Bob Ryan is joined by Jackson Tolliver of CLNS Media to preview the knockout rounds of the Olympics, including how Team USA will perform through the rest of the tournament. Who is their biggest threat? Who will be the MVP? What will Tatum's role be?
Their conversation shifts to the Celtics, discussing which teams in the NBA pose the biggest threat to a repeat championship. Bob reflects on Celtics teams that have repeated in the past, and compares them to this squad.
0:00 - Olympic Knockouts Overview
2:30 - Concerns About Jamal Murray
4:40 - France's Size Advantage
6:22 - Importance of Davis
9:21 - LeBron's Tournament Play
11:32 - Derrick White's Impact
15:06 - Celtics Threats
16:49 - Rivalry Factor
19:10 - Concerns About Health
21:24 - Championship Confidence Level
23:59 - Scheierman's Potential Fit
29:36 - Larry Bird's Work Ethic
31:07 - Tatum's All-Time Rank
34:03 - White Over Brown
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Their conversation shifts to the Celtics, discussing which teams in the NBA pose the biggest threat to a repeat championship. Bob reflects on Celtics teams that have repeated in the past, and compares them to this squad.
0:00 - Olympic Knockouts Overview
2:30 - Concerns About Jamal Murray
4:40 - France's Size Advantage
6:22 - Importance of Davis
9:21 - LeBron's Tournament Play
11:32 - Derrick White's Impact
15:06 - Celtics Threats
16:49 - Rivalry Factor
19:10 - Concerns About Health
21:24 - Championship Confidence Level
23:59 - Scheierman's Potential Fit
29:36 - Larry Bird's Work Ethic
31:07 - Tatum's All-Time Rank
34:03 - White Over Brown
CLNS Media is Powered by:
Prize Picks - PrizePicks.com/CLNS
Download the app today and use code CLNS for a first deposit match up to $100!
Gametime - https://gametime.co
Take the guesswork out of buying NBA tickets with Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CLNS for $20 off your first purchase. Download Gametime today. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed. Terms apply.
Elevate your style game on and off the course with the PXG Spring Summer 2024 collection. Head over to https://PXG.com/GARDENREPORT and save 10% on all apparel.
Nutrafol Men! Take the first step to visibly thicker, healthier hair. For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners ten dollars off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you go to https://Nutrafol.com/MEN and enter the promo code GARDEN!
#celtics #NBA #BostonCeltics
The CLNS Media Network is the leading provider for video/audio content. CLNS is a fully credentialed member of the media with access to all NFL/NBA/NHL/MLB teams & venues.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLNS' rebuilt their YouTube community in less than 12 months, during a pandemic that attacked sports. Wondering how? Find out here (and support our channel) - https://www.tubebuddy.com/clnsmedia
Visit the Official Home of CLNS Sports Coverage - https://clnsmedia.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/CLNSMedia
Celtics - https://twitter.com/celticsclns
Patriots - https://twitter.com/patriotsclns
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SportsTranscript
00:00Welcome to the
00:25Bob Ryan and Jeff Goodman NBA podcast powered by PrizePix,
00:29the exclusive daily fantasy sports partner of the CLNS Media Network.
00:32Pick more, pick less. It's that easy.
00:34And by game time, last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed.
00:38Gary Tengway is actually off on vacation this week, so I'll be filling in.
00:42I'm Jackson Tolliver, full time employee of CLNS Media.
00:45I'm here with the esteemed Bob Ryan.
00:47Bob, how are we doing this morning?
00:48Doing very well this morning. Nice day down here in South Shore.
00:52Love to hear it. Love to hear it.
00:54Let's get right into it here. Let's talk about the Olympics.
00:56Obviously, we have USA starting the knockout rounds this week playing Brazil.
01:01That's going to be tomorrow.
01:03Let's talk big picture here, because obviously the US are big favorites
01:06to add on to the gold medal tally that we've seen from Simone Biles,
01:11you know, Katie Ledecky, all those great athletes.
01:14They're going to try to add one of their own.
01:16Who do you think is the team that stands in the way the most of that goal?
01:20Well, logic dictates that a team that has maybe the best backcourt in the Olympics
01:26and which has is loaded with NBA players, not all of them all stars,
01:30but seasoned NBA players and has sufficient depth of NBA players.
01:35And that's our great friends to the north, Canada.
01:38And I'm always rooting for them to medal, Jackson.
01:40Going back to my first exposure
01:42with international basketball back in the Dream Team year of 92,
01:46got friendly with people on the Canadian team, Canada.
01:48And, you know, when you feel you have empathy for them in a country where,
01:52you know, they're not the number one sport in the winter.
01:53Obviously, we know that.
01:55They also ran.
01:56But they and they have not medaled since 1936.
02:00We they were our victims in the gold medal game in Berlin outdoors.
