Chris Ekstrand

It's the fourth and final hour Dennis and Callahan Larry Johnson alongside as we continue are. For our reality check here today and have agreed to put our -- palms down and quit cheering for everybody who's going to the superbowl all the World Series in the NBA finals they'll -- that as applied to the Boston Celtics. Would be SI dot com extra aggressive Aurilia -- morning you as impressed as most people are with what the Celtics did. On Monday or Tuesday Monday and Tuesday of this week my -- reading your stuff you think it's a good move a nice move but that does not make -- instant NBA champions where can this go wrong for the Celtics chorus.

Well I think I I. Enumerated some of the of the things that just if you look -- down a little bit it's not that I don't like the move are really like the the Celtics are better team than they were Sunday though there's no question about that but. You know you have to realize that. All pierce and ray Allen both played you know just a little more than half the games last season. And when your putting all your eggs in one basket the ways they've done it. You may -- we have seven for one -- and you just you know you mystery did the rest of your roster you have to think that if one of those guys were the -- down. There really is nothing behind them right now and you've been the line that we are in the year terms of free agent month into the read these. There's not a lot left out there that's going to be really help.

Chris could about the point be made that that the three of these guys who have individually carried their unsuccessful teams in the past. Will be required to do as much so the stress and strain -- mentally and physically won't be on them.

I think he can make that point but I think the your your hoping I'm not saying reaching but he opened you know the truth is over the history the NBA players of this 80 who have some sort of injury history as pierce and al and do don't generally not played 40 minutes the game played in Dayton you know I think you're saying well they're going to have less responsibility because there's there's -- or. That's true like when you look at a little there is on the rest the team. They are going to have to play close to 40 -- the game but they'll be successful with -- it ourselves and it more of the game in the scoring. I mean if your star player vote -- the team. If you leave the dirty work guys like you know the vote of the world right at them get there and dirty pulling the ball went there on the team to do that. These principal players are going to have to get there in 30 I was just Kevin Garnett would do that rays on -- that would do that with a not. -- out but we're talking about NBA basketball where but he at 89 man rotation to get through this raw. I mean it's it's America not desperate and there's six month to basketball. So I understand it -- in Austin I mean if I'd missed the playoffs. And that I have you read superstar players you know probably future all a result the might be pretty about it -- and there's no reason they should be right. And furthermore -- they've. There is the chance that they will double their wind and that that that's saying something in the that the considerable state however. That doesn't mean that it favored to win I think is that the degree.

Chris if you court -- have a choice in on the Oden -- route with Jefferson and the kids would that have been about a scenario for you than the one may have now

I don't know -- better. It is certainly a lot different and you know I sort of have a little fun you know him in Mike's story I wrote that you know any ripped up this seven year plan -- that's not that unrealistic I mean I wasn't I was that far off I was that was a verbally mute -- guys were 18 right he. You know unless -- getting it -- you know local price really special player like that. You're drafting guy who's going to be just good and not you know superlatives not superstore a guy like Al Jefferson I mean that's how long it takes some of these guys to really you know firmly established themselves in the it's a it 567 years -- that like alot but you're asking all you're bringing somebody to the NB ATV I mean Gerald green. At at two years does he look like he's ready to -- from point MBA players now he's still couple years away mumbling so. You know. -- I'm just I'm dealing with reality I'm not a Celtics fan of them but he has the -- it is on paper and you know it and make the real all want to say it. I think that if they they did what they had. They were still years away from the league doing anything yet now you know there it would hit playoffs there's no question about that. Well it I I look at what our orient road this morning in the Boston globe. You know he's he's much more eloquent that I -- and he he is a tremendous job laying up reasons why. In other playoff doesn't mean that -- you know the straw that stirs the drink in the.

So -- you're right -- Chris you would agree that for the next two or three years their closer to getting to the eastern finals that let's say the ping pong balls that bounced correctly for them -- across acquire Allen or Garnett and went -- with the Rand or Oden this team is further down the road toward the eastern finals than that team would have been correct.

They are by your your your putter rolling the -- you'd take you'd -- it moved it better happen. Into two or three years you know I mean the one thing about having open doctor respect you know we doubtful that you know Seattle -- and ran. And they uphold that they're going to win a lot of games in the future. But up but he what for the next year two ago lose a lot of it and so you know the question of of two different things that -- better or worse. But they're two flavors one is it we're building something we hope will win some games down the road. I -- Portland as much further along in Seattle is for example they operated -- the -- Well Portland probably still won't even make the playoffs even with. This year so it's -- question of which I'd a loop when I go I mean why it made the point it dispute one. That you know any -- he ripped up the would threaten everything he's been trying to do for let you know we use these minutes our in oneself to get rid of that whole plan. Now planned to win now and they better do it.

Well didn't the ping pong ball sort of force him to go to plan B -- rip it up to the extent he did but have they gotten one or two. We -- being we wouldn't be where we are today with these other players.

That's true to an extent but. All the other moves that may -- have formed this decision my you know there's there's a level that's ration. There're there was bought in to do something big like this. With or without. Now you know he's been selling the idea that they can -- all of these young players and wait on them. And not just Jefferson -- in read at all right Rondo all the other. And you know if -- been able -- we. Okay here's the waiting area and if you got a -- Oden okay you know media and -- by yours so. But as I said I've no doubt that and it is in -- average 91 which beat that again that they want a one year. Seattle's in the win you know when he won a game that's prevail so you know -- wanted. Rate and you know that would create a lot of excitement and lost in the they -- lottery like that would. You know that they're in you make the playoffs to win the championship.

