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SportsTranscript
00:00:00Can you say hard hats folks? Hard hats, lunch pail, steel tool, boots.
00:00:08Anything short of a championship this year is a fail.
00:00:10Look at this boomer right here.
00:00:12You've just got so much talent here.
00:00:14Somebody said we need to apologize for Jaylen.
00:00:16Can I pull the John? What are we apologizing for?
00:00:18What did we say? What did we do?
00:00:20Hey, this is Bobby Manning here.
00:00:30Welcome to a pre-season edition of the Garden Report back at TD Garden.
00:00:36Like we never left A. Sherrod Blakely here.
00:00:38Nick Joso checking in to begin a new season.
00:00:41His first appearance here on the Garden Report of 2024-25 in the Celtics back at the Garden.
00:00:47Win by 50.
00:00:49Okay, like the 2024 version of themselves.
00:00:52Let's be real.
00:00:54They didn't go against much competition tonight.
00:00:56Celtics put out all of their frontline guys except for Al Horford here.
00:01:00And they did the bulk of this work.
00:01:02But some good contributions from the back of the bench as well.
00:01:05We'll get into all of it here.
00:01:07And A. Sherrod, we haven't talked to you in a while either.
00:01:10Where else can we start but with Luke Cornett?
00:01:14Another star for him.
00:01:16Bobby, I'm just amazed that it took you 90 seconds.
00:01:20It took you more than 90 seconds to bring up Luke Cornett.
00:01:22Rightfully so though, right?
00:01:24Yeah, this was definitely – this will be the Luke Cornett Garden Report today.
00:01:29Because Luke was really good.
00:01:31I mean he set the tone for this 50-point beatdown.
00:01:33Doing a lot of the things that you want your third center to do in the pre-season.
00:01:40Show that you can do some things when you get an opportunity to play.
00:01:43And, you know, with no Joel Embiida,
00:01:45obviously the path to being effective and impactful is a little bit smoother.
00:01:50But I give Luke credit though.
00:01:51I mean Luke got out there and he did his thing.
00:01:53And that's what you want to see if you're the Celtics.
00:01:55And I personally am tired of watching Luke set screens and bounce passes.
00:02:01I want to see if he can score.
00:02:03And this was a reminder that Luke can do more than just set screens.
00:02:06And he needs to do these type of things in a pre-season.
00:02:09Not only in terms of helping them win games,
00:02:11but I think just establish him – establish his presence in games.
00:02:16I think too often Luke is out there and he's just kind of out there.
00:02:19But this is a game that reminds I think everyone that Luke can actually ball a little bit.
00:02:24So, you know, tip your hat off to Luke and tip your hat off to Bobby
00:02:28because this is the game that, you know, your Luke Cornett mania comes to fruition.
00:02:36We cannot avoid talking about Luke.
00:02:38We have to give Luke love today.
00:02:40So well done, Bobby.
00:02:41Well done.
00:02:43So I didn't start it, Nick.
00:02:45I'll give John Corrales credit for that.
00:02:47Oh, boy.
00:02:49What was it?
00:02:50He asked Joe Mizzou on Thursday could Luke start for this team in the regular season.
00:02:56Right, right.
00:02:57And Joe didn't rule it out.
00:02:58Joe said we'll do whatever makes sense.
00:03:00You know, it could go a bunch of different ways.
00:03:02But he has now started three straight pre-season games.
00:03:05Pre-season, lineups, rotations usually don't mean much.
00:03:09But there's obviously a concerted effort to get him some minutes here,
00:03:12at the very least, with the starting unit.
00:03:14And even if he doesn't start opening night,
00:03:16even if he's not the regular consistent start for this team,
00:03:19there'll probably be three or four nights where Horford's out early
00:03:22and he will have to start with this team.
00:03:24So do you give it any consideration just to keep him in that spot?
00:03:28Well, the other set of that, Bobby, is back-to-backs, you know,
00:03:32whether it be the top or the bottom or back-to-backs.
00:03:35You know, so keeping Cornett in the place where he's fitted to start,
00:03:41you know, helps when Al needs rest.
00:03:45I mean, it would be ideal if, you know,
00:03:49the Celtics can get this type of productivity from guys like Tillman
00:03:53and Cornett while KP is recovering.
00:03:57I mean, that quells so many concerns for all of us, I think,
00:04:03because that really, really.
00:04:05And I agree with Sherrod.
00:04:08It's good to see Cornett get some action beyond just high post.
00:04:14You know, seeing him score, dunk, pass, man.
00:04:18He had a couple of really nice passes.
00:04:20So I was scared for tonight, Bobby.
00:04:22I didn't know, you know, but it's just as expected.
00:04:25The show started off Luke Cornett.
00:04:28Give credit to Tillman, though, man.
00:04:32He went to the gym this summer and got a three-point shot.
00:04:37Three for three tonight.
00:04:39Yeah, we have to talk about him, too.
00:04:41And listen, some of our commenters will say,
00:04:43if they're not going to go with Horford, go with Tillman in this spot.
00:04:47And I had some hesitation there, right?
00:04:51Bobby, you'll be probably devastated and incredibly shocked
00:04:55of what I'm about to say.
00:04:57I don't like actually having Tillman playing behind Luke.
00:05:01And here's why.
00:05:03When you're looking at the second-unit guys,
00:05:05you want guys who can come in there and give you some juice,
00:05:07guys that can come in there and do some things,
00:05:09shift the game's momentum in your favor or extend, you know, the good play.
00:05:14And I just think Tillman is better suited to do that
00:05:18because he can do more things.
00:05:20And he's comfortable and confident of doing more things
00:05:22when he gets in the game.
00:05:24And for me, it's kind of like a place marker,
00:05:26where in that starting lineup, he can keep things, you know,
00:05:29not getting too crazy in the middle.
00:05:32And then you bring in Tillman, who can, I think,
00:05:34pick up where he left off or take it to another level.
00:05:37I don't think if you put those two in and if you flip those roles,
00:05:42you'll get the same production.
00:05:44Like I don't think Tillman can get off to a slow start
00:05:46and then you go with Luke and then all of a sudden things get better.
00:05:49I don't think that's how that's going to work.
00:05:51Having Luke in that starting lineup, Tillman playing behind him,
00:05:55I think the way this team is constructed,
00:05:57I think that is probably the best path you're going to have
00:06:00until you get KP back.
00:06:03Yeah, and he needs to hit threes.
00:06:05I've said that.
00:06:06I don't know where he fits in in this offensive.
00:06:08He's not hitting threes.
00:06:09So it's great to see he made some improvements in that area.
00:06:11Now, during camp, he talked about the fact that he didn't do a ton
00:06:14over the summer.
00:06:15He got surgery.
00:06:16So hopefully his knee's good now because he dealt with a lot of knee swelling
00:06:19after games.
00:06:20He said his knee would swell up after pretty much every game he played
00:06:24last year.
00:06:25So if he's in a better physical position here to be able to move,
00:06:28to be able to do the different things that they want their centers to do,
00:06:31Nick, he's going to play a lot more this year.
00:06:34Because he really didn't play much once they got him at the deadline
00:06:37last year.
00:06:38He was like that depth reserve guy who would play in case of emergency.