02:04I don't know if you know that.
02:05But the first Olympics were basketball weights outdoors in Berlin.
02:09We beat them.
02:10We beat it.
02:11We beat their butt.
02:12Nineteen to eight.
02:13So they've been seeking revenge ever since since 1936.
02:18Seriously, though, Canada on paper, obviously.
02:21And they beat us in the World Championships last year.
02:23Now we had a B team.
02:25You know, we have pretty much an A team now.
02:27No question.
02:28But and you need an A team these days.
02:29All right. They're number one.
02:31Number two, France.
02:32And they're not that deep, OK?
02:36But, you know, let's face it.
02:37They got Victor Wimbiana.
02:38They've got Rudy Gobert.
02:39Nicholas Batum is not a star, but he knows what he's doing.
02:43You know, Evan Fournier, who nobody loves him in New York anymore,
02:47because they wasted a lot of money.
02:49But he can still shoot.
02:50And if he's dangerous, you got to honor him.
02:54They're not deep, though.
02:55They don't.
02:55If only the 28 year old Tony Parker were available to them,
02:59they would definitely be a metal threat.
03:01No question. And a serious threat.
03:03But so, France, I think those two stand out the most. OK.
03:07And now Germany, they're well coached.
03:10They're there. They play together.
03:12They beat us.
03:14They did not.
03:15You know, they give us a good game.
03:18So that's it.
03:19But I think that I expect the gold medal game to be USA, Canada.
03:24Yeah. Are you concerned at all with the way Jamal Murray has been kind of playing?
03:28He's he's kind of I feel like hasn't had a great tournament so far.
03:31Does that concern you at all with Canada?
03:33Well, sure. But we haven't.
03:34You know, our best basketball is ahead of us, I think, first of all, as a team.
03:38You know, we know, you know, I mean, Curry has not a good game yet, you know,
03:41and that'll happen.
03:43But meanwhile, as a team, our team,
03:46we're not that fluid as a team.
03:48We're still winning on on on talent.
03:50You know, we're winning on on being better than everybody, not being a better team.
03:53But I think we'll play better.
03:54But yeah, Murray, they need him to play his all star level
03:57in order to reach the heights.
03:58Their big weakness is that they got an excellent backboard,
04:03including, you know, look, it's dirt, though, like I liked
04:06the first time I saw him in college.
04:08They got Dylan Brooks.
04:10They got wings. They got Wiggins.
04:11They got Brooks. They got Dwight Powell.
04:14But they're not that strong in the middle of Kelly Olynyk.
04:17Our old buddy, former Celtic.
04:19Yeah, they're rating big man.
04:20You know, they lack the big man.
04:22And and that's but but still they're dangerous.
04:25There's a question.
04:26But I mean, you would I think Murray will, you know,
04:29even when they play the US, he'll he'll bring his A game.
04:33Don't worry.
04:34I think going back to France, I mean, obviously all these teams
04:36are on that side of the bracket.
04:38Are you concerned about France's size
04:40and being able to match Canada that way?
04:42Because I think France is going to beat Canada
04:44just because of the pure size aspect of it.
04:46Well, the precise is their calling card, obviously.
04:48Plus, when Biana, who's a queen on the chess board,
04:50he does so much at seven for some of which we've almost never seen before.
04:54That's that's very true.
04:55Yeah, their size is a factor.
04:57And, you know, when we played it, you know, our big issue now,
05:01our game against Brazil,
05:02Steve Kerr has already sounded the alarm bell about offensive rebounding
05:06that he thinks that, you know, Brazil is a physical team
05:09and we have the freedom to be vulnerable to offensive rebounding.
05:11And and that's true.
05:13So we're not the greatest there either.
05:16But so, you know, that's definitely a strength of France.
05:22What if they only, as I said, they I'm looking who's their fifth Nando de Colo.
05:28I don't know if he's going to be their point guard.
05:29He's 37 years old now.
05:31You know, he's got some NBA experience.
05:32But if that's the best they can come up with, they got Frank
05:35and I've never been able to pronounce his name, Jackson.
05:37I'm sorry.
05:37Can the data index got him?
05:38But you know who I mean?
05:39Nalika, then Nalika.
05:40No, I don't mean to be disrespectful.
05:41Likina, I think. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
05:43The guy now is straight.
05:44He's on the team, but he's been a bust since the day he got the NBA.
05:49OK. And by the way, they have an ex-Celtic in Gershon Yavaselli.
05:53Yes. Yes.
05:55Now he's a scrapping fellow himself.
05:57So anyway. Yeah, that's definitely
06:00France simply has to be respected.
06:01No question. Yeah. Yeah. Agreed.
06:04Let's focus on Team USA here specifically.
06:06The roles of the players have changed pretty differently.
