Smart's Return to Boston + ASG Look-Ahead

CLNS Media Sports Network

Bob Ryan and Gary Tanguay look back through the week's biggest stories in the NBA, and look forward to the NBA All-Star Game, gives their thoughts on who should be in the game, which teams are heating up in the West, Doc Rivers settling in to his new role in Milwaukee, and Bob gives a recap of his trip to South Dakota to complete his mission of covering sports in all 50 states. That, and more!   00:57 - Celtics frustrating loss to Lakers 08:30 - C’s vs Knicks 12:10 - Marcus Smart’s return to Boston 15:38 - Western Conference contenders 19:13 - All Star snubs 25:55 - Doc Rivers 29:20 - Bob’s trip to SD     Fanduel Sportsbook is the exclusive wagering parter of the CLNS Media Network! Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY in BONUS BETS – GUARANTEED when you place a FIVE DOLLAR BET. That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS in BONUS BETS – WIN OR LOSE! Go to https://FanDuel.com/BOSTON! The app is so easy to use and there are so many different ways to bet like:    ● Live Same Game Parlays    ● Find Bets in the NEW Explore Tab    ● Make a parlay in the Parlay Hub – the best way to find popular parlays    ● And more!      DISCLAIMER: Must be 21+ and present in select states. FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. First online real money wager only. $10 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG in Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tennessee, and Virginia. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 in Arizona, 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, 1-800-9-WITH-IT in Indiana, 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com in Kansas, 1-877-770-STOP in Louisiana, visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland, visit 1800gambler.net in West Virginia, or call 1-800-522-4700 in Wyoming. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York.

Transcript

00:00 [MUSIC]

00:10 Hi everybody, it's time for the Bob Ryan Gary Tangler Zoom-In Pod.

00:26 Happy Super Bowl to all those who celebrate from FanDuel,

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00:47 All right, the well-traveled Bob Ryan back from South Dakota.

00:50 He has seen a game in all 50 states, ladies and gentlemen.

00:53 Mark it down.

00:55 Bob, while you were away, the Celtics had one of the most frustrating games that

00:59 I've seen in a long time.

01:01 Now your colleague, Mr. Jeff Goodman, of course, being Mr.

01:04 Mature, is like, it's only one game.

01:06 [SOUND] But come on, they should have put him away in the first half.

01:13 Talking about the Lakers.

01:16 >> All right, first of all, I was in Brookings, South Dakota in the morning.

01:20 I found out that neither LeBron nor Anthony Davis were going to play.

01:24 I was in the company of basketball people.

01:27 The head coach, his assistant, and that's good people, good basketball people.

01:32 And I observed, I don't like this game, don't like this.

01:39 >> Yeah. >> This is trouble.

01:41 And they nodded their heads and we all seem to agree.

01:45 This is not a happy, the Celtics better show up, they better not get lazy.

01:51 What happened was not unpredictable, it was sadly reality.

01:57 And it's a common phenomenon in the history of the game,

02:01 that something like that will happen.

02:03 And supposedly a beneficial team, the favorite team will get lazy.

02:11 And I didn't see it, as you know, I was 1,500 miles away or whatever, 2,000.

02:17 But everything I read about it, they were outworked from the beginning.

02:21 They came out lazy and stayed that way.

02:24 And you know what?

02:26 There's no excuse for that.

02:28 I'm gonna put the blame on the two all stars, who did not have, and

02:33 I know Brown's numbers were abysmal, and Tatum's weren't worthy of all star status.

02:39 Here's my take from not even seeing it, but

02:46 they still need to take that final step.

02:48 It's why I'm not conceding any championship, any Eastern Conference final,

02:52 anything else.

02:54 They are talented, talent is a nice start.

02:58 And you've gotta have talent, but

03:00 it's more to winning a championship at any time in any sport than just talent.

03:06 And this group, and led by those two,

03:09 have to prove that they know what it's all about.

03:12 Now, it is one game.