00:06:41And credit to him, he came in in the finals when Luke was obviously hurt
00:06:45and wasn't a good fit for that series and hit a big three in game three,
00:06:49defended Luka, and just showed some great defensive versatility.
00:06:53So they're fortunate to have him back.
00:06:55I mean, this is a guy who probably could have gone out in the market
00:06:57and gotten more money or at least a bigger role elsewhere.
00:07:00And he decided he just was comfortable here.
00:07:03He's thrilled to be back.
00:07:04Thrilled to be here.
00:07:06And, yeah, I think you can see that he's moving better.
00:07:09And any time a player goes out and comes back with another weapon added to
00:07:14their arsenal in an offseason, especially a role player guy like that,
00:07:18you want to reward them.
00:07:20And hopefully this continues in regards to distant shots.
00:07:25I mean, tonight he just looked really, really confident launching from deep.
00:07:30The other notable, Bobby, is probably Lonnie Walker.
00:07:36Logging minutes tonight and making an impact.
00:07:40You know, the thing is that for me, I think take away – this is like the –
00:07:45I know it's preseason, but it's still the type of game where the Celtics would
00:07:50maybe take the foot off the gas knowing that, like, you know,
00:07:53I couldn't even name two Sixers tonight.
00:07:57And they didn't.
00:07:58And they just pounded the hell out of them.
00:08:01And then the second unit comes in and you get productivity from Walker and –
00:08:08Jordan Walsh looking pretty good.
00:08:10And Walsh.
00:08:11And, I mean, not only, you know, contributions, but just a lot of confidence.
00:08:16Like, they really look synced up.
00:08:18I know it's just preseason.
00:08:21Yeah, I want to get to some of those back-end contributors because there's
00:08:24obviously roster battles going on right now, positional battles,
00:08:27who can fit in off the bench.
00:08:29There were a couple guys I never even saw in my life.
00:08:32Like, who's –
00:08:33On the Celtics?
00:08:34Who is that?
00:08:36I can't even say his name.
00:08:37He came over from the Knicks.
00:08:39He'll be main starting center this year.
00:08:41They picked him up pretty late in the summer.
00:08:43But I want to give a shout-out to PrizePix.
00:08:46Tomorrow is Football Sunday, so very important to go over to PrizePix,
00:08:50set your daily fantasy lineup.
00:08:52And that's the thing.
00:08:53This is daily fantasy.
00:08:55You don't have to commit to your team for the full year because everybody's
00:08:58lineup is a mess right now in these full-season leagues.
00:09:01Shrad, I don't know how you're doing in our league.
00:09:03Injury is left and right.
00:09:05Your season can go down the drain after three to four weeks.
00:09:08So daily fantasy is great because you're only committing to it for a day,
00:09:12for a week, in a football standpoint here.
00:09:15And right now over at PrizePix, you can use the code CLNS.
00:09:18When you play $5, you'll get $50 instantly.
00:09:21All you got to do is pick two or more players,
00:09:23pick more or less on their stat projections, and you're off.
00:09:26And it's that easy.
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00:09:29No injuries killing you.
00:09:30And the best thing about PrizePix is they actually have injury insurance.
00:09:33So if you guys go down the first half, your team stays in play out there.
00:09:37And they have a great offer coming up for the basketball season,
00:09:41a free Anthony Edwards square coming up.
00:09:43So we'll tell you more about that next week as the opening night gets closer.
00:09:47But for now, you got football coming up.
00:09:49So go over there, CLNS, use that code.
00:09:53Again, play $5, get $50 instantly at PrizePix.
00:09:56Again, pick more or less.
00:09:58It's that easy over at PrizePix.
00:10:00Run your game.
00:10:02So let's get to some of those back-end contributors, Nick.
00:10:06And I guess we'll start with Walker,
00:10:07because I haven't heard too much from you on him, Sherrod.
00:10:11We were in a pretty adamant place that he's probably not going to make this roster.
00:10:16Maybe he sticks on with Maine.
00:10:17He didn't look great out in Abu Dhabi or at least look in sync yet.
00:10:21But he came out in the second quarter, got some run here,
00:10:24and then into the third quarter scored seven quick points
00:10:27when he got some opportunities in the offensive end.
00:10:29It's a tough system to break into quickly,
00:10:32especially when you're a score-first guy like him.
00:10:35So I feel like that's the biggest reason that they want to funnel him to Maine,
00:10:39along with the money aspect here.
00:10:40He's going to cost a lot of money if they keep him on the roster from day one.
00:10:44So I think the odds are against him making this roster.
00:10:47But how do you just feel about him as a player in general, Nick?
00:10:51You know, I only have, obviously, Abu Dhabi to go by.
00:10:56And I didn't really watch much last year of him.
00:11:00And also your interview with him.
00:11:02I like his attitude.
00:11:03You know, he really, really wants to make a difference and contribute.
00:11:07But, you know, like you said, when you're coming in,
00:11:10not just you're coming into a defending championship team
00:11:14with a roster that is just brought right back.
00:11:18So you're kind of fighting, to begin with,
00:11:21with people who already have chemistry.
00:11:24So I'm glad to see anybody that can contribute off of the bench
00:11:28in that capacity is great.
00:11:30So, yeah, Lonnie Walker.
00:11:34Sherrod, what are your thoughts?
00:11:36I think they're going to find a way to keep him around as long as possible.
00:11:40I just think he's too talented a player to just walk away for nothing.
00:11:44Remember, this guy is only 25 years old.
00:11:47He came into the league at a relatively young age.
00:11:50You look at his first four seasons in San Antonio,
00:11:52his scoring average went up every single season.
00:11:56And so this is a guy who showed clear growth
00:11:59when he got an opportunity to play.
00:12:01Things, you know, the last couple of years haven't gone quite as well,
00:12:04and we haven't seen that continued growth.
00:12:07But a lot of that had to do with just health, injuries, and opportunity.
00:12:10He is a guy that I do think if you keep him around all season long
00:12:14in some capacity, he's going to win you a couple games.
00:12:17He's going to have nights where he's going to be one of the top two,
00:12:21top three players on your squad.
00:12:23And those are going to come in nights I think where the Celtics
00:12:25are going to need a little extra something, and he'll be around.
00:12:28So they're going to find a way I think to keep him around all season long
00:12:32in some capacity because I just think he's too talented.
00:12:36He's got too much upside.
00:12:38And frankly, the price tag, we know about all the second apron issues
00:12:44that the Celtics are going to have to deal with financially.
00:12:47But Lonnie, you're talking about a guy from the very beginning
00:12:50you're getting at an incredibly reduced rate to begin with.
00:12:54So they're going to find a way to keep him around.
00:12:57All right.
00:12:58We got Joe Mazula live from the podium here at TD Garden talking right now.
00:13:01Great job being decisive in his shot selection and his spacing
00:13:05and his pick-and-roll reads.
00:13:07So he's worked really hard in the offseason, you know,
00:13:11just becoming more versatile.
00:13:14Him and the play development team have worked really hard on that,
00:13:16and it's a credit to them.
00:13:17So he's playing really well, and I really like just kind of the time
00:13:20he's putting into it.
00:13:22Joe, there's a point later in the game where you called a timeout
00:13:25after the Sixers hit a couple shots.