06:09Who do you think going down the stretch is going to be
06:11the most valuable player for the US for the rest of the tournament?
06:14After the first two games, I said.
06:17The most indispensable player that I want on the floor
06:19when it matters in the fourth quarter is Anthony Davis
06:23at both ends of the floor.
06:25Now he's not getting a lot of acclaim right now, but I mean,
06:28I think he's indispensable.
06:30You forget how good, you know, he flew under the radar.
06:33And this year with the Lakers, so much attention about everything.
06:36So about LeBron, you know, and about, you know, and of course,
06:40the big problem with Davis has been availability and during the regular season.
06:43Anyway, you forget sometimes how talented he is, how all around skilled he is.
06:48I think he's very important for sure.
06:51Obviously, what we're getting out of Durant is is no one,
06:55you know, projected that he would become our our great sixth man.
06:58That's for sure.
06:59But that that show we put on in the first game was extraordinary.
07:01It really was, considering he hadn't played in months, literally.
07:05OK, so I'm just saying that that's it.
07:08We we I like the way Kerr,
07:12you know, now that we've seen it for three games,
07:14the way he's handled this situation, you know, everybody around here was shocked
07:17when Tatum get to play in the first game.
07:19He decided he would be the odd man out.
07:20And then Embiid was the odd man out in the second game.
07:23And in the third game, he managed to play everybody, give everybody some minutes.
07:26But he's explained it.
07:28I think they're handling it well.
07:29I think I think he's handled the situation very, very well.
07:34But to answer your question, I'm telling you, I'm I, I think we need to make sure
07:38that Anthony Davis is in that game when we when it matters.
07:42Let's stay on Tatum.
07:42What do you think his role is going to be in these games?
07:45Because we've kind of seen him be like a spot up guy.
07:48We obviously saw that game where he got benched and he started two games in a row.
07:51Do you think he's going to start for all these games?
07:53And what do you think his role is going to be specific?
07:54I don't know, obviously, if he is going to start or not.
07:57What Steve's current plan is, we'll find out against Brazil.
08:00But he had a nice, solid game the last time out.
08:03You know, he 10-10 the game in like 18 minutes or something like that.
08:08And his role is that he does brings a little bit of everything.
08:13You know, I mean, he's become a good guy with good floor vision more than we ever
08:18thought he would have. And as a rebounder, he didn't get enough credit, in my opinion,
08:24during the playoffs this year for the traffic rebounder he has become.
08:28He's become a really high quality rebounder.
08:30And he brings a little bit of everything.
08:32And of course, the three threat is always there.
08:34We know how well he goes to the hoop.
08:35He does a little bit of everything for you.
08:37I think he's, you know, whatever you need, quite frankly.
08:41You know, and so he'll acquit himself.
08:45He'll be fine.
08:46Are you worried about his shooting at all?
08:47Not just for Team USA, but for the Celtics next season?
08:50His shot, three point shot, his jump shot, seemingly hasn't been there.
08:53No, it hasn't been there.
08:54But then again, Curry's hasn't either.
08:56And I'm not I'm not I'm not worried about any projection for anybody coming out of
09:01these games for next year.
09:02OK, in terms of the team, when we get rolling in September.
09:07No, I'm not worried about that at all.
09:09I hope he'll be fine.
09:10You know, I don't think there's going to be any carryover.
09:13And it's not over yet.
09:14I mean, you know, who knows?
09:15He's probably going to go out there and go six or seven, you know, tomorrow.
09:18Who knows?
09:18That'd be great.
09:19That'd be great.
09:20Let's talk about LeBron, Captain America.
09:23Playing a really, really good tournament so far.
09:26Do you think that should make us concerned about the Lakers?
09:29Obviously, he's going to the end of his career, but no signs of slowing down.
09:34Should we be concerned about the Lakers next year based off LeBron's play in this
09:37tournament?
09:38No, if you were as close then he he's you know, it's going to be a weird year given.
09:44I don't know, you know, because we assume the Brawny will be in the G League or,
09:47you know, he's not going to be an issue, but no, I don't think so.
09:52They still have too many holes and I'm not worried about that.
09:55I am.
09:56This is motivating him in a way, you know, who knows when you get when you're a guy
09:59like that, you know, Michael Jordan was like that.
10:01You need to always have some external motivation, you know, manufacturing a phony
10:06issue that, you know, a grievance, you know, LeBron is playing.
10:09He wants that medal.
10:10He wants he wants to be down in history and he's playing some of the stuff he's
10:16done.
10:16I mean, you know, the games he's played, I mean, really remarkable, truly.
10:21I mean, both that I love his hustle and defense.
10:23I keep coming back to a play he made early on when he made a basket.
10:29Then he went down the other end of the floor and intercepted a pass, made an
10:32acrobatic save while he's going out of bounds, ran down the other end and scored
10:36on the same sequence, you know, at thirty nine.
