[0:00]" Now you know that the Celtics who will be playing in the cavaliers cavaliers. Depending Eastern Conference champions of people Boston's like the Celtics are going to be an Eastern Conference finals at least -- they're not. People here will be disappoint. They're like tonight. They play on Thursday against the New York Knicks -- here. Again will be broadcast on TNT announcers will be Marv Albert. Reggie Miller. Craig Sager will be the report in this guy like everything he knows about the game of basketball Mike for a fellow."

[0:37]" Let me say that you have really upgraded on your music recently a guy that's -- the old guy used to value --"

[0:44]" say what I didn't I didn't pick that opened up my bad. But I thought that I admire and hit that by the fact if I'm not Mets were -- You know Mike -- seriously. It was so good to me my first job at Akron beacon journal I covered my returns and before -- when it. You know what that was that was my that my net process right out in the post I was right in the middle dot I did win a Pulitzer writing about -- for so. -- it was really get to be right or might."

[1:16]" I'm do great things have me on today."

[1:18]" Let me ask you some real quick Mike -- changed since you some last. Easy easy still the same wise ass that we know and love here was Eli SS when he covered you."

[1:26]" Well what I liked about it was -- yet but he was very fair and -- you know in the beginning stages air is outstanding career pace at this point he had not. You know he was not like that television. They just thought that he is right how -- is. -- had a different look about him back then so you may not recognize if you only knew from way back then but if you follow his career the way I have you seen in both the different stages of light that you. He's grown and as he reached out and put so many of the people around this great country so. But you'll you'll use a fair honest guy like that but I appreciated."

[2:03]" He hung went into the dreadlocks the elders -- you know I some of Boston. You know let that I'm not I got an off is that -- not like it I've got -- I thought I'd appreciate honestly. Mike let me ask you about the Celtics we're all excited about a -- 011 and one going into Cleveland tonight. When you look at their team I'm talking about one through eight. Did you see a team that is capable of competing at a high level me talk about the highest level in the NBA."

[2:28]" Political back to the pre season when they had asked -- it is you know doing. Prediction projection of who was going to be where you know these things how does anyone know -- back in you know September what's going to happen it was the NBA but the one thing I said his I had I didn't jump -- immediately and pronouncement as at least -- chance I had a few reservations. One was obviously the three key guys hacked the hold up. And stay away from the injury but that is it that should. You'd hit one of them or two of them 48 significant manic games that's a problem -- the second thing was. What they'd be deep enough with a cast of characters supporting those guys be able to reduce on the regular basis night in and night out those the first two things that jump out of -- then you early success somewhat I think can be. Attributed to the fact that not only that they played very well but they've had. Favorable schedule as far as the wins and losses that the team. They've been playing you get and they take advantage of that that's what is supposed to do if you're very good teams so those were my question marks going into."

[3:39]" Well you brought up the mansion and that was my question to you Mike you you look at it guys like Eddie house and James Posey and Brian Scalabrine in Scalabrine was it exactly like in these parts last year. They seem to have settled very nicely into their roles could get. -- outline your opinion of their importance on this team and what each of those players can do coming off the bench."

[4:01]" It looks like you're having that you bring up two big names that looked like give them into other players in the league what they contributions have been first Willis spoke about Eddie house you know that you would say. He's back in a big contributor at Phoenix where they have a couple of years ago. Because he's the kind of guy that comes off the bench -- can get in synopsis of on the night when you've seen these dragons struggling to big guys just can't get it going. It would put this guy on the floor and suddenly hit for the five I had a six shot -- I polite give him. Two guys like I I think Miami's viewing parties effects of the loss of the Kapono who wound up signing with rock -- was -- to meet kind of the same kind of guys as far as put him and the -- is that offense. You know they can really give the team -- the -- that they're looking for when you talk about Scalabrine what comes to mind with me is. A guy that all the sudden is this morning show is contributions this year it's insane Antonio spurs a guy who may be your -- people weren't overly enthusiastic about but now suddenly has Marvin -- I believe as a reason that they have a talk about Bonner. Whom you know has done a very very good job suddenly you know merging getting -- you'll put his role with San Antonio so Scalabrine. More possible bombing more comparable both kind of do the same thing come off the bench big guys shoot the ball big shot in the outside."

[5:25]" Mike when your coaching in Memphis you had a chance to see Kevin Garnett more often that we did here on the east coast. He had a reputation of being a guy obviously who plays hard and practice hard. But didn't have enough to get his team to me to me championship level from what you saw was that a fair characterization or fair analysis of Kevin Garnett."