00:13:26You emphasized at points last year the importance of, you know,
00:13:29treating every player the same, you know, treating every game like, you know,
00:13:33a real meaningful game and something and treating the starters the same
00:13:36as the bench.
00:13:37Is that something you're emphasizing in the preseason,
00:13:38even though in a couple weeks like these stats and standings won't matter?
00:13:41What situation are you talking about?
00:13:43I was just saying there's a point later in the game when some of the bench guys
00:13:45were in and you called a timeout.
00:13:47It seemed like a similar sort of timeout you would call if the starters
00:13:50were on or something, like the importance of treating those guys the same
00:13:53and the importance of treating these preseason games the same as the regular
00:13:55season, even though they might not.
00:13:56Yeah, I mean, it's important.
00:13:57I mean, I think the way you treat those guys shows the continuity.
00:14:00So one of the strengths of this team is regardless of who's in or not,
00:14:03we execute at a high level.
00:14:04We play effort, and I think that's the way that we try to hold each other
00:14:07accountable to that.
00:14:08So I enjoy coaching them, and they work hard.
00:14:11So I think it's key to try to keep that.
00:14:14Joe, just Luke at the beginning of the game had, you know –
00:14:18Here we go.
00:14:19How is he fitting there?
00:14:22Bobby, he's stealing your thunder.
00:14:24Have you seen any kind of, like, progression from him from, like, last season?
00:14:26Yeah, I mean, he's worked really hard this summer,
00:14:29and I've definitely seen him get better, just his screen reads,
00:14:33his spacing recognition.
00:14:35You know, he's one of our best defenders because of his ability to –
00:14:39What?
00:14:40Whoa.
00:14:41What?
00:14:42Whoa, whoa, whoa.
00:14:43He does a great job of reading each possession,
00:14:46and I think he's gotten really good offensively.
00:14:48Who's bugging us?
00:14:49Offensively up until this point.
00:14:50All right, where's the camera?
00:14:51Who's bugging me?
00:14:52With his screen angles and his spacing recognition mostly.
00:14:54You did not be serious.
00:14:56Look at Bobby's face right now, how happy he is.
00:14:59Joe, longer look for Lonnie tonight.
00:15:01How do you think he handled that,
00:15:02and how have you seen him integrate into your guys' group
00:15:04over these last couple weeks?
00:15:05I think he's been really good.
00:15:07I think it's an adjustment coming here.
00:15:09It's a different style of basketball, and, you know,
00:15:14I like his open-mindedness to learning.
00:15:16I like his patience.
00:15:17And, you know, I saw him make – you know, it's funny when you get a guy
00:15:20like him who's been in the league for seven years.
00:15:25I saw some things today that he might not think are important
00:15:28or that other people want, but, like, they're really,
00:15:29really important things defensively and offensively,
00:15:32whether it was his positioning or whether it was a small cut that he made
00:15:36or a read that he made.
00:15:37Like, those things go a long way because they open up opportunities.
00:15:39And they may be things that have been taken for granted,
00:15:42but he was efficient four for seven.
00:15:45And some of the stuff that doesn't show up on the stat he picked up on,
00:15:48you know, and it was great to see that.
00:15:50And so he's enjoying just kind of working hard, and, you know,
00:15:55he'll get another crack at it again tomorrow.
00:15:58Joe, following up on that Lonnie question, you talk a lot about humility,
00:16:01and he kind of showed that, especially with us just talking about how he needs
00:16:04to take it as a man, not getting a guarantee contract, all that.
00:16:06Like, I guess when you have a new guy coming in, trying out and everything,
00:16:09like how does that feel?
00:16:10Will it fold well into the locker room?
00:16:14I mean, I think there's a standard that's been set by the people that have been
00:16:17here for a long time, the players.
00:16:19And then when, you know, we try to bring guys in that want to uphold that.
00:16:23And so it's a credit to the locker room for setting that one for, you know,
00:16:27a long time.
00:16:28And then it's a credit to the guys coming in that work to be a part of that.
00:16:32And so you're right.
00:16:33He's shown that.
00:16:34He's shown his patience.
00:16:35He's shown an open-mindedness to get better.
00:16:37And we just have to continue that.
00:16:39Thanks, Joe.
00:16:40Thanks.
00:16:44Wow.
00:16:45One of our best defenders.
00:16:47I love it.
00:16:49Some good stuff on Lonnie Walker there.
00:16:51A lot of praise.
00:16:52I saw that tonight, too.
00:16:53Listen, I'll let the Luke stuff speak for itself.
00:16:55We all watched it.
00:16:56Bobby, did you give, like, Slip Corrales the question to ask tonight?
00:17:01He totally did.
00:17:02You definitely did.
00:17:04I got to give him the – not even I was on the start Luke bandwagon.
00:17:09So credit to Corrales for that.
00:17:12But I'm jumping right on board, obviously.
00:17:14Obviously.
00:17:16Obviously.
00:17:17You broke in there, Shrad,
00:17:18when you talked about the little things Lonnie did tonight, though.
00:17:21What stood out to you in that sense?
00:17:23The playmaking.
00:17:24I mean, the thing about Lonnie, when you look at his just career trajectory,
00:17:28he's never been a guy known for giving up the rock.
00:17:31You look at his – he's a score more – he's more of a score than a shot maker,
00:17:36per se, because his percentage number-wise is not great.
00:17:39I think his best season was maybe 43%, 44% from the field.
00:17:43So he's not an extremely efficient scorer.
00:17:47And when it comes to assists, I don't know if he's ever averaged two
00:17:50or more assists – actually, no.
00:17:52He had one season, 21-22, his last year in San Antonio,
00:17:56where he averaged 2.1 assists.
00:17:58Everything else was less than that.
00:17:59And so in the limited minutes he had tonight,
00:18:02I thought he made some really good reads, got the guys ball in sweet spots
00:18:06where they could be impactful, make plays.
00:18:08And that's the kind of stuff that I think Lonnie really has to lock in on
00:18:13in trying to figure out how can I contribute to this team,
00:18:16this championship-caliber team, in ways that can keep me around.
00:18:21They don't need another guy that can go out there and get bucked
00:18:23because they've got plenty of guys who can do that.
00:18:25What are some other things that I can do to help my cause?
00:18:28Defense, rebounding, making the right reads, getting other guys involved,
00:18:32all those little intangible things that often are either ignored
00:18:37or overlooked in the final stats.
00:18:39He's got to be able to be really good in those areas
00:18:42because that's the only way he's going to stick around
00:18:45because if he locks in on just trying to get buckets,
00:18:48it's not going to end well for him because this team doesn't need that from him.
00:18:51And I give him a lot of credit, as was alluded to.
00:18:54He's humbled himself to embrace the fact that I can't be that guy
00:18:58that played four years in San Antonio who was averaging 10, 12 points a game.
00:19:04I've got to figure out other ways to contribute to this team.
00:19:06Again, I think tonight was yet another step in the right direction
00:19:10for him understanding that and embracing what that involves.
00:19:15Yeah, there was one play in the second.
00:19:17He had a transition run out, and he could have just drove to the rim,
00:19:21but he looked to his right, saw Pritchard running behind him,
00:19:24and tossed it to Pritchard for a three.
00:19:26They're in a big run for the Celtics there in the second quarter.
00:19:29That's another thing that stands out to me, Nick, this preseason.