10:38That's pretty impressive.
10:39He wants this badly and he is acting as a true leader right now.
10:43I know the LeBron haters are out there.
10:45You're never going to convince them all, you know, that's fine.
10:47A lot of things in life are never going to change.
10:49And and that one of them is that he'll always have some detractors.
10:52But but I remain respectful and I remain, I won't say in awe, but totally
10:59appreciative of what a wonderful talent he's always been.
11:03Yeah, I've seen flashes of Cleveland LeBron, for sure.
11:05And Miami LeBron in this tournament, especially with the with the hustle.
11:09Oh, he's he wants this thing.
11:11And that's you know, he wants this badly and good for him.
11:15That's great.
11:16How do you feel about Derek White's overall performance so far in this
11:19tournament? I mean, it hasn't just been remarkable.
11:21It is so gratifying, obviously, for current or whoever had the decision to name him.
11:28It he's proven completely worthy.
11:31He just fits in.
11:32He just fits in so well.
11:34I love the last game.
11:34He goes three for three on three.
11:35That's what he had at ten points, three for three on threes.
11:38He is I love the way that Dwayne Wade lauded his defense and his shot blocking
11:43by saying that he Dwayne blocked shots because he was such an athletic six five.
11:48And but White blocked shots because of his his brains and his timing and his
11:53anticipation as well.
11:55And, you know, he he truly is the kind of guy that as a clinician that impresses
11:59professionals such as Dwayne Wade.
12:01I'm so happy for him.
12:02And what a great thing.
12:04I'm sure he told him two months ago he would be here, you know, where he is right
12:08now. Never, ever, ever would have believed you.
12:10But here he is.
12:11It's just remarkable.
12:12I mean, alongside all these Hall of Famers and then you have Derek White there.
12:16Who knows? Maybe could be a Hall of Famer one day if he if they win a few more
12:20rings, a bit of a late start.
12:21But I don't think that's nothing.
12:23But all I know is he's got a ring and it won't be and it may be more wings.
12:25And and apparently from what we know, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
12:30For sure. So give me a score prediction for tomorrow's game against Brazil.
12:35Well, we've spoken one hundred three times in a row.
12:37And remember, it's only a 40 minute game.
12:39And but I'll go a little more of a struggle.
12:43Ninety five.
12:46Eighty one, ninety five, eighty one, so kind of difficult, you think they're going
12:50to pull away late or is it even though I can't even name anybody anymore on that,
12:55they got a guy, Guy Santos, the guy on the Warriors.
12:58OK, very good.
13:01You know, I go back to when they were a real threat.
13:03You know, I mean, my beginning with Oscar Schmidt and those and brothers.
13:08Yeah, they're very different.
13:08The Silver Brothers. But that's all I think we'll figure out.
13:12You know, we'll I do believe our best is ahead of us in the medal round that
13:17we're that and I can see us at our very best game doing whatever is the gold medal
13:22game. And then I'm sure we'll check in later.
13:24But your official gold medal game prediction is U.S.
13:28versus Canada. Yeah, I have to.
13:30I would say that. But but yeah, I will.
13:33And that's it.
13:35So I'm sure.
13:37But I think Canada, I think they just have a lot of a lot of depth, a lot of a lot
13:41of NBA talent. They do.
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15:06All right, let's move on here from the Olympics and move forward
15:09to looking forward on this season.
15:11I know you guys have talked about this on the podcast,
15:12but I want to hear your thoughts explicitly.
15:15Can you give me a top three ranking
15:18for who's going to be the biggest threats to the Celtics this coming season?
15:22I really like what Philly has done.
15:24And I think Philly is doing Darryl Morey, who I love the kid a lot,
15:29but how he's ruined basketball, the Darryl Morefication, the basketball,
15:32the slaving, the numbers, the three.
15:34But he's done a good job of bolstering them.
15:37And I think they're going to be a very tough out now, for sure.
15:42And the Knicks, well, they got to nail down the Randall thing.
15:47You know, it hasn't been done yet, but he will be in the uniform.
15:50It just I'm sure it's just a matter of how they're going to structure the contract.
15:53And it's a long term issue for them.
15:55I've been reading up on it.
15:56And it is very complicated for them.
15:58They're worried about the second apron and all that, you know, and him.
16:00And they've already extended contracts.
16:03They have to pay him.
16:04They have to have him.
16:05But they're they got a lot of talent.
16:06They got a lot.
16:07They got stuff.
16:08And remember how good they were in the month of January when he was still there
16:11and they had just acquired OG on an OB.
16:13Now they've gotten to kill Bridges.
16:15And I mean, come on.
16:16They that's a that's a damn good roster.
16:18And so they're going to be.