[5:49]" Copy of planning and all the guys that right now he's averaging. In 21 point almost 13 rebounds a game giving you almost two blocked shots a game and it's a he's a guy who went through. Period of time where they've made the playoffs on the slips on the all those years -- yet but. As you know sometimes we can be the first round wanted determining what you get past the first round about it you know -- It's -- the teams I was able to coach in Atlanta we see that we -- in the Boston north. We've been told they'll feel an -- good though you know the Chicago and they will let you go home early when that happens people look at. You know the records in the plastic that is is that an -- 18 to win games were close playoffs well. One of the it will be difficult but if he'd beat those kinds of things that -- what Minnesota and -- the frustration setting you know. Who'd you beat in the first round so you haven't got very far. It's somewhat criticized that he was in. Stepping up when it comes to play just what you. -- good surrounding it Eric is to do that -- the thing I admired most about it was he went through all those years. It was one of those guys who's like you know I -- the inning to be traded would at least sit behind closed doors. With ownership and management stayed here -- wrought -- it. They gave the the public in the community has supported them so much gave them doing that. He did not want to leave it was that he had taken some tough times and trying it -- pollutants into the playoffs and but you have to admire that got what he's done you know and the effort that he is united in night out now finally. Eerie is -- an opportunity of great city you know -- you loves basketball great tradition in the organization and navigate two pieces around him that. It all -- pieces as well and it's been great spot."

[7:38]" I know you succeeded a guy -- basketball encyclopedia -- brown in Memphis. I don't know he'll -- was really high on James Posey what what did you think of James Posey had the opportunity to coach."

[7:50]" Well when I came in James who was injured -- the -- have a problem with his Achilles this summer. Before I came -- remember I came into Memphis 17 games into the season they come back to training -- missed a lot of training camp was not in shape. And the biggest part with James Posey when I got it was you know trying it in back in the kinda. Plate she's seeing shape that he needed to be given that he had it is the year before when he had a terrific season was no way gear. The saint James Posey. -- as it was that you've beaten you before but. You know injuries take place in you don't get a chance to work out over the summer keep your body in the kind of shape it should be in beat most of the -- rehab part of it and -- back it is not the same guys that was a lot of that season with -- and then you know at the end of the season. I haven't but the one -- know -- that trading games. On one but still in Miami and obviously it was a it was a part of the Miami team winning a championship with today's closing does routine that he's a piece of piece that makes the whole thing work in big perimeter shot for it. He'll make it out shots for it he'll come up with a big hostile play whether chargers deal at the right on the play -- role that's that's what makes -- valuable."

[9:11]" obviously the Celtics big star and I don't think anyone expected to win 11 of their first 12 games even with adding Kevin Garnett ray Allen. I'm wondering what your opinion is on taking a trip far away getting your team sequestered in a remote location in getting them to bond together and how important that is. The Celtics started their pre season in Rome moved on to London before coming stateside. And all of them to Romania going to -- locker room they talk about how important that trip was overseas is it. That important to get a team to gel together that take them away and forced them to beat together 247."

[9:46]" I'm I'm sure there -- guys that would lineup on both sides some saying that when they -- all spotting his season that far away. The team came back tired from all that. There's the other side of that which were talking about now 13 was key guys old new to each other. You put him in an environment where. It's not comfy cozy it's you know on the move traveling in foreign places dealing with everything you have to deal with in other countries. And perhaps not being able to read and listen to everything that's going on back it was -- as well that allowed them to know each other as people appreciate each -- people first rather than just a a basketball team that. And that's part of the bonding process that goes on what teams you know wind up becoming very successful. They care for each other you heard the -- the -- night. For the players the patriots game the other night in the locker room talk about you know it's tough -- that they had it just squeezing by. What I heard one of the players mentioned that we love each other in the slot or we care about each other and and -- of the test role process we will stay together did split the role and that's important that you find that way."

[10:56]" The graduate to the patriots I was going to ask you about that -- at once said he used that. Asked you for a defensive advice that he he really liked and know how other sports work in he would ask you about. Defensive schemes in the NBA I mean without betraying his confidence amendment would assume that things that he talked --"

[11:16]" in Bill Belichick is a genius in in in coaching in football and those kinds of people all the ones that listen ask questions and and watch other people having any kind of success in. And tried to learn from movement and implement -- into what they do and they -- and I -- so badly that when bill left Cleveland people didn't really truly understand how we approach was you know. -- silly things written that you know this is the same politics that was -- what is he gave -- of but didn't do we don't think so delicate one of the winning. Cleveland you want that to be successful year but he hasn't or. That is you know totally behind them has made commitment allows built to make decisions have to be made the important areas at the right coaching staff. These but -- of the -- terrific players and that constant not locked all the time okay it's a lot of artwork and evaluate talent. And you gotta get a little bit lucky all the way to -- it hurt that they stay injury free. Easy to successes they've had so I just over fortunate that the military -- away in remember Mike Hargrove the manager Indians of myself being invited them on the sideline oh with a two round games that that's wrote it down and watch those guys want to organization and -- won't be happier in the science."