00:19:32This is Cornette's fifth year here.
00:19:35This is Pritchard's fifth year here, I want to say.
00:19:39This is Hauser's fourth.
00:19:42That's crazy. Time has flown.
00:19:46That Hauser-Pritchard-Cornette core is going to generally be their bench.
00:19:51I mean, how good do those guys look?
00:19:54Hauser's just out there hitting every shot.
00:19:56He's even going inside and hitting some shots.
00:19:58Wait a minute. How good does Brad look?
00:20:01Putting those three together and knowing –
00:20:03not that maybe he didn't –
00:20:05And credit to Danny, Nick. Danny did draft Pritchard.
00:20:07Credit to Danny. Danny drafted.
00:20:09Danny still has his fingerprints on this team.
00:20:11That was Danny's last first-round pick here, Peyton Pritchard.
00:20:14He's still here. Those guys look amazing.
00:20:17All of them look like they added aspects to their game.
00:20:19Hauser moving inside the arc, shooting some shots.
00:20:22Pritchard looks stronger, more assertive, pulling up on his shots.
00:20:27Cornette, as we've talked about, has certainly added to his game as well.
00:20:31That bench looks good here.
00:20:33I get a general feeling it's preseason, right, Nick?
00:20:37You don't put too much stock in it, but everybody seems to know their role.
00:20:41Everybody seems a little more ingrained in their role
00:20:44and looks like they added to what they can do in that.
00:20:48There's just an assuredness. I keep comparing this to 0-9.
00:20:51Remember how great they started in 0-9 after the title?
00:20:54This team actually has everybody coming back.
00:20:56That 0-9 team lost guys.
00:20:59I think they pulled off 19 in a row that year in 0-9 before Garnett got injured.
00:21:05I agree.
00:21:07In what I've watched, the first three games, they won a title
00:21:12and you could see they finally seemed comfortable with their swagger.
00:21:16They have some swagger. It's preseason. I get it.
00:21:19But Abu Dhabi, consider that a regular season game to a degree
00:21:23because that was a showcase.
00:21:26They were playing overseas and giving it much more than they give in the All-Star game.
00:21:31You know what I'm saying?
00:21:34As far as I'm concerned, they came out there wanting to show they could beat Denver
00:21:39and that last year they still have to have somewhat of a chip on their shoulder
00:21:46because last year everybody kind of voting against them.
00:21:50Then when they won, coming out and saying it was a cheap title
00:21:56because there were so many injuries and whatnot,
00:21:58you could tell this year they're coming out to prove again.
00:22:02That swagger really goes a long way.
00:22:05I agree, Bobby. 2009 written all over it.
00:22:08At least in their body language and in the way that their connectivity on the court,
00:22:13no real lackadaisical or complacency.
00:22:18Tonight I saw the lineup, preseason or not,
00:22:21when no Philadelphia players that we know of were playing besides...
00:22:27Yabusele.
00:22:28Yabusele. Hauser. That was great, by the way, when Hauser blocked them.
00:22:34I thought this is a great game for them to go at least tight into halftime.
00:22:40It'd be one of those annoying where they come out kind of not having...
00:22:45They kind of have a letdown in intensity.
00:22:48Man, I was wrong and I'm glad I was wrong.
00:22:51Again, it goes to show that they're locked in.
00:22:54Everything they talked about on media day
00:22:56seems to be at least through three preseason games
00:22:59all the ships are sailing in the right direction.
00:23:03You get that sense that they're going to have an 0-9-like start
00:23:06based on what we're seeing so far?
00:23:08The big thing in knock on wood is just health.
00:23:12That's the only thing that can derail this team.
00:23:14One of the things, and Bob, you touched on this earlier,
00:23:17when you have, to me, the two things that really jump out about this team,
00:23:22they embrace their role because they won a championship
00:23:26and most of the guys who weren't already getting paid got paid this summer.
00:23:31That's a really, really good point. Huge point.
00:23:34The thing about it is that typically when guys get paid,
00:23:38it's usually they're getting paid for potential,
00:23:40not what their proven body of work is.
00:23:42When you win a championship, no one can question your impact on winning.
00:23:46You've literally contributed to the one cause
00:23:48that all teams in the NBA are striving towards,
00:23:51which is to win a championship.
00:23:53To do that and still get paid by the team that you won a title with,
00:23:56that does not happen.
00:23:58Typically, you get paid by another team.
00:24:00You've got players who understand their role when it comes to winning.
00:24:03You've got players who got paid who hadn't already been paid.
00:24:06Now you've got this culture, you've got this team,
00:24:08you've got this organization where you don't really have a lot of the questions
00:24:13and concerns and issues that a lot of teams have
00:24:16because everyone is happy and content.
00:24:20Then the third thing you've got going on is you have,
00:24:23and Nick alluded to this, you have a chip on your shoulder
00:24:26because people think that your championship isn't quite as championship worthy
00:24:31as other championships are, even though that's insane to think about.
00:24:36When you look at the Jalen situation, you look at Tatum's situation,
00:24:40with Team USA and all that, all that stuff adds up to a team
00:24:45that's going to play with a little bit more of an edge,
00:24:47a little bit more motivation.
00:24:49Again, you've got all those other things that are working in their favor too,
00:24:53which is you don't have anyone playing for the next contract on this team.
00:24:57That takes away a certain element of selfishness
00:25:00that a lot of teams have to deal with.
00:25:02You don't have guys trying to play more minutes
00:25:04or significantly more minutes than they've already played
00:25:06because the role that they have, they're going to play similar minutes
00:25:10and you're going to make good money doing that.
00:25:12So this is Ubuntu on a different level that we're seeing.
00:25:18It is, and the belief in the front office and ownership to bring everybody back.
00:25:24Let's not forget Danny Ames let Posey go.
00:25:28There were quite a few. Posey was a big one.
00:25:31I think the next year, Tony Allen, if not.
00:25:33And then PJ Brown's not back on that team.
00:25:35PJ Brown's not back.
00:25:37I don't know if that was Danny or Wick at the time cutting the purse strings,
00:25:42but this year everybody got paid.
00:25:46Or Irv, right?
00:25:47Or Irv, maybe. I haven't seen Wick. Have you?
00:25:51Yeah, he was in Abu Dhabi, I think.
00:25:53Oh, good. Oh, he wouldn't miss that. No way.
00:25:57Maybe it was Danny, maybe it was Wick,
00:25:59but this time around they went all in.
00:26:01And I think when people are rewarded to what their value is,
00:26:06it's good to see loyalty back in return and loyalty in your play.
00:26:13You know what I'm saying?
00:26:14So you can see that this year.
00:26:16You're right, Sherod.
00:26:17Like there's no hidden agendas.
00:26:19They really seem to be kind of all on the same page.
00:26:23And Jalen, just through three games.
00:26:27Speaking of Jalen, Nick, let's save the point.
00:26:30I was the first to bring him up.
00:26:32I want to get the brownie tonight for bringing him up.
00:26:35Yes, it's about us.
00:26:37So every time we step on the floor, it don't really matter who the opponent is.
00:26:43We just got to play our standard of basketball.
00:26:45So that's the tone that we set throughout training camp.
00:26:49And that's the mindset that we have.
00:26:52Jalen, you came into the league with Yabasele back in 2016.