16:19And I'm happy, Jackson, that both of those teams are back
16:23in the mix, if you will, for the rivalry factor.
16:26It's always been great when we have a rivalry with the Knicks.
16:30We haven't had a real good one in a long time.
16:32We certainly had some with Philly.
16:34And I think it's good to have those rivalries.
16:36And I think it's always good for the league when the Knicks are good
16:39because they have a polarizer and people love them or hate them
16:42and love New York or hate New York.
16:43And it's always good for the league.
16:45So I think so.
16:46I think they're more they're a bigger threat than anybody in the West to the Celtics.
16:49Really?
16:50Yeah, I do.
16:51And now, Denver,
16:54they got Westbrook, correct?
16:56Yes, they do have Westbrook.
16:57I don't know if that's good or bad.
16:58We're going to find out.
16:59No, I'm very serious.
17:01That's a wild card now to me because of him.
17:04You know, so they got him.
17:06They got does he start? Does he come off the bench?
17:08It's like we just don't know any of it.
17:11OK, we know that he's going to have another MVP level year.
17:13You know, he will.
17:14And whatever it is, whether he wins it or not, he's going to be in the mix.
17:17And they're there.
17:19I am not afraid of anybody else out there.
17:21Oklahoma City.
17:22I like them. I like them.
17:24But I'm not afraid of them.
17:24But yeah, they're a growth stock.
17:26There's no question.
17:27Oklahoma City, young and talented.
17:29And oh, absolutely.
17:31And they're going to be they're going to be very good.
17:33And Minnesota was for real.
17:35I respect what the Timberwolves have done as well.
17:38But yeah, not who?
17:39I mean, come on.
17:40It's Dallasite.
17:42Interesting, because Dallas.
17:46That they can't assume they're going to be back,
17:48but they're going to feel real good about themselves.
17:50Right. And who they just pick up.
17:52I'm sorry. Help me, Clay.
17:54Yeah. OK. Yeah.
17:55So now what is left in that tank?
17:58But I think he I'm guessing, you know, he knows he's got it figured out now.
18:03Here's who I am at the stage of my career.
18:06I know what I'm going.
18:07I'm certainly going to be
18:09expected to to shoot the ball and nothing else.
18:12I mean, they want me to come in and make those shots.
18:15So, yeah, that's going to be very interesting,
18:17assuming that he can stay healthy and that.
18:19So, yeah, you got to do that.
18:21But I'm not I'm not afraid of them.
18:24I'm more worried, if you will, about the Sixers and the Knicks
18:27than anybody in the West.
18:29How about Milwaukee?
18:31Windows shut.
18:32I think. Really?
18:34Yeah. And even Giannis, I think they're going to.
18:36Hey, they got something out of them.
18:37They're going to.
18:38I don't think I don't see him getting another one in the near future.
18:41I don't see it.
18:42I just I'm not worried about them.
18:44I'm just not.
18:45I think for me, it's like I looked at last year.
18:47They beat the Celtics really badly. Right.
18:49And that was a team that I was the most afraid of going into
18:53the postseason just because of, you know, how they performed.
18:56And we never got to see what Giannis and Damian
18:59Litt can do together in a playoff series
19:02because Giannis was injured and Damian Litt was injured for half that series.
19:05So I think there's still so many unknowns
19:07that I'm just not ready to write them off just yet.
19:10No, no, no. I'm not disrespectful, but I'm not.
19:12I just don't think I there is a Buddhist failure in New York right now.
19:16I just and I just don't.
19:17And, you know, we'll see.
19:19Middleton has trouble staying healthy, too.
19:21And Giannis has trouble staying healthy.
19:23But then again, look, we all know every team that we have, we got
19:27we got a Porzingis issue.
19:28We don't know when we're going to see Porzingis.
19:31People are speculating it won't be till December.
19:32I don't know. I have no idea.
19:34All I know is everybody has somebody that, you know.
19:37Oh, yeah, there's the issue with everybody.
19:39You know, obviously, Jokic has to stay healthy and Dancik has to stay healthy.
19:43And Giannis has to stay healthy.
19:45And, you know, we all know.
19:46Yeah, our guys have to stay healthy.
19:48Of course, that's a given to everybody.
19:50So we won't.
19:52Now, some teams have more depth than others.
19:53And, you know, and that's fact that that's why you want depth.
19:56And we proved that last year, you know, with with what happened.
20:00Porzingis doesn't play for thirty seven days and
20:04life goes on now.
20:05Al does what Al could do and and and it got to it.
20:09And but not every team could make that.
20:11Not every team could lose a guy that magnitude and survive as well as the Celtics.
20:16Which, by the way, Jackson, I believe I've been always watching
20:20this league close up for fifty five years.
20:21So this is the deepest.
