too much and we are your report make it a pretty good percentage of our shots. But I think the turnovers have really hurt us this year again. Think it's very important. That we just maintain that defense they're making incremental changes we still haven't had a full team full roster you -- shown signs of playing very good basketball against very good teams. Periodically but not consistently so. Our team is as it is right now we've we've been talking about this every week -- it or not the team that we feel like. Is they contend. The way we're playing and they have to step up and there's this extra tripled its delicate task force.

In your -- we have been talking about this a lot this year -- them because of the age of three of your top four players and we talk about the trading deadline. People usually are when they call opens today on the the Celtics -- go for this guy that got. They're not talking about that Tony twelve seasons when he eleventh when he twelve season they're talking about the future. For you when you think about moves for this team. Are you forced to think about the future more than the president because of Garnett and Allen being in their mid thirties and Paul approaching.

Well you know I think. You know the fans can pick them all of those things I do I -- my job to. Keep in mind the future at the same time work in the present their coaches and players focus on the here and now. And so. I would be doing my job -- think about well.

If you don't believe this team can win. What's the priority future. Vs making a run -- it for this year.

You don't. I am exploring opportunities for both always. To help -- here and now and you prepare for the future and I guess a lot of it depends on -- drop considering there. Right now there's nothing in the works for the Boston Celtics where we Doc Rivers -- team. I. I talked -- there are four all stars recently they all really like our team and they feel like they're better. Then they've been playing and you know so we'll see if these next few weeks will be.

If you if you compare the amount of phone calls you get about your players this year to previous years. Where does it -- I -- more volume this year because of expiring contracts of Garnett and Allen about the same how would you say it if falls. I think.

It's less this year. I think that. People around you know there's a lot of teams that are good because there's no practice time and there's no time to really. Put people into a new system I think that they're speaking more reluctant. To do things in the second thing is people are waiting to see what they have. See where at least that. And what where their team is and should they be looking in order to you know the next year or you know we're -- in in. Relation the rest of -- this year so I think that there's that'll last this year up to this. And I am but you know all yours there's a lot of talk -- the opposite really. Translated that company. Mort talked hasn't translated portrayed.

got a late trading deadline you're doing its march 15 and you have march 1 in which you Begin. Is it next year -- the technicality -- explain how that march 1 -- works.

Well march 1 -- this. The gate where players that you signed this year -- you. That you can trade the first.

And then march 15 will be the the trading deadline so when you think that most stuff would happen. If it's gonna happen -- any team it's gonna happen after the first of march and obviously before the fifth.

You are almost always -- right down to the wire. Are getting we'll talk to next week have a good one. All right thank you aren't united Danny Danny -- right here the big W right back to your phone calls 617779085888525. 0815. Next year to -- show.