03:14 If they learn from it, I know they came out and they thrashed the Grizzlies.

03:17 And the Grizzlies have been, they knew, everybody knew, they're hurt.

03:22 They've been hurt all year.

03:23 It's a sad thing, cuz they came out of last year as one of those teams to keep

03:26 your eye on, and immediately got injuries.

03:29 >> Right. >> And

03:30 the Morant 25 game suspension, that got them off to a horrible start.

03:34 And then Smart, they missed what?

03:36 He's now missed a total of over 30 games already.

03:40 So they took it out on them.

03:44 Good, okay, that's a start.

03:46 I'm disappointed in them.

03:48 I'm not saying it's hopeless.

03:50 I'm not saying it means categorically that they'll never win.

03:54 But it shows they have another step to take.

03:57 And put an effort out, and the effort wasn't there, apparently.

04:01 I wasn't there, but everybody- >> No, the effort wasn't there at all.

04:05 >> 100% universal- >> So

04:06 a couple questions here, cuz everything you said is correct.

04:10 First, let's start, is this a warning sign about this team's makeup?

04:15 Because on the TNT broadcast, Jack and Kenny and Charles let him have it.

04:21 And they said the same thing you did.

04:24 Is this a warning sign?

04:25 >> Yes, I say yes.

04:29 I mean, if they put up a decent effort, I mean, look, Reeves went crazy.

04:36 Reeves is better than people think, we have to acknowledge that.

04:39 I didn't see it, maybe he should have been guarded better, I have no idea.

04:43 But I know ever since the playoffs last year,

04:45 he has elevated into being a damn good player.

04:48 So okay, fine, he had a big night.

04:50 But come on, this was, I won't say- >> In three big games,

04:56 Jaylen Brown has not shown up, and not including that one.

05:02 >> And how about that it's the day,

05:03 is it not the same day he was named to the All-Star team?

05:06 >> The night before.

05:08 >> All right, yeah, so it's his first game following his-

05:12 >> No, wait a minute,

05:12 that was Thursday night.

05:13 No, it was the same day.

05:14 It was the same day.

05:15 It was the same day.

05:16 >> Following his borderline All-Star selection.

05:19 We're gonna talk about All-Stars before we leave, okay?

05:22 And it was a borderline selection.

05:24 And on the same night that Jaylen Brunson, who the Knick fans had hoped would be

05:29 a starter, but I will talk about the incredible competition in Eastern and

05:34 guards in both conferences, frankly.

05:37 He went out and got 40 that night.

05:40 >> Yeah.

05:41 >> Yeah, and Jaylen Brown laid a brontosaurus egg in that game.

05:46 And look, the truth of the matter is, they're talented.

05:51 They are yet to be proven trustworthy.

05:54 >> Yes, agreed.

05:55 >> Period.

05:56 >> Agreed.

05:58 The other point I wanna make is that we've made a lot about the Lakers' imbalance.

06:04 The fact that you have Anthony Davis and LeBron and there's nobody else.

06:08 But what this also underscores is,

06:11 if you're in the NBA, you're still a pretty damn good player.

06:16 That's the thing that I get peeved at with people.

06:21 They go, my God, the Lakers, they should have been.

06:24 Well, yes, okay, the Lakers aren't deep, but

06:27 they're professional basketball players.

06:31 You got a player who's very talented, has been controversial for

06:35 various reasons, D'Angelo Russell.

06:37 He can play the game, he can play.

06:40 But it's a matter of how often and when and this and that.

06:43 But he's a talented basketball player.

06:46 Hachimura, who I thought was an excellent pickup for them,

06:49 can shoot the basketball.

06:51 He can play, he belongs in the NBA.

06:53 He's a solid NBA player, he's gonna be around for 10 years, 12 years.

06:57 He will, he'll bounce around, he'll have a job, and he can shoot.

07:01 And Reeves is obviously proving that he's gonna have a lengthy career, okay?

07:06 Unless he gets hurt, obviously.