20:25Team of NBA quality, individual talent that I've ever seen, the deepest,
20:30they got more good players than I've ever seen any team ever had.
20:35You know, not saying they're the best team, but they're not.
20:37But deep NBA talent,
20:41one to ten.
20:42I've never seen a team like the Celtics.
20:44But what a tribute to the roster, to Danny Ainge and Brad put together,
20:48because that's what it's all about.
20:50Roster assembly.
20:51And I think it's all about
20:53you can start wherever you want.
20:55You could start with with manipulating to
20:58identifying Taylor Brown as the number three pick in the draft.
21:01Not everybody did.
21:02You could go start with manipulating, trading out of number one to get Jason Tatum.
21:07That's the crazy one. Yeah, not great.
21:09I mean, praise the guy enough for that.
21:12So anyway, their their their depth is should be,
21:16you know, is always a major factor.
21:18So how confident are you on a scale of one to ten
21:21for a repeat championship from Boston?
21:23I'd say given all the roadblocks that we know historically occur.
21:27And it's the reason why we had six champions in six years in this league.
21:31But their roster assembly, by bringing everybody back, it's just
21:35it's just not normal these days.
21:38Eight, eight.
21:40OK, because that's crazy because things can happen.
21:44Right. Eight.
21:46And if they lose, it's going to because they're knocked out
21:48by New York or Philly, you think?
21:50Yes. OK. Yes, I do.
21:53I think. And yeah, but I'm looking forward to it.
21:57It's going to be a very interesting season in that regard.
21:59And they're going to have, you know, they got they got the
22:01they got the proverbial bullseye in the back.
22:03We all know all that stuff.
22:04You know, we know that they know that it's a very mature group.
22:07That's the other thing.
22:11They don't play anybody,
22:12no one of any consequence will play who is under the age of 25.
22:17You there are there an incredibly mature group, but not aged yet.
22:22One aging guy, you know, one out.
22:24And I guess this will be ours.
22:26Farewell, you would think, you know, although it would have been
22:29we would have easily applauded him if he wanted to
22:32write off into the sunset after, you know, after this year.
22:35But he's second. He's he's back.
22:36He likes what he's doing.
22:38And I like they're all happy here.
22:40You know, I mean, they all seem to be very happy here.
22:42And that that's that's really it's really gratifying.
22:46What do you think they're going to do in terms of personnel
22:49and in terms of scheme with Porzingis out for so long?
22:52Obviously, Al doesn't play back to back.
22:54How do you think they manage that in terms of, you know,
22:56who could really rise up on the roster right now?
22:59Well, that's that's a.
23:01First of all, Cornette is not a stiff, right?
23:05She used to have a characterization.
23:06I went back.
23:06If you go back, Jackson, many years, I used to have a category of NBA guys.
23:11I call them BWSs, big white stiff.
23:15And they were on the end of every bench and, you know,
23:18and we knew why they were there, frankly, you know.
23:21He ain't no BWS.
23:22He can play like you. He can help you.
23:25He did help them.
23:26He earned his money.
23:27And if they need to lean on him a little more than this year,
23:31then they did. And if they do, I mean, I'm comfortable with him.
23:36You know, that's all he's not a star, but he knows what he's doing.
23:39So they're covered there.
23:40I mean, they're covered everywhere.
23:43Right. Tillman, maybe.
23:44And then we don't know about Tillman.
23:46I like Tillman. Tillman helped him win a game.
23:49Now, people are some people are very high on Baylor, Shireman, Shureman.
23:53And I know his struggle is shot in the in the summer league a little bit.
23:57But people are high on him that he is a perfect fit for them.
24:01He fits into the whole scheme very well.
24:03We'll see. But but there's no obviously there's no time
24:07immediately available for anybody, any youngster on that team.
24:10So but that just testifies to depth once again.
24:14Yeah, I think the thing with Shireman is that he could be a seamless
24:17Sam Houser replacement in theory. Right.
24:20That's the theory. And that's my theory. Exactly. Right.
24:23Yeah. But then they extended Houser.
24:24So maybe they looked at him in summer league and thought he's not ready.
24:28We got to keep Houser around a little more.
24:30I don't know. What do you think?
24:32It's insurance. It's just insurance policy.
24:34You know, the young man is going to have to be resign himself.
24:38That's going to be very difficult to even make the team,
24:42let alone get any playing time.
24:43But I'm happy about Houser, by the way.
24:45I'm happy they did that.
24:47And I remain a big Pritchard guy.
24:51I've been a big Pritchard guy from day one ever since I saw him in college.
24:54And, you know, even even before he showed us this remarkable talent
24:58from last second shots from midcourt.
25:00But yeah, I just nothing not to like about this roster.
25:05You know, there is nothing better during the summer
25:07than experiencing a sunny afternoon at the ballpark or maybe a nice
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25:19You know, I remember driving down from Maine every summer.