[12:41]" I wanted to bring it back the basketball real quick since she will be calling the Celtics in the Knicks on Thursday night at night. Would be remiss if I didn't ask you opinion about the mess that is the New York Knicks I don't irony of the no way to start I guess the first question is how does Isaiah Thomas still have his job. And I'll follow that up with what's the latest on Stephon Marbury."

[13:00]" It's it's probably one of the most difficult situations that I see. In my years in the league when you take everything into consideration on the -- up the wins and losses the off the court problems as -- complacent then understanding with the media exposures like it bjorkman all -- everyday it's a tough one. To live on that you've seen so many great players in all the sports. You know -- some handle it much much better than others you know I think Alex Rodriguez would be the first to admit that he result comfortable there its first year in New York that it was say. They left handed pitcher that came in Arizona that didn't you know. Quite have the same type -- they had that he had you know all those great years of the Diamondbacks and Adrian Johnson. That that book is different places different culture and have to kind of understand what it's about the ability to be successful. But some of the stop roll off -- back in. I think some of the early problems that you are. Well with the young players and even the veteran guys -- try to deal with everything else that was going on whether the bears head coach president. Haven't problems that he was happening whether these -- speculation. Then missed all or very problems level coming up. You try to deal with that every day. And at the same time keep your focus on basketball yet we're supposed to win basketball games here so announced certainly two big wins then if born nine doesn't look as bad as it was it was to a nine a couple of days ago. And they're playing as -- right now as a as it would -- players last night you know we we feel right now we can beat anybody in the league with a that we played the last couple games so perhaps is the beginning of been getting over turning their. A quarter made his -- you know Dolan the owner of the team has stayed with Isaiah may have if private meetings last week the couple times in your goals but -- stop by his side. Citizens Mike I'd go with -- so is that the turning point or."

[15:00]" Mike before that to go up to ask you about a guy -- used to coach a Marquette I believe it was a shooting guard -- have been to a point guard. Good Doc Rivers stories force that we can maybe throw back and please Elena sea to sky Thursday helping out there -- some good stories and certainly got."

[15:16]" How long position out. Yeah was finally -- this week we could do like especially on Doc Rivers story but -- as a young man that. I just remember that I remember that on draft day I just you know taken over the job in Atlanta and we get to the second went down and if I remember correctly the way we got the second round pick was. Capital operate who was the previous head coach. Had been given permission to talk the Chicago about it -- And kind of the understanding what Chicago wood returns something to Atlanta if Kevin took the job so walk we take -- coaching position in Chicago I get the job in Atlanta and I kind of head. Heard the rumor value was supposed to get something back to before the draft by the mention. Two distinct as the general manager what are we get back to Chicago Bulls like -- so they talked with it makes all all of they won that given us to second round -- which we really needed. Well we get into the -- around who's still there or we picked yet. I don't know what it was 31 whatever -- the it was is that on what Doc Rivers. So -- excited as can be I hope not you know as soon as we draft that he catches the ball he is the angriest human beings."

[16:40]" in the entire world because he had been promised by someone that if you -- more yet they were going to take into the top ten picks in the draft. And whoever was did not do all the big thing though that a built. So -- I like -- an excited young head coach 3536 years old eight dot I would buy it. Blocked K it was the -- stop on site I picked QI thought excited to have the field I said. Get angry at the -- little league every -- you play. Make the all thought he'd get a great second contract improve it that way but don't own Pierre Abreu about little -- to love utopia. That was the beginning of go to the great that your relationship together."

[17:24]" You're probably thinking just as the be comfortable -- got I don't."

[17:28]" A lot of debate should be understood that we -- a team that take them."

[17:31]" And Mike man is always good to Tutsi got to get back and coach and a great job on TV you should be coaching somewhere in India here."

[17:38]" Well I appreciate you can be my -- agent has that they cancel my real bad but you consider that."

[17:44]" Not out of the system and about it as an assistant coach who spoke about it -- job but they care today you know Phil Jackson's hinting at retiring maybe that's you Betsy you with the Lakers next year."

[17:54]" I'll decide to see it they'd be happy and that somebody calls. Would be happy --"

[17:59]" Hey Mike I'm looking forward to your call on Thursday and at Texas thanks for stopping by an -- and beacons of knowledge into the connect all right Mike. And so my patella from team -- former. Atlanta Hawks coach fame former Cleveland Cavaliers coach former Memphis Grizzlies --"