05-14-08 Ian Thompson

" Back on the dale and Holley show game 5 of the Eastern Conference semi finals is tonight. The series is tied at two games apiece the Celtics have won all their games at home during the playoffs that's not the problem. On the road they have a different story they hold serve tonight and asked that question for a couple minutes and here's somebody who gives an answer as a fine job -- basketball offer SI dot com -- Thompson in what's gone on -- They they don't Michael. If I'm doing great now what this home road split in eight we in Boston and in in New England we say it's the Celtics problem. Across the NBA it's pretty much that's the standard home teams -- winning road teams pretty much have no chance."

" You know it's going to change pretty soon answer Lakers when you. You know either -- or New Orleans -- went Santonio incidentally when there."

" Battling Utah's going to beat the Lakers series it's going to win games that allows them to build day. I would have a problem without -- they like the Celtics though I mean you know."

" Well you know I think the Indians always been like since you know. Although I've been looking there you're upset in the playoffs in the sport. 20% like -- the underdog theory on court and -- be it well. I that it the he went in oh. So it's it's really hard to do in the indians' normal circumstances right now -- cycles and maybe it's it is that the teams are so evenly matched. That the home court apparently is -- tipping point kind events for the Celtics he assist. To endemic. We have seen it play out there real problems that bothered him in the like this."

" In this series -- between Cleveland. And the Celtics -- Do you feel like the Celtics should be encouraged that LeBron James's LeBron -- shooting 26% from the field or to the cavaliers look at it and say. Our best player our franchise players -- play 26% in wherein this that."

" I'm sure he feels very encouraged by it and you can tell because he's played better in every game which is really that -- itself. And I played the way they've done they've put the ball and -- court he knows he's playing on their court. No run at the power now if he plays of really good. Two when this series by and so you know coming -- night and then when by himself he doesn't go forward you. If the winning games with in scoring he to. It's -- he's never. And was an efficient game offensively with the -- back and you'll -- to Italy they can -- when it and is very few players. You know that that wouldn't be intimidated by a team like this nine injury in game seven in Boston -- looking forward to move the something you're able to get the sense with -- you'd rather win on Boston scored in this game be we shall have great."

" Yeah replay game five you think of it last year cavaliers pistons that's when he had those 48 points in overtime game. And that ridiculous stretch where he could be stopped and they went back to Cleveland won that game I mean you really think the cavaliers. You think they can come in here and beat the Celtics tonight you see that happen."

" they can and of the well. You know it's like 5149 but I think it will. Real close this is trending. The cavaliers are playing better and better and Celtics. What that the last game is sort of the defining game than than maybe it's that the you know as a player the I think we as a real."

" EM do you think Doc Rivers has too many toys to play with and in other words you Danny Ainge is the executive of the year. Partly for bringing in Kevin Garnett and and Ray Allen but also. For getting Sam to sell and PJ brown a mid season as the acquisition of -- to sell. Given Doc Rivers too many options and maybe he's got a a quick hook when it comes to resolve --"

" Well you know. It would be one thing if their three stars in and we talked about well. But because the guys aren't especially to. All the then and now much more important to me and they need in the coming and it's not to overcome. Those two to. The problem with the Celtics and if you want to go far in the playoffs thus -- And their best players are playing worse than a year. He's on line and then in the -- and pulled the weavers and the make up. You know it was on and realize there's nothing to coach until it is nothing to lose some coaches two all stars in twelve years."

" Do you think at some point especially to sell continues with the shooting woes of the diesel for his last 1211 something like that. If the shooting woes continued do you think we'll see Eddie House tonight."

" You know I myself and so they like -- Is there another they're allowed the offensive team in the play hard and not scoring. In the making people -- since we've been here I myself like he would -- because it's not thinking it's not. Now you know that he was gay is shots early in the year entered the race it was seen as an offense that was really -- well. In this and all so maybe he'll command. He looked very good you can maybe he'll look like sports it's not deflect some of it. There probably isn't in the quick that gets into it as long as those three guys they're plainly."

" I think despite what is your goal percentage was about LeBron James had a brilliant game four especially with a thirteen assists but Mike Brown continues to be criticized especially by Charles Barkley who hates the way the cavaliers play offense. You look at you look at the cavaliers and and what they do and how they center everything around LeBron James and make sense to me -- don't. See a lot of other pieces that team that I'm dying to have do you have a problem with the way the cavaliers approached things offensively."