00:26:56What's it like to see him back on the NBA court after five years of being abroad?
00:27:00No, it's great.
00:27:01You know, we got a chance to talk before the game.
00:27:05And Yabu is one of my good friends.
00:27:09You know, we kind of came into the organization together.
00:27:11So to see him back in the NBA, he's been playing well overseas.
00:27:17He had a great Olympic, you know, kind of run.
00:27:20And it kind of led to him being, you know, here.
00:27:22Even though he's on the Sixers, it's all good.
00:27:27So it's still bittersweet.
00:27:31Hi, Jalen.
00:27:33I'm talking from Brazil with Raiz do Basquete.
00:27:38Bom te conhecer.
00:27:40Aside from TD Garden.
00:27:42All right, Jalen.
00:27:43OK, Jalen.
00:27:44All right.
00:27:45Yo hablo espanol y tu, papi.
00:27:47That's a tough one.
00:27:48I can do that too now.
00:27:49Probably, I like playing in New York.
00:27:54Also like playing in L.A.
00:27:57I would say those two.
00:27:59Just big stages, big games, a lot of history with those teams and arenas.
00:28:05So I would say those two.
00:28:09Say what?
00:28:10Jalen, you found a connection with Luke Cornett early in the game.
00:28:12You found him on a few passes.
00:28:13All right, Luke, question.
00:28:14Can you speak about that connection a little bit?
00:28:17Yeah, just Luke knows how to play, being in the right place at the right time.
00:28:20So, you know, being able to find him and get him going helps our offense
00:28:27and everybody else get easy ones.
00:28:29So we look forward to being able for Luke to be able to step up
00:28:33and make plays for us on both ends.
00:28:36He's a big part of our offense.
00:28:38He was hitting a few celebrations in there too.
00:28:40Are you a fan of his 10 points in the first quarter celebration?
00:28:43Got to love the Cornett celebrations, you know.
00:28:47Where would we be without those?
00:28:49So, you know, we love to have personality on our team and have fun.
00:28:55Is that some sarcasm?
00:28:57That was a hell of a lot of sarcasm.
00:28:59We like to get it going.
00:29:01We like to get those celebrations going.
00:29:03That means we're doing good in the game.
00:29:06Where would we be without those?
00:29:08Jalen, you've stated that one of your goals for this season
00:29:11is to make an all-defensive team.
00:29:13What have you been doing in the offseason to work towards that,
00:29:15and how do you find ways to stand out on a team full of only defenders?
00:29:19I said that last season, not this season.
00:29:22I feel like I should have.
00:29:24Last season, I felt like I touched every defensive matchup.
00:29:28All season long, I regarded the best player on every team.
00:29:31Did you hear him?
00:29:32He's right there saying why he should have been all-defensive.
00:29:35Whatever.
00:29:36But, you know, people don't pay attention that much to defense.
00:29:40They only care about offense.
00:29:41He's still salty about it.
00:29:42I love it.
00:29:43I love it.
00:29:44I love it.
00:29:45That's what I'm talking about.
00:29:46That is what I'm talking about.
00:29:47Yeah, I won a championship.
00:29:48Yes, I wasn't being honest.
00:29:49But, damn it, I'm still salty about not being all of you.
00:29:52Is that a point of focus for you?
00:29:54Yeah.
00:29:55I think I've definitely been working on my playmaking ability,
00:29:58just being able to see the floor, make great reads.
00:30:00I feel like I'm in a good space in that,
00:30:05just keeping the floor balanced and, you know, making the right plays
00:30:10and creating plays for my teammates.
00:30:12So, I'm looking forward to doing that and taking on that role this year
00:30:16as well, being a playmaker, finding guys, you know,
00:30:20and just putting pressure on the defense.
00:30:25There's a bunch of guys with you guys right now
00:30:27that are not going to be on the main roster.
00:30:29They're going to be up in Maine or in other places.
00:30:31What kinds of conversations go on with those players?
00:30:33If you kind of know maybe this is their last week in Boston
00:30:36and this is a really rare opportunity for them to be on the parquet?
00:30:39We appreciate them for the contributions that they've made to preseason.
00:30:45I think everybody is at a high-intensity level,
00:30:49which has added to our group.
00:30:51I feel like we had a strong training camp
00:30:53and a lot of those guys contributed to that.
00:30:57Obviously, it's a tough league.
00:30:59So, being able to, you know, build those relationships
00:31:04and stuff like that while you have people is great.
00:31:07But you wish them well on their journey
00:31:10and you just appreciate them for the time that they were here.
00:31:13All right.
00:31:15That's Jalen.
00:31:16I want to get some Lonnie Walker in here too
00:31:19because he just spoke in the locker room.
00:31:21Before you go to Walker, Jalen, you know…
00:31:26Love that dude.
00:31:27He can bitch, but he doesn't whine like Jason.
00:31:31Like, Jalen, you know what I'm saying?
00:31:33Like, Jason, he can be such a frigging whiner.
00:31:38Where Jalen gets pissed off.
00:31:40Like, you can hear it in his voice.
00:31:42You know what I'm saying?
00:31:43And I like the fire.
00:31:45Like, I like the fact he's pissed off that he wasn't all defense.
00:31:48He sounds disrespected, right?
00:31:49Yeah, and you know what?
00:31:50And he's right.
00:31:51He did guard the best player on the opposing team just about every night.
00:31:56Well, he did get credit for it in the finals MVP
00:31:59because I feel like that's the biggest reason he won that.
00:32:02Well, I agree, but it's still different.
00:32:04Go ahead, Sherrod.
00:32:05What were you going to say?
00:32:06He also got you 20 points and some change every damn night.
00:32:09Yes, he did.
00:32:10I mean, he was MVP in his own right.
00:32:12Yeah, absolutely.
00:32:14I love the fact that he won the greatest award you can win during the finals,
00:32:19which is MVP, and he still has that edge, that level of like, you know what?
00:32:24If we're being honest and real about it, Jalen is being petty, and I love that.
00:32:29Oh, I like it.
00:32:30I love that he called her out, too.
00:32:34He's like, that was last year.
00:32:35That was last year.
00:32:36And he made it clear.
00:32:38His focus is more on being a playmaker.
00:32:40That's what he wants.
00:32:41Yeah, he's become such a great quote, too.
00:32:43Yeah, he is.
00:32:44Yeah.
00:32:45I mean, he's authentic.
00:32:46I mean, that's the thing I think with most people.
00:32:48He's very authentic, and he speaks from a perspective and a voice
00:32:52that isn't like any other voice on this team, and very few, if any, throughout the NBA.
00:32:58And you respect that.
00:32:59You may not agree with all the stuff he says,
00:33:01but you respect the fact that you know where it's coming from,
00:33:04and you know that at the end of the day everything he's doing has one goal in mind,
00:33:08and that's to win a championship.
00:33:10And he's been there, done that.
00:33:13So defense, that was a goal going into last year.
00:33:16Now I want to be a playmaker.
00:33:17And to his credit, he's been very good about achieving the goals that he sets out.
00:33:21Yeah, he has.
00:33:22Oh, no, he has.
00:33:23He really has.
00:33:24And so far, I mean, at least tonight,
00:33:27I thought he was really making an effort to distribute the ball, find the open end.