07:08 So yeah, they have professionals and they, no, they just, it's just-

07:15 >> If you don't play defense, and

07:16 Bob, you didn't see the game.

07:18 >> No. >> Celtics did not play one ounce of

07:22 defense.

07:23 So if you don't play defense,

07:25 you could score 40 points in the Hingham Men's League.

07:30 You know what I'm saying?

07:31 I mean, that's why if you don't play defense,

07:34 guys that are in the league will kill you.

07:36 >> And then the other thing is the capriciousness of the three.

07:40 And it wasn't, they didn't have a big night.

07:42 >> And then the Lakers did, because they didn't play defense, wide open shots.

07:47 >> Now, I know people are gonna wanna point the finger as well at Joe.

07:51 And I hesitate to do that in this case.

07:56 They shouldn't need any motivation.

07:59 >> They should agree.

08:00 >> They should look at the circumstance and say, thank you, Lord.

08:03 We're playing that without LeBron and AD.

08:06 Let's go kick their ass.

08:08 That's what they should have done, and they didn't do it.

08:10 And they went out and kicked Memphis's ass.

08:13 And I don't know what the connection is there.

08:17 I would love to have seen them play a really good team after that and

08:20 see what they would have done.

08:21 >> Right. >> Maybe they would have

08:22 reached the occasion.

08:23 >> Agreed. >> But that game,

08:24 I know was close, a two point, something earlier in the second period.

08:28 And then they blew him out by 40.

08:31 All right, fine.

08:31 >> Let's play a little make believe.

08:33 What happens if the Celtics face the Knicks in a seven game series?

08:39 >> The Knicks are now a team to watch.

08:43 I don't think they're a true contender, but

08:46 they are now moving into the category of a potentially tough out.

08:49 And we don't know how complete they will be by the playoffs because they lost

08:55 Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein has surprised the world by how good he can be.

09:01 And he gives them big guy games.

09:04 He gives them blocks, he gives them rebounds, he gives them authority.

09:08 He's playing well, and who knew that that was gonna be the case?

09:11 Okay, and I think, yeah, they got, okay, and they-

09:17 >> The operative word is they're tough.

09:19 That's my point.

09:20 >> Precious, sure, Precious has given them some good games lately.

09:25 I happened to see him in a Memphis uniform at UConn a couple years ago when he was

09:29 a freshman, so this kid's pretty good, and he's been off everybody's radar.

09:35 They picked him up into trade with Toronto, and he's given them good service.

09:41 Yeah, the Knicks have given their fans something to cheer about finally.

09:46 >> So this is my point, when you look at- >> And we know they have a quality coach.

09:50 >> Right. >> And they got guys that he likes.

09:53 They got that Villanova, by the way, Dante DiVincenzo.

09:56 Check out his numbers over the last three weeks or so.

10:01 So they got the three Villanova guys, and you know they're well coached, period.

10:05 And they're all, yeah, the Knicks are in the mix now, that's good for them.

10:11 And I think it's always good when the Knicks are good, the league benefits with

10:14 it, because what the Knicks do is they energize the league,

10:19 and they're a polarizing franchise.

10:22 So people will come out to boo them or hate them, but

10:24 they'll come out to see them.

10:25 >> My point is- >> If you're any good.

10:27 >> Based on the Celtics' recent history, losing to Miami a year ago,

10:32 the New York Knicks losing to that game with the Lakers, you see a pattern.

10:38 They're talented, but they're not tough.

10:41 And the point is, you get into a dogfight with a tough team,

10:46 these guys start to think and they start believing in themselves.

10:49 Now, I think the Celtics would beat the Knicks, but

10:52 I tell you right now, it wouldn't be easy.

10:55 And it's going six, and the Celtics should beat them in five.

11:00 But if the Celtics face a tough team, it's gonna take a toll,

11:04 that's what I'm seeing.

11:06 >> No, I think we're in accord in that regard.