" I did in the last couple it. And now all of a sudden the cavaliers are playing -- level offensively -- the missed a."

" It's obvious. Even the obvious from pride themselves in between lines of last -- he doesn't like. And it's easy put two and two together -- the Knicks are interested in acting coach. Because they're goal count police went on old tires might just rule but I think so. -- that was when the reasons -- hired. You know -- they're not. They don't play in the open court he he doesn't get facility as much so isn't it sort of in control -- in the open court much. If magic Johnson's style well court players you know and he doesn't get to meet those kinds of places showcase and so. -- the -- it's great dunks not a court which is artist -- you though he has. So on the other hand if it in the when -- like when they can -- rosters and along with it if they can win this series here in the six post season series wins on the age of 23. And Torre got more than Garnett pierce -- Allen each."

" that. Yes so they've all done is he's already done a lot of very --"

" Well you mentioned you mentioned Magic Johnson I cringe. Just because magic over the course of his career had norm Nixon and Jamal Wilkes and he had -- James worthy -- he had Byron Scott. Hello LeBron James have all I think going to be a Magic Johnson like player -- booby Gibson."

" I just thinking about those highlight videos and you know he's -- he's struggling down the center of the court incidents it and -- looked one away and got those extra and so in the way. And really seeing the other guy is it can never get this week he will run out in the open court that there and I'm -- he he wants to sometime this one -- It's -- and so that's what they can insisting options for it."

" in Boston you know how while provincial we can be in New England. You asked you this -- Danny Ainge did win -- Award I guess I shouldn't be complaining he did win executive of the year. It's a results based business and got the result the ultimate result but -- was -- that close how to how to. Mitch Kupchak it fourteen votes 141 place votes. And Danny Ainge got eighteen."

" It's as the such a long years and people to skip -- talking about the it was even if it is a lot more recently and is too. So now team lately -- realizes rooms when -- it's almost like I think some some people. And it was two years ago on the assuming and so. They're coach of the year in -- December doc was when I still think. You know a long time ago along the only way to explain that it's no brainer."

" So selectors and is that members of the media have ADD. -- think -- had -- a -- and I'm right behind -- W vice president in that -- my final question for you -- where it was regarding the Detroit Pistons and I just said before it came on fifteen minutes ago -- so impressed with the pistons. They want to -- without. Arguably their best player on the road down by fifteen and they wrap up the series without their best player again in that -- four games to one I said. If the pistons faced the cavaliers or they face the Celtics in the conference finals I believe the pistons have been the favorites are gone too far."

" No absolutely true and the only insistence that the within themselves that they -- it to it -- When it seemed to lost there and if you. Attention almost become werder maybe he became. He's in the this year that he's there the first. And that they're really showing how important it is -- plays. I think the reason Celtics masses and -- there it is -- way with each other. And they didn't have one bad thing go against you when it was still. And they never fight through and -- and the other haven't quite some time learning to play with each other under those circumstances. Notes in its overall political and every once this year and never you know pre season. Boom and didn't know this -- not that they also. The pistons should be it was over the playoffs to that we. The experience of playing together is huge and is no easy there's no way to overcome it -- mean nobody has ever."

" Yeah -- right now just thinking about it. It it's a lot easier to get that one player to get you over the -- power the sixers -- Moses Malone. In 1983 that's easier to do what you bring in and 345 guys who any part of your rotation party -- That's unprecedented."

" I went back and look and he is we need to figure out this if you look at the top three scores of the Celtics to them. -- so how many champions in history to lead ever won a championship with two newcomers top the scores. And the last thing to do was nineteen with the Lakers in the expansion. So it never it never happened in Europe and in you know and never one to the spurs -- they -- now he took the two years support the other. And learn how to play because if there -- years and they couldn't people. When Popovich looked like -- and so as a coach. I mean everybody has learned and you pocket when -- players have played together. And they'll dispute the same as he is. If they they don't go as far as they want to this year it increases their resolve going this summer our. If there's sort of like -- two I would expect."

" In it's always -- talk continue rule. We'll talk after game six when the Celtics surprise everyone -- but -- Cleveland. At their first road victory of the post season clips of the series that he would always fun -- do it again tonight. That's Ian Johnson took -- out at -- outcome"