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27:03Looking back, and I don't want to put you on the spot here,
27:05but as some of those Celtics teams in the past that have won a championship,
27:10the you know, for for the ones that have repeated,
27:13what have they done to remain successful?
27:16I'd have to examine, you know.
27:18Well, I'll tell you what the first group did, the one eleven.
27:21They made sure Bill Russell's didn't retire.
27:24That was that I think you're at a 50s and 60s.
27:28Bill Russell didn't retire.
27:29I mean, seriously, you know, he's he's he was the fulcrum of the whole thing.
27:34I'm trying to then I got to go up to the next group.
27:37And I can tell you this.
27:39The the team that won in seventy four
27:45was the best team in the league in seventy three until John
27:47Havlicek got hurt in the Madison Square Garden in the playoffs.
27:50And they would have pounded the Lakers
27:52who they had swept during the regular season.
27:56And Cowans averaged thirty one points and nineteen rebounds a game
27:59against the Chamberlain who couldn't keep up with Cowans.
28:03They had a shot at four in a row.
28:05They were mismanaged, I think.
28:06And frankly, Tommy Hudson did a strange coaching job in seventy five.
28:11I think he messed them up a little bit.
28:13They came back and they could have won four straight easily, easily.
28:16And they did. They won. They won.
28:18And so they kept intact.
28:20It added on a little bit with
28:24a good draft and Paul Westfall in seventy two.
28:27Kevin Stakeham made a good draft.
28:30OK, the next group.
28:32Was the Bird McHale-Powers group.
28:36And, you know, that competition, Philly beat them.
28:39They beat Philly in eighty one and Philly beat them in eighty two.
28:42Fair and square, fair and square.
28:45In eighty three.
28:51In the playoffs and Larry Hurd and Larry Hurd won against the Bucs.
28:54They wound up getting swept.
28:56And that festered, I'll never forget.
29:01This is a true story.
29:03After game four, I was working for Channel 5 then.
29:06I left the Globe at that time.
29:07And the two of us left in the locker room after the dust had settled.
29:11Glenn Ordway, who was then a cover man for Johnny Most and myself.
29:14And Larry says, I'm going home and I'm going to work on my game
29:18and I'm coming back and I'm going to be better.
29:20And next year, this is from Larry Bird, you know.
29:23And sure enough, you know what happened next year
29:26was the first three straight MVPs.
29:28And he did come back and he had a new, I call it a throw shot.
29:32And he worked on his left even more.
29:34And that's what true great ones do.
29:36So anyway, that group, they were able to keep intact
29:40with the big three.
29:41And then, you know, then afterward, OK, the next group that wins is a weight.
29:45And they could have won three in a row.
29:48In 0-9, Garnett was hurt, wasn't there.
29:52And in 10, I will carry the pain of game seven to my grave,
29:59let alone what they're thinking.
30:00Should have won game seven.
30:02Had control of the game, lost control of the game.
30:05And that went stings.
30:07They were and they could have easily won three in a row.
30:11So, you know, that's the way I don't know if I've answered it.
30:13But that's that's how it went.
30:16It sounds like it's just keeping it together.
30:19Yeah, I mean, you know, it really is.
30:20Yeah, I mean, the bird parrots were killed
30:22and then augmented in 86 with one that that year.
30:25It's the greatest frontcourt, right?
30:26And the senior ever Wilson, because the game's changed.
30:28The people don't even need a frontcourt like that anymore.
30:30But he did in those days, you know, play from the inside.
30:33Again, used to be inside out.
30:35Now the game is out outer and and and Kaitlyn Clark, you know.
30:38So that's I used to say Curry, but now we say Clark.
30:42So anyway, Curry man has now become Clark, Clarkville.
30:45Let's get a biation.
30:46So, yeah, that is the key.
30:49And, you know, of course it is for anybody.
30:51But this group has done it.
30:53And so in that sense, you know, no excuses.
30:58Here's here's one more for you, and we're going to wrap up soon,
31:01but I'm just trying to get as much out of you as I can
31:03while I have limited time with your with your expertise.
31:06Jason Tatum, if his career were to end right now,
31:09where would he rank in terms of all time Celtics?
31:13Well, that, of course, is great.
31:14First of all, we we establish the ground rules.
31:17The Mount Rushmore is still untouchable until further notice.
31:21And chronologically speaking, it is Cousy, Russell have a check.
31:27OK, then we draw a line and all the arguments start.
31:30And who's the next guy up?
31:32Who's the fifth best Celtic ever?
31:34And the candidates, of course, include
31:37McHale, Sam Jones, Dave Cowens, Pierce.
31:43And Garnett wasn't here long enough.
31:46You know, so now not agreed.
31:48Tatum is getting into discussion.