11:11 But I certainly think the Knicks are worthy of respect now, and

11:15 at the very least, worthy of respect.

11:17 And I'm good for their fan, cuz they are loyal.

11:20 Those people spent a lot of wasted money in the last decade, let me tell you.

11:24 They really have.

11:25 >> I know, I know.

11:26 >> It ain't cheap to go to the garden.

11:28 It ain't cheap to get a Coke or a beer.

11:30 It ain't cheap to walk in the door.

11:32 And they have had very little reward, but now they're getting one.

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12:12 Now I will let you lament on the return of one Marcus Smart.

12:16 >> Uh-huh, well, I was a member of the fan club from day one.

12:20 And but I understood the tree and I understood the need for it.

12:26 And also the fact that they replaced him with essentially with Holiday so far.

12:32 But I loved the stuff he did.

12:35 I say there was stuff he did, there was nobody like him, really nobody.

12:39 There were facsimiles, but there was nobody like him.

12:42 I always go back to one play he made that will always be my memory of him in

12:46 the Celtic uniform, in which he became the first person to intercept an alley-oop

12:52 pass intended for a seven-foot Greek, which he did against Milwaukee one night.

12:57 They threw an alley-oop to Giannis, which Marcus 6'5" Smart intercepted.

13:03 One of my favorite plays I've ever seen in the NBA.

13:07 He made unmakeable plays.

13:09 He made plays that, right, now it was a plus minus.

13:14 We all knew you had to take the good with the bad.

13:16 He never conquered the, he never got it, what's a good three and

13:22 what's a bad three, and he could get hot once in a while.

13:28 God, yeah, but he was the master of the inopportune three,

13:32 planking when you didn't need one, and it never stopped.

13:35 The master of the inopportune three, that's a good one.

13:41 >> But I put up with it, and I have to remember his brother in spirit,

13:45 although he was better having been an all, well, and

13:49 I once wrote a column comparing them, because they're the same things that

13:54 people liked about him and other people had a reason to dislike him.

13:57 He was the Jackie Bradley Jr. of basketball.

14:01 >> Right. >> And Jackie Bradley Jr.

14:02 was the Marcus Smart of baseball.

14:04 And Jackie Bradley Jr. is the greatest defensive center fielder in my lifetime

14:09 in Boston, in my experience in Boston, which began in-

14:12 >> Better than Freddie Lynn.

14:13 >> Better than anyone you name, the better, he was the great,

14:17 it's not even, to me it's no argument.

14:20 He's the best defensive center fielder post Pearsall,

14:23 who I never saw in the Celtics, in Red Sox uniform.

14:25 So, at least not in Boston, I think I saw a Yankee game once in Yankee Stadium.

14:29 So with him, anyway, the best, the best,

14:34 was cheated out of gold gloves, I refuse to believe Kevin Kiermaier was that much

14:38 better than him, kept getting the gloves, that Smart got one, okay.

14:42 But the hitting was a mystery beyond comprehension, because he had moments.

14:48 >> Right. >> Including an ALCS MVP,

14:50 including a 29 game hit streak one year.

14:54 All right, those two guys were brothers in spirit, how they played a game,

14:58 Marcus Smart.

14:59 So what the fans did and what the Celtics did was certainly exemplary,

15:04 but it's been done.

15:06 But what the fans did to react to it,

15:09 to spontaneously, I thought was what I heard was wonderful.

15:14 And the guy gave him 100% every night, we know that.

15:19 And he was active in the community and

15:23 they gave him the Heroes Among Us thing, which is wonderful.

15:26 That was really, really a nice idea.

15:28 And it was a sweet evening and then as a nice sidebar to a 40 point win.

15:34 >> So it was a good night had by all.

15:38 The Clippers, who did a job on the Celtics a while back and we said, boy,

15:42 these guys are starting to send a message.

15:45 Before you know it, they have won 25 of 30 games.

15:50 >> It took a while for Harden to figure them out and

15:53 them to figure him out or whatever it was.