00:33:32He looks a little more explosive physically, too.
00:33:34He's definitely bigger.
00:33:36He's bigger.
00:33:37He's bigger.
00:33:38I've noticed him playing around the rim just being a shot blocker,
00:33:42just physical presence defensively inside.
00:33:44He got called for a foul on one today,
00:33:46but there were a couple of plays in Abu Dhabi
00:33:48where he was just stuffing guys off the basket around there, too.
00:33:51So I expect a little bit more defensive versatility from him this year, too,
00:33:55and obviously he's going to try to take on more of an offensive load as a playmaker,
00:33:58too, and that could get Jason going as well.
00:34:00We talk all the time about how hard the game is.
00:34:03I think it's great for Jason.
00:34:04Yeah.
00:34:05Tonight I counted.
00:34:06What do you think about the double teams?
00:34:07I know.
00:34:08Again, all night we're saying just preseason, I think,
00:34:11because we don't want to sound silly.
00:34:13But in the first half, I counted only, I think, two times,
00:34:18so basically the whole game, that Jason did one of those long,
00:34:22prolonged isolation, over-dribble top of the key,
00:34:27turn into nothing possession.
00:34:30And seeing that if he can play off the ball a little more,
00:34:35it allows for it because sometimes he just sticks the ball
00:34:38when he's at the top of the key.
00:34:39Everything stops.
00:34:42Everybody stands around.
00:34:43So Jalen being more active and looking to distribute as well,
00:34:49I think really helps Jason quite a bit if he embraces the role off the ball.
00:34:55Oh, no.
00:34:56Mute me.
00:34:58Yeah, I think it's a pretty good starting point.
00:35:01I think we'll have to keep kind of getting better
00:35:03and kind of getting back into the speed of things.
00:35:05Joe talked about your improvements, things like screening angles
00:35:09and getting into the space.
00:35:12What was your offseason like getting prepared for this?
00:35:17Yeah, honestly, a lot of it was a little bit quicker than usual.
00:35:20But I feel like so much of – I feel like honestly just being a big in this league
00:35:24is kind of trying to be in a good physical place with all that.
00:35:27And I do think – I mean, it's been a pretty small sample size,
00:35:34and Denver kind of plays a pretty unique way,
00:35:36and it was a little different.
00:35:37But I think continuing to find ways to be able to help our guys get open,
00:35:43be able to leverage the advantages that we have just based on who
00:35:46and what's on the court and our ability as a team to kind of recognize that,
00:35:51which a lot of times can involve the five.
00:35:53But, yeah, I mean, it's interesting just all the little things
00:35:58of knowing where you're on the floor and who's on ball and who the big is
00:36:03and therefore what you want to kind of do to be able to create the best advantage.
00:36:08And I think, honestly, I did all right in some respects today,
00:36:12but then I definitely had some other places where I could have –
00:36:16I did something different that would have probably been more effective.
00:36:19But, you know, a lot of it was just playing the game
00:36:22and kind of thinking the game and trying to put ourselves
00:36:25in the best spot of possession.
00:36:28Luke, I'm wondering if you can talk about the physicality
00:36:32that you observed in tonight's game
00:36:34and how you see kind of the more physical parts of your game
00:36:37fitting into what could be a starter role.
00:36:40Yeah, I think that's – I mean, honestly, last year with Charles Lee,
00:36:46I think he did a great job just kind of –
00:36:50I really just owning that side of the game and embracing it,
00:36:53whether it's rebounding or just kind of –
00:36:56I mean, defensively or in screening.
00:36:58I think those are all kind of big parts where it comes in.
00:37:01A lot of times the advantage is created or not,
00:37:05like especially as a screener, kind of just on your physicality
00:37:08and how well you can hold the guy off.
00:37:10And, yeah, I mean, that's definitely an important part.
00:37:13And, honestly, to play where, you know, we want to be playing is –
00:37:19it just kind of gets more and more intense with –
00:37:21especially kind of the more veteran teams in the league.
00:37:24So it's something that I've had to adapt to, I think.
00:37:29I think all players do to a certain extent, but myself particularly,
00:37:33like as my career has kind of gone on.
00:37:35But I was just a part of playing the game at this point.
00:37:40All right, there's Luke Cornett.
00:37:43I like that last point there about the physicality.
00:37:46That stands out to me more than anything with him.
00:37:48He's on the offensive glass.
00:37:50He's playing more physical defensively, I feel like,
00:37:53able to extend himself out to the perimeter more
00:37:56and even just scoring through contact inside.
00:37:59That was a big thing he said at media day.
00:38:01He wants to try to do more aggressively, just finish inside.
00:38:04There was a play – you were talking about him actually making himself
00:38:07a threat offensively, Sherrod.
00:38:09They just left him alone at the free throw line on one play tonight,
00:38:11and he was just like, whoop, and just like dribbled in and did a layup line.
00:38:15So it's kind of weird to me how defenses guard him
00:38:18because he's always looking to pass,
00:38:20so they're always kind of playing to the outside like Tatum and Brown,
00:38:24thinking he's going to kick it right out to them.
00:38:26He more often than not has some opportunities to just go right up inside,
00:38:30especially when he grabs the board.
00:38:32That's my frustration with him, the fact that he, I think up to this point,
00:38:37has not taken advantage of those opportunities.
00:38:40He plays with guys who are selfless enough to where if he takes a wide open shot
00:38:46at the top of the key, they're not going to trip about that.
00:38:49Because Tatum and Brown, they know that they can get their shots off
00:38:52pretty much any time they want.
00:38:53But when their presence can create open shot opportunities for guys
00:38:57who they know can make shots, they need those guys to take those shots.
00:39:00That has been a lot of my frustration with Luke.
00:39:03I don't think he looks to shoot the ball enough,
00:39:05particularly when you're wide open.
00:39:07And when the Celtics acquired Luke, remember the story on him was
00:39:12he gives us another stretch big.
00:39:15He has not stretched the floor nearly as much as I thought he would.
00:39:19I'm fine with that.
00:39:21He's been begging them to shoot threes for how many years now?
00:39:24Right.
00:39:25And even if you're not shooting threes, shoot twos.
00:39:28Shoot long twos.
00:39:29Just shoot the damn ball.
00:39:31I think he's been more efficient looking to play inside.
00:39:35And that creates a threat to the basket.
00:39:38There were times in those Denver games and Abu Dhabi where he was diving
00:39:42into the rim and guys were actually collapsing in on him and he's thrown
00:39:45out passes from there.
00:39:46So I like his re-altered game.
00:39:50I don't know if he's just going to be launching threes at like a 29% rate.
00:39:54I think there's already enough good shooters on this team.
00:39:57So, yes, if he's ever in the trail spot and they toss it back to him
00:40:01and he's wide open from there, he should take it.
00:40:03He took one three last year.
00:40:04He has to be willing to take it.
00:40:06Yeah.
00:40:07He has to be willing to take it.
00:40:08You have to be willing to take it.
00:40:09Right.
00:40:11But what did you guys think of Tatum tonight?
00:40:13I thought he was great.
00:40:15He was good.
00:40:16I had no issues.
00:40:17He was good.
00:40:18He didn't try to force it.
00:40:19He was good.
00:40:20And the threes there, Nick.
00:40:21The threes.