Chris my guess is that Celtics fans are more fond of Danny gains than timberwolves fans are of Kevin mchale as best as you can tell how is this playing in Minnesota.

I think at getting -- at it and it's so. But you know I think that this is just it that it slash you'd drop -- many people that ever since the the other itself spree well thing only you know let them -- only produced one year basically those moves only let them -- the Western Conference -- one. And then they had the blow that up well. It'd be trying to make some moves the last couple years and that really hasn't worked out but and now in other position where. If they -- trade Kevin Garnett now that you're just saying you know we have no plan. We're not into anything for the next 23 years because they they are close to competing with the better teams why. Though this is just an acknowledgment that the the moves that haven't tried to -- the last -- years you know didn't work they did and a.

Chris looking at the Celtics present situation on the electric tax. What help he might be available that they can still pick up another any point guys do you see that as the biggest need aside from -- yeah.

Is it is it is their biggest need but again I think this is another thing in the euphoria which was sort of in this. In the NBA in free agent market is a big difference between July 1 in August -- You know July 1 that's when -- you know that the gate comes up that and it's a pretty quick rate and it over pretty quickly and by that I mean. That the really key free agents that are available if you're not a good while most of those are on. The guys were left mostly people who have been all the other you're in the veteran's minimum. Or maybe you know there are the better players left the mid level exception and they are angling for more. -- Celtics are talking about. You know -- guide for minimum contract like Eddie house well you know there's a reason like -- like that -- built on the market. Don't get me wrong I like Eddie in but I think -- you're talking about you know eight -- man. You know he yet it -- restart with the security in New Jersey you know it was even in really in the rotation most of last these. If you want to talk about some of the players were still out there yes you know there're guys who aren't in the you know they're the they're not going to come in for the minimum now and you like it at -- but the minimum the -- to get Brevin Knight. For the minimum in -- yet like interest you know try to get more than three aptly your article today James posed PGA where these are some of the better names were laughed and I mean they're not great names but they're they're good solid you know rotation players in the NBA games. But none of those guys in the on the for the for the -- that you know R springer made that point first story well they go about. You know you're paying but he when he a year to think three guys six easily year. Are you now given day you know we're not spend an extra three or four million -- some of these extra player ball. Goodness sake I mean I I got my money's easy for me to them in -- they they should -- the luxury but if you're gonna go for it well go for. You know I mean they can't beat if they won't -- like Eddie out the back of point mean the guys in the league for years he's issue is not a.

With Douglas -- dot com NBA writer Chris extra inning Chris I think there's a general consensus or general theory. That there is now a tremendous amount of pressure on Rajon Rondo and that Rajon must succeed. For the Celtics to succeed. I would counter with just the opposite I think there's less pressure on this guy it's seems to me that Rajon -- job just got exponentially easier he doesn't have to shoot the basketball all that well because he has three scoring options at his disposal every time equalized on the court with the ball in his hand. I agree that the harder for operational -- this year it will actually be easier.

I think the thing it would open the most is that they're able to get a real veteran backup point guard to you know. Take a little bit of the -- the -- I mean I I know every player you know says they look like minutes but. You know even for young guy like Wanda got -- Byrd. I don't think he wants -- like 40 minutes tonight at this point in his career -- get exposed. I mean these weaknesses or real home air and you know the more you have to play throwing him in for 40 minutes tonight not yet good player. But I mean he's shooting deficiencies the other weaknesses are there so you know it's in a perfect world. Randa would be guy who won the good team right now beef Wellington one minute the night. Now the opening of the big windup -- as a backup for them. You know he might have to play a lot more though I don't know there's pressure right there's enough pressure and put points on the board to certainly. But if they air that and but there is pressure on in terms of Pete was saying. You know this team should be Eastern Conference -- well that's a lot but I like it.

What are the issues -- Brevin Knight in the locker room have you heard the whispers about that is he stepped out of a team player.

He's not a bad guy when he -- Brevin -- the good guys I think that you know he's he's indoors the frustration of being read that. And I think that he's the guy that you know people look at him he's not physically impressive whittled god. But you know that a plane in the day you know it believe me when your 511 which he is right -- and you any. I mean if if you've been able survive in the league and flat and and you know play at it for years -- about that he's not about walked. I mean you know the guy that I'm sure has been frustrated at that point body that that team played you know that there.

final question before religion go all obviously injury and and keeping these Big Three healthy would be your first and foremost concern here all the following three how -- they ranked in the things that have to be fixed -- have to be addressed by Doc Rivers the Boston Celtics as the season unfolds and progresses no chemistry. No defense no bench rank those problems for us that need to be fixed in what order.

I would say no Patrick -- be first okay I would think it would be sent to second but it it might be one in the important no chemistry -- not that worried about as I wrote. I think that these are all all read these guys are high character guy you know they've all been in the league along. They're they're you know straight shooters they're guys who aren't going to try to be you know -- answers or anything like that there are all professionals and the other reason why there to deploy ought to be all they --

Chemistry is a bad -- Davis the foreman function of a new team working together as well oiled machine more than chemistry.

Yeah I agree I agree with I it's going to take some I mean any any group of players -- put together no matter how else did it take little -- that's why. Even as a waited out with the USA basketball teams have won -- that electrical don't read. You know and o's really felt that I they're like that there all Berkman and that doesn't mean you win.

His name is that Chris extra SI dot com NBA writer Chris thanks for much of the time and the information that we appreciate it thank Chris -- Chris section with Dennis and Callahan Larry Johnson allowed -- pro sports flashes -- now buzzer -- and emails on the other side