15:55 And he was a detriment in the beginning, there's no doubt,

15:57 in the very beginning.

15:59 But, and you know how I feel about Harden, he's not my favorite player.

16:02 I like the kid, I think he's bribed every scorekeeper in the league.

16:07 They give him three extra assists a night because you see a box score that says

16:11 ten assists, I don't remember any of them.

16:13 But anyway, their big three are playing well.

16:17 They have now, George and Kawhi, of course, they're playing very well.

16:22 They're well coached.

16:24 They're better in the middle of people think I think Zuback's pretty good player.

16:29 I can't rule out a crazy run to the Western Conference Finals.

16:36 I don't expect it, but I won't rule it out because I'm not guaranteeing who

16:40 is gonna get there, including Denver.

16:43 >> Well, yeah, I mean, it's right now you have to say,

16:48 well, we keep talking about Minnesota.

16:50 But as Charles Barkley pointed out, the Celtics did not put away

16:55 the Lakers without their two big stars.

16:58 But Minnesota beat Dallas by 40 without their two big stars in Dallas,

17:04 all right, without Kyrie and- >> Donchick.

17:09 >> Donchick.

17:11 And Minnesota took care of business.

17:12 That was Chuck's point, and he's right.

17:14 So right now you have to say, you gotta say Denver,

17:19 you gotta say the Clippers, you gotta say Minnesota.

17:21 >> I think the big X- >> It's Denver's thing.

17:24 >> The big X factor is Phoenix.

17:27 >> Yeah, yeah, yeah.

17:28 >> Be on and off for 40 at least.

17:31 >> Right, yeah.

17:33 >> Booker has been tremendous, Durant's Durant.

17:37 And but they don't have depth, but

17:43 they have a tremendous big three, potentially.

17:48 Cuz they've been waiting for Beal, and he showed him last night, he got 40 plus.

17:53 I think they may be the X factor over there.

17:57 I wanna give Denver the respect that of defending champion reserves,

18:04 and they still have Joe Kitchin and Murray.

18:08 But the Clippers can be- >> They're in it, Bob, they're in it.

18:13 They're in it.

18:14 They're in it, to me, they're not Denver.

18:18 >> No. >> But boy.

18:19 >> So they're in it, and as I said, I just have such a problem with Harden.

18:27 But I have to remind myself about the stuff that he has actually accomplished.

18:32 >> That's what ticks me off about him, is that when he wants to play.

18:35 >> Yeah, well, he's run himself out of multiple franchises.

18:41 He's not the most lovable person, personality in the league.

18:46 But the man is an amazing talent, and he's gonna go to Hall of Fame.

18:52 How can you keep the guy out?

18:55 >> No doubt about it.

18:55 >> I work on the committee, and the committee's floating committee.

18:59 And who knows, maybe someday they'll put me back on a committee.

19:02 I couldn't vote against him.

19:04 I would do what I do at certain political, at certain polling places.

19:09 I go like this while I'm writing in the, I've been known to do that.

19:13 [LAUGH] >> Okay, let's talk All-Star.

19:17 >> Okay, in any sport, at any time, in any year, there will be disputes.

19:25 But there's one verb that I think should be stricken from the English language.

19:29 And anyone who uses it should be, I don't know, punished.

19:35 The verb is snub.

19:38 And I know, and this has come up with Greta Gerwig and

19:43 being snubbed from the directing thing.

19:48 And this one may be a snub, but in basketball, it's tough choices.

19:55 >> It's a good roster, both rosters are pretty good, man.

19:59 >> Choices, both rosters are really impressive.

20:02 And yet there were quality people left out, particularly in the West.

20:08 I have tweeted, and I'm sticking by it, that somebody has gotta be a mensch and

20:13 say, no, I'm not better than Sabonis.

20:17 I don't belong here.

20:19 That's what I would love in a better world.

20:21 I nominated Paul George for that.

20:23 And not to Sabonis, this is how deep the West is.