00:40:22Whatever he did mechanically with the shot, it's there.
00:40:23He was six for 14 from three, about 42% in Denver.
00:40:27So nine for 22.
00:40:30He's about 40%.
00:40:32Yeah.
00:40:33Yeah, just looking at the shots he took in Abu Dhabi
00:40:39tonight, the release is just quicker.
00:40:41That's the one thing.
00:40:43That's what I see, too.
00:40:44And it's not like he's rushing it.
00:40:47It's just quicker.
00:40:48It looks so much more fluid.
00:40:51And remember, Tatum, you know, he's got great length for his position,
00:40:55so it's hard for guys to block his shot.
00:40:58And if he's releasing it quicker,
00:41:00guys are going to start playing him a little bit more closely,
00:41:04which allows him to use his dribble drive game to create space
00:41:07and get to the rim.
00:41:08And maybe potentially put that defense in scramble mode.
00:41:11And next thing you know, you've got to deal with Tatum's mid-range,
00:41:14or you've got Jalen in the corner, you've got Derek White in the corner,
00:41:18you might have Luke diving to the rim.
00:41:20All of a sudden, Tatum becomes more than just a guy that can get buckets.
00:41:24He becomes a guy now that can get two points for the Celtics in some way,
00:41:28shape, or form.
00:41:29That is what something as simple as a quicker release on your three-point
00:41:34shot can create.
00:41:36It makes an already dynamic score that even more impressive.
00:41:42If the three's back, look out.
00:41:44That's where you start talking about MVP.
00:41:46Yeah.
00:41:47Yeah.
00:41:48I mean, he's my pick for MVP this year.
00:41:51Really?
00:41:53Oh, yes.
00:41:54Yes.
00:41:55This is going to be that year for Tatum.
00:41:58It would make sense, wouldn't it?
00:42:02Tatum, on a down year, is going to get you 25 points a game.
00:42:06On a down year.
00:42:0727 on a down year.
00:42:09Right.
00:42:10Right.
00:42:11So, when that is like the basement of your game offensively,
00:42:16and you're a guy who defensively is way underrated,
00:42:19when you start looking at his overall body of work at that end of the floor,
00:42:24and as Bobby, as you pointed out, if he's like around a 40% three-point
00:42:29shooter, which is very realistic, Tatum's averaging better than 30 points.
00:42:32And this team is going to be, last year they beat three teams by 50 or more
00:42:36points.
00:42:37They might beat 10 teams by that amount.
00:42:39I mean, Tatum has the potential to be easily the best player in this league.
00:42:45He's got the best team.
00:42:46So, that's half the battle right there is can you elevate the play of your
00:42:50team?
00:42:51And you know what?
00:42:52Look at that stat line, five of 11.
00:42:54The fact that he's willing to, and granted,
00:42:57he didn't play a lot in the second half, but not forcing shots is just so huge.
00:43:02We know he's an amazing guy.
00:43:04He doesn't need to shoot a ton on this team.
00:43:06He doesn't need to shoot.
00:43:07He can be so lethal passing the ball just by creating opportunities.
00:43:13If he would leave the three-point line, I mean, and I,
00:43:16and hopefully this year he will.
00:43:18And, and yeah, I mean, look at that box score.
00:43:22That's a beautiful box score right there for a preseason game.
00:43:25Yeah.
00:43:2623 minutes.
00:43:27I mean, that's just stunning right there.
00:43:29His impacts translate into the box score and you see it visually too,
00:43:34just how much she draws attention,
00:43:36how much he's able to assist other guys in creating opportunities for them.
00:43:41And I think that's a mark of a great player.
00:43:44And he makes shots like that, that turnaround,
00:43:47almost baseline fade away in the second half.
00:43:51Unguardable.
00:43:52Unguardable.
00:43:53And Sherrod, you could, you could relate to this.
00:43:55Probably.
00:43:56I remember back in the day when,
00:43:58when Jordan or bird would pull off a shot like that, you'd be like, Holy shit.
00:44:02How the hell did he do that?
00:44:03And it changes the floor.
00:44:04And it changes the floor completely.
00:44:06And Tatum, it's like second nature, right?
00:44:09We look at it and we think, Oh, this is just what he does.
00:44:12But back then you'd be chanting their names after hitting a shot like that.
00:44:16He's just sick.
00:44:17He's really good.
00:44:18Yeah.
00:44:19No, the confidence has to be there.
00:44:21The confidence has to be there.
00:44:22Right.
00:44:23It's about consistency for him too.
00:44:24He'll go through some great stretches and then shoot ice cold.
00:44:27And that hurts his run.
00:44:28He, he was the MVP favorite the last two years.
00:44:31Like the first quarter of the season.
00:44:33And then other guys heated up or he faded a little bit.
00:44:36And yeah,
00:44:37I don't think his MVP stock has ever been quite as low as it's been.
00:44:41I agree.
00:44:42But that also, but that also is to Sherrod's point.
00:44:45This guy's has something to prove again.
00:44:48How could you just won the title?
00:44:51And now he's got something approved.
00:44:53Not just for the fact that, you know, he didn't,
00:44:56and I don't think that that would bother him that he didn't win MVP,
00:44:59but more so having his stock be so low after just winning a title,
00:45:05you know, you have something approved.
00:45:07And the best team, you know, sometimes best player, best team.
00:45:10That's sort of an MVP criteria too.
00:45:12And can you get the bench headed down in that sense?
00:45:15And how long, I mean,
00:45:16I think you're seeing a little bit of a, a,
00:45:18a sharing of that best player with, with Jalen now too.
00:45:22I mean, at least that's what I heard.
00:45:23Right.
00:45:24Right.
00:45:25Perspective.
00:45:26So how he, how he, he deals with that is, is also pivotal.
00:45:31One more thing about oh nine, you know,
00:45:33the thing that's different about this,
00:45:35that this team's defending and 2009 is like,
00:45:40we know the KG injury,
00:45:42but they went into the second half of the season,
00:45:45like just incredibly good.
00:45:47And then the injuries came.
00:45:49Whereas this team,
00:45:50hopefully all indications show with KP coming back around December,
00:45:55they'll be getting healthy just as the second half of the season.
00:45:59And look at how they're managing out.
00:46:00I want to get out already.
00:46:02I love that they're managing.
00:46:04I saw that on your rundown.
00:46:05Yeah.
00:46:06I want to, I want to get to that before we get out of here.
00:46:08But the other thing is that just real quick, the two,
00:46:11I think the Celtics are more equipped in 2024 to defend.
00:46:15And that all nine team was playing just so much hotter than even the
00:46:21oh-eight team maybe.
00:46:23So the 24 team has a better chance,
00:46:25I think the repeat than the last Celtics team,
00:46:27because of the way the roster is set up.
00:46:29And I just don't, I don't see a major threat.
00:46:32Philly.
00:46:33We can talk about them later in the show,
00:46:35but I just don't see a major threat right now that scares you.
00:46:38And that's the word scares.
00:46:40There's no one that's better,
00:46:42but you can take any of them if you play your game and play your potential.
00:46:46And so far again, pre-season, you don't put too much stock in any of this.
00:46:49There's no signs that the slippage,
00:46:52there's no signs that there's a hangover guys,
00:46:54just not paying attention to what they need to be doing right now,
00:46:56which is good.