31:51He's going to he's able to enter and is entering into that discussion.
31:54I've gone through this and I've settled on Pierce.
31:58I, I, I, I, I. Yeah.
32:01And yet I would make that easily make the devil's
32:04advocate argument for McHale, the Cowens or Sam Jones.
32:08But I, I think Pierce was got.
32:11He just reached a point where he was.
32:13I still say I've been hooted down for.
32:16I said this what, 22 years ago after a playoff game in Indianapolis.
32:21I said he's the greatest individual scoring machine in Celtic history.
32:26He can find more ways to score than any Celtic ever.
32:29And that includes Larry.
32:31Larry could be guarded by people, you know,
32:36at times that not be able to get a shot off the way he wants.
32:39Nobody could stop Pierce
32:41getting any shot he wanted.
32:43And much like it's almost like Curry
32:46and a great finisher, a great finisher,
32:50and had a three point shot and don't foul.
32:54He's an excellent free throw shooter, every which way.
32:57I think no one ever had more ways to score in the Celtic uniform.
33:00Tatum, you know, is kind of in that mode
33:04and in different ways to score.
33:07And I'm not sure we've ever had anybody that went to the basket
33:11any better, more beautifully with either hand than Tatum does.
33:15Pierce did very well, of course.
33:18Larry had a great left hand, of course, in every way.
33:20But he didn't, you know, you don't think of him
33:24as the great driver, the way you do with Pierce and Tatum.
33:28So, I mean, Tatum's entering in that discussion.
33:31I mean, his numbers, his stature, it's hard to believe he's still 26.
33:35I mean, yeah.
33:36I mean, but this happened.
33:37You come into the league when you're 19 and he's made it.
33:41They all have to grow up before us personally and he's done that.
33:44And I'm a big fan of Tatum.
33:48So absolutely, when it's all said and done, oh, boy,
33:52will he be in that discussion?
33:53What does he have to do to surpass Pierce?
33:56What would he, in theory, have to do to get on that Mount Rushmore?
33:59See, I don't want to.
34:00First of all, Pierce has one title, you know, so, you know,
34:05I'm not going to hold anybody to that standard based on titles.
34:09You know, if you're going to do that, then, you know, you've got to go with Sam Jones.
34:13But, you know, we all know that he doesn't win without Russell.
34:16And then you got to go have a check.
34:18Well, he's already there, so don't worry about it.
34:22I don't know, I just keep doing what you're doing and put up the numbers.
34:26Yeah, if he winds up, let's say for the sake of argument,
34:30that this group fulfills our fondest wishes and wins two or three in a row,
34:36at least two, maybe.
34:38And and, you know, he's going to be a central figure in it.
34:40And, you know, it's going to be very difficult to argue
34:43anybody out of it then. Let's see what happens.
34:47We'll see. We'll see one more thing.
34:49One more question before I let you go.
34:51And this is back to the Olympics.
34:53Obviously, the controversial decision with Derek White being picked
34:55for the team over Jalen Brown.
34:58Now that we've been through group play and we're going to the knockout stages,
35:02do you think that was the right call from a basketball standpoint?
35:06It's proven to be an excellent call.
35:08And typically now that holiday, you know, the insurance at that position,
35:11how would they miss the game?
35:13Because he was hurt.
35:14You know, if you don't have holiday and you have to set up the white,
35:16that's pretty good and vice versa,
35:18you know, for the same job description, essentially, you know.
35:20So, no, I mean, it was a wise decision.
35:23I, you know, I'm not I'm not unsympathetic to Brown.
35:26I mean, you know, except that he does have the MVP of the conference
35:30finals and the NBA finals in his resume.
35:34So, no, I think they made a wise decision.
35:38I. At the time, Jackson, I said, oh, God,
35:42this is the last thing in the world that the Celtics need.
35:44Is there any kind of distraction, you know, of this nature out of their control?
35:48They had nothing to do with it.
35:49They're minding their own business.
35:50And suddenly they've got to worry about, oh, is Brown going to take this?
35:54Well, you know, and and they I can imagine how frustrated
35:58and how I could just see Brad and going, oh, my God,
36:01why do I need this, you know, and or Joe Missouris and why do I need this?
36:06But apparently he's going to be OK with it.
36:09And but in terms of white, what a good decision.
36:12Look at what he's playing, playing great.
36:14All right. Well, you heard here first.
36:16USA is going to be Brazil.
36:17I would say like 15 points tomorrow around there.
36:2014 points, 14 points.
36:22And they're playing Canada in the gold medal match.
36:24This is the Bob Ryan and Jeff Goodman podcast.
36:26I'm Jackson Tolliver.
36:27Just a reminder, we are powered by prize picks.
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36:35Bob, thanks so much for doing this.
36:37You're welcome.