20:29 I mean, there's nothing wrong with poor George.

20:32 George, their subs are Booker, Curry,

20:36 Steph Curry's coming off the bench.

20:38 >> Yeah, yeah. >> E.D., Anthony Edwards,

20:40 Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Karl Anthony Towns.

20:43 Now you can make an argument against him with Sabonis as well.

20:48 Sabonis leads the league in rebound.

20:50 He gives you eight assists a game.

20:53 He's averaging 19 a game, and he's triple doubling routinely.

20:58 He's got to be there somehow, I think, but I'm not gonna call it a snub.

21:04 It's an honest judgment.

21:05 Two other guys, his teammate, De'Aaron Fox, had a case.

21:09 And Rudy Gobert over Towns, a lot of people think he should have been there,

21:13 not Towns.

21:14 And I'm not gonna argue with that.

21:15 Over in the East now, we were hoping that, and we talked about this, Gary,

21:19 I mean, you know this.

21:21 White never had a chance.

21:22 As good as we love him.

21:25 As much as we love him and we respect him and we're happy to have him,

21:30 and he may get a ring, the competition was sexier.

21:35 Period.

21:36 >> Right. >> Period.

21:37 I mean, Hal Burton had to be on.

21:40 Lillard is a star.

21:43 He's a top 75 all time.

21:45 >> He's gonna get the votes, of course.

21:46 >> Maxie, you know how I feel about Maxie.

21:49 Brunson, now that's when people in New York arrive,

21:52 Brunson didn't get to start.

21:53 At least he's in the game.

21:54 >> Well, yeah.

21:55 >> If you wanna say Brunson over Lillard, I'd go yeah, but-

22:00 >> Well, but that's not gonna, yeah,

22:01 that's not the point.

22:02 >> No, and then that's the guards and Mitchell, well, whatever.

22:08 Whatever you wanna call Mitchell.

22:10 Now, there's gotta be a couple of substitutions necessary in the East.

22:14 >> Right. >> Because B can't play and

22:16 Randall can't play.

22:17 >> Randall can't play.

22:18 >> I think Porzingis should be the next man up and the big man, don't you?

22:22 >> Right, yeah, I think that's what's gonna happen, cuz that's-

22:25 >> And the other guy that people

22:29 won't think about as an all star, but he's chugging along, chugging along.

22:34 It would be a nice honor if they don't wanna do Porzingis, is Book Lopez.

22:39 >> [LAUGH] >> I'm telling you, but-

22:44 >> It's a reach, but I hear you.

22:46 >> But Porzingis, I'm hoping that Porzingis gets to replace one of them.

22:52 >> Well, I think so, because you got two big men there, so-

22:55 >> And there's one guard,

22:57 I know there's an outrage on some people's minds,

23:00 the exceedingly talented but somewhat controversial Trey Young.

23:05 He's not only awesome- >> I'm not a fan, but

23:08 it's hard to be objective and not put him in over White.

23:13 >> Yeah, so White never, so people here, I hope, he never had a chance.

23:19 >> He didn't, but you know what, Bob?

23:21 I'll say this, good for him for being in the discussion.

23:26 >> Mm-hm.

23:27 >> Because we never thought that would be a topic.

23:30 >> When we got him, I had to look him up to see what they had done.

23:34 I'll be very honest, I was barely aware of his existence on this Earth.

23:39 >> Right.

23:40 >> I had paid, the senatorial had fallen off the map, and he's there doing his thing.

23:47 I don't remember him in college, at Colorado, no, no idea.

23:52 And I didn't know anything about him.

23:54 And so I learned everything about him since he's come here, and I love this guy.

24:00 But so anyway, but I hate the verb snub, Gary, the verb snub, no.

24:05 >> Well, it doesn't apply now.

24:07 I mean, Bob, that's one of the things that we've talked about,

24:10 is I don't think the league has ever been better.

24:11 There's so much talent in a lot of it, including the international player.

24:17 >> There's extraordinary talent, and the three-point shooting, as much as I hate it,

24:22 some nights you look at these numbers, you can't believe it.

24:25 And more and more guys are expanding their range because of Curry.

24:28 Curry taught the world, you can go three feet beyond the arc.

24:32 If Trey Young has done it, now a lot of guys are doing it.

24:35 No, it's a very, very different game.

24:37 But there's a lot of very, very talented people, no question.

24:42 And so- >> I think the game is at its peak.

24:44 I really do.

24:45 >> I just hope that these guys are urged and

24:49 that they decide, let's play a basketball game.

24:52 Let's not just go lobs and dunks and take 80% threes.

24:58 And let's play a basketball game.

25:00 And let's see, just for the competition, just for the honor.

25:06 I would love to see a good, I mean, that West team frightens me.

25:11 LeBron, Luka, Durant, SGA, as we call them these days, and Djokic.

25:18 Wow, and then off the bench, Booker Curry coming off the bench.

25:22 AD coming off the bench, Edwards, Kawhi, who when he plays,

25:26 feels like playing as well as good as anybody.

25:29 If they all wanna play, we could be treated to a wonderful thing.

25:36 But it has to been happening lately.

25:37 And I hope that they don't go back and have one of those ridiculous 190 to 188.

25:42 >> I hope they play a little defense too, because after all,

25:45 this is not the Pro Bowl.

25:46 This is not a contact sport.

25:48 And you can still go out there.

25:50 And I know players don't wanna get hurt.

25:52 And it's all about load management.

25:54 But it would be nice.

25:57 >> One other thing you have a good point to raise about, who's coaching the East?

26:02 >> Well, yeah, I mean, the thing with Doc, I was like, holy cow, Doc.

26:05 Did you put that as, is that a bonus in his new deal?

26:08 If he's the all star coach, he gets 75 grand, 100 grand extra.

26:12 I mean, coaches three games and they gets dropped into the spot.

26:15 >> That is- >> Which is just so

26:17 peculiar because you think there and you think,

26:20 the freak is a coach killer, I guess.

26:24 I mean, AD was coaching the best team in the East and he gets whacked.

26:31 >> I absolutely, the whole rule is recent, not about repeat.

26:41 That's why Joe Mazzola is not coaching because you can't repeat.

26:45 I don't know when, I really missed that one when it came in.

26:50 >> You mean he can't go two years in a row?

26:51 >> The old days, he'd be coaching, yeah.

26:53 >> I didn't even know that.

26:54 I didn't know about that rule.

26:55 >> That's the rule, yeah, that's why he's not coaching.

26:57 Then you think about, he's got the best- >> Bob,

26:59 I didn't even consider it cuz I'm like, whatever.

27:02 I mean, it doesn't matter.

27:04 >> That's why Joe's not coaching, because the rule is no repeat rule.

27:08 Tommy used to coach back in the day.

27:11 >> Right.

27:12 >> And the Celtic coaches could coach if they had that good when they were fighting

27:16 Philly for the record every year, and Bill Fitcher.

27:19 >> Boy, I'll tell you, the Adrian Griffin thing, getting whacked.

27:25 The freak better, Giannis better deliver, because from what I understand,

27:29 he caused somebody his job and they bring in Doc.

27:32 And I'm sorry, if you can't play for Doc Rivers, who can you play for?

27:37 >> Now, I don't know what happened with the Clippers.

27:40 And I don't think anything in Philly, I don't know.

27:43 Because I have to accuse myself, cuz I love Doc.

27:47 And I can't imagine that he would wear a great on people or be a problem for

27:52 anybody or be anything other than a positive force.

27:54 So I don't know, but I hate having to root against him now again.

28:00 Yet again, when it's the Clippers, I didn't care, fine.

28:03 >> Right, right, right, right.

28:03 >> A guy goes to Philly, I don't know.

28:05 And now he's in Milwaukee, and we know what they could be.

28:07 >> Well, I mean, he- >> So Giannis got 48 up for

28:10 him on his first night?

28:11 >> Well, that's a good sign.

28:13 And so you have a players coach and Doc who comes in.

28:17 He's got a ring, and he understands veterans.

28:21 So he can work the personalities in together.

28:24 Maybe he's the right fit for this team, cuz you know as well as I do, Bob,

28:28 it all comes down to chemistry with the coach.

28:31 It's not Xs and Os, it's can you come in, and can you get the stars to get along?

28:36 Can you get them to buy in?

28:38 Can you bring in the Mbutu?

28:40 >> Are they buying what you're selling?

28:42 That's- >> And

28:43 in Philadelphia is a tough spot.

28:44 I mean, I don't know if anybody could have done that.

28:49 And the Clippers, see, I like Doc too.

28:51 So I'm a Doc apologist, cuz I saw what he did here.

28:55 I mean, I remember in Los Angeles, down 25 or whatever.

29:01 Doc is like, we're not done, we're not done, we're not done.

29:04 They come back and they win.

29:06 A lot of guys would have folded the tent and said, let's play another day.

29:10 But I'm a Doc guy too.

29:13 The Clippers thing was a mess.

29:14 The owner, I mean, it was a disaster.

29:17 So I'm a Doc guy, and but- >> Yeah, me too, me too.

29:23 And I wanna have a closing shout out to new friends I made in Brookings,

29:27 South Dakota.

29:29 >> Tell us about it, Bob, tell us about it.

29:31 >> Eric Henderson and his staff, the South Dakota State Jack Ravitz.

29:34 Well, God, folks, I had been to sporting events in my career and

29:38 my life, excuse me, in my life and career combined in 49 states.

29:43 And I thought, hey, I gotta get the 50th and write something about it.

29:48 I think that's a cool accomplishment.

29:51 And the 50th, hanging out there for about two, three years,

29:55 I think I got number 49 about three years ago, which was Mississippi.

29:59 And that was South Dakota.

30:01 And so I went, and there's three options you got in South Dakota, so

30:04 I could see it.

30:05 You got the two universities, South Dakota and South Dakota State, football and

30:09 basketball.

30:10 And you have a minor league independent team at Sioux City.

30:13 You'll love this name, Garrett, the Sioux City Canaries.

30:16 And I would have loved that too, and maybe I'll go there someday.

30:20 But my pick was the Jack Ravitz of South Dakota State basketball.

30:24 I wanted to see them take the floor.

30:26 And I wanted to see them take the floor against a good rival for

30:29 really helping put a juice in the game.

30:32 And their big rival is North Dakota State.

30:35 And it goes back, it's historic, 100 years.

30:37 And so last Thursday night, I was in Brookings, South Dakota,

30:42 at the Frost Arena for a terrific college basketball game.

30:47 I mean, really, this is what college basketball loves to think about itself.

30:50 It was a well-played game by two well-coached teams with a great atmosphere.

30:56 Overtime game, the overtime created by a 25-foot plus

31:01 three-point shot by their best player, Zeke Mayo.

31:05 And the game won with 0.3 seconds left in overtime on a tip-in

31:10 by a North Dakota freshman named Noah Feddersen.

31:14 So it was a terrific game, and I got a lot out of it.

31:18 And I'm gonna be able to write about that and

31:21 many other things in an upcoming issue of the Boston Globe.

31:24 >> And that is why Bob Ryan is a sports fan, games like that.

31:29 No doubt about it.

31:30 Robert, always a pleasure.

31:32 We'll talk to you again next week.

31:34 Happy Super Bowl to all those celebrating from FanDuel,

31:36 America's number one sports book.

31:38 If you're like us, Super Bowl Sunday is all about scoring the best seat on the couch,

31:41 grabbing your favorite football snacks, and placing some Super Bats.

31:45 Bob, talk to you next time.

31:46 >> Take care.

31:47 [MUSIC]

31:57 (upbeat music)

31:59 (upbeat music)

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