00:46:57And these starters have played a decent amount so far,
00:46:59which I think it's probably going to change.
00:47:01You know what else is Bobby too?
00:47:02There's before you go to the game, Tom Reed,
00:47:04there's a difference between swagger and puffing out your chest and being
00:47:11overconfident and obnoxious or whiny or, you know, complacent.
00:47:17And the fact that for pre-season alone,
00:47:19they're coming out just like they left the court in June is just such a
00:47:23great sign as to the toughness of this team, you know,
00:47:27going into a defending year.
00:47:31Absolutely.
00:47:32I want to get to Horford before we wrap this up here.
00:47:34All the pressers are done over there.
00:47:36So we've heard from everybody tonight.
00:47:37Celtics are back at it tomorrow against the Raptors.
00:47:39And if you want to be in the house, it's a seven o'clock tip,
00:47:42a little earlier now, get in and out of the garden, see some of the guys.
00:47:47I don't know who's actually going to play tomorrow,
00:47:49but Joe Mizzou told us Lonnie Walker will be out there.
00:47:52So, you know, at the very least you'll see him.
00:47:54And Al Horford, Joe said,
00:47:56is scheduled to play in one of these pre-season games as well.
00:47:58So I'm sure he wants to play in front of the garden floor and tomorrow
00:48:01might be his opportunity.
00:48:02It's definitely your opportunity to get in there with game time,
00:48:05panoramic views of your seats.
00:48:07That's my favorite feature over there.
00:48:09So, you know,
00:48:10exactly what your view is going to be before you buy your ticket and before
00:48:13you get to the arena, whatever it is.
00:48:15And that's big for concerts too.
00:48:17I went to Stevie Wonder,
00:48:20Sherrod,
00:48:22didn't know what my seats were going to look like.
00:48:24MSG, there's some weird seating in there.
00:48:27I I'm up on that circular thing.
00:48:30I know you've probably been up there on the top.
00:48:33So I'm like, all right,
00:48:34am I going to get a view of the stage?
00:48:36Boom.
00:48:37Seat geek.
00:48:38You go in,
00:48:39you hit the ticket you want to buy and it shows you.
00:48:41Boom.
00:48:42You're going to see the,
00:48:43you're going to see the stage from where you're sitting at,
00:48:44even though you're pretty high up.
00:48:45It was a tough ticket,
00:48:46but got it on game time.
00:48:48And I didn't think I was ever going to see Stevie Wonder at his age.
00:48:51And I don't know how much he was going to be torn anymore,
00:48:54but man,
00:48:55thanks to game time,
00:48:56got in there,
00:48:57MSG special show.
00:48:58And I'm always looking for concert tickets.
00:49:00So right now you can use the code CLNS,
00:49:02$20 off your first purchase.
00:49:04Terms apply.
00:49:05Go over there for football tickets this weekend.
00:49:08Celtics playing on Sunday.
00:49:10If you're up in Toronto,
00:49:11Tuesday,
00:49:12they're going to be up there as well.
00:49:13And the home opener coming up as well,
00:49:16which is going to be a tough ticket,
00:49:18but if you're going to get it,
00:49:19it's on game time.
00:49:20Best seats,
00:49:21lowest price guarantee.
00:49:22Again,
00:49:23use that code CLNS for $20 off your first purchase.
00:49:25Terms apply.
00:49:27Welcome in Noah Dalzell from the TD Garden floor.
00:49:30Thanks to Nick Jelso for joining us here tonight.
00:49:33I think he might be back tomorrow,
00:49:34but either way,
00:49:36it was great to talk to him tonight.
00:49:37Get some of his thoughts.
00:49:38We were just going to talk about Al Horford briefly before we get out of here,
00:49:42Noah,
00:49:43but what was your biggest takeaway?
00:49:44I'm just here at the buzzer.
00:49:45I don't think you can take too much from a,
00:49:50like a talent standpoint.
00:49:51I think that Luke Cornette said at a podium,
00:49:53but they just had so many advantages that it's just hard to even assess anything.
00:49:56But I think you can assess that they had a really good,
00:49:59they just had a really good,
00:50:00you know,
00:50:01approach to this game.
00:50:02They were very locked in,
00:50:03everybody took it really seriously.
00:50:04And you have to appreciate that.
00:50:05You can't take that for granted after a championship that in preseason,
00:50:08you're going to come in and just look great off the bat.
00:50:10And so I thought just mentality wise,
00:50:12they look focused,
00:50:13focused on the details outside of that.
00:50:15I don't think you can take too many assumptions on people's individual play
00:50:20from how outmatched they were.
00:50:21So the biggest story we're tracking,
00:50:24we started off the show with it.
00:50:25We discussed it the other day,
00:50:26Noah,
00:50:27and we've got a third straight Cornette start tonight.
00:50:30Horford sat again,
00:50:31which I'm not putting up any alarms or anything like that,
00:50:34red flags,
00:50:35but it is curious that he still hasn't played this preseason.
00:50:38Clearly they're taking it as slow as you can,
00:50:42getting them on the floor and putting them in action.
00:50:45And there's no need to see him out there.
00:50:47I think that's probably the biggest reason that they're moving as slow as
00:50:51they can right now.
00:50:52And he'll ease his way into the regular season.
00:50:54I'm sure too,
00:50:55but with each passing game that they're not playing them,
00:50:57I know they want to get them into one by the end of the preseason,
00:51:00as Joe said here,
00:51:01but Cornette's playing a ton with the starters.
00:51:04Horford came off the bench pretty much all last year.
00:51:07And then when Joe got estuary the other day,
00:51:09could Luke start and Orford come off the bench?
00:51:13He said,
00:51:14well,
00:51:15we will figure that out.
00:51:16We'll do whatever makes sense.
00:51:17So he didn't rule it out.
00:51:18I'm still betting against it,
00:51:21but man tonight,
00:51:23I thought we were going to see out tonight and we didn't.
00:51:25And Luke went out there and just went off to start the game and looks so
00:51:30good in that role right now.
00:51:33I might be starting to buy in a little bit.
00:51:35Don't do it,
00:51:36Bobby.
00:51:37Don't,
00:51:38don't,
00:51:39don't let your Luke,
00:51:40Luke obsession blind you to what's happening here.
00:51:42Listen,
00:51:43if Joel and B would have been in that lineup tonight for Philadelphia,
00:51:46I don't think we would have seen Luke play as much as we did.
00:51:50And certainly not play as effectively as he did.
00:51:54So let's just,
00:51:55let's just keep a little perspective with this.
00:51:57Bobby,
00:51:58shall we?
00:51:59Luke is playing really good basketball and I give him a lot of credit for
00:52:01making the most of his opportunity.
00:52:03That is great to see.
00:52:04But Luke,
00:52:05when Al is back,
00:52:07it should be coming off the bench.
00:52:09The idea of starting Luke and having Al play behind him,
00:52:13that's not going to work.
00:52:15I don't think that's going to work.
00:52:17I just,
00:52:18at this point out,
00:52:19as long as Al has enough juice to be comparable to what we saw last
00:52:23season,
00:52:24he's going to be in a starting lineup when a season starts.
00:52:27What do you think Noah?
00:52:30Yeah.
00:52:31As my wife,
00:52:32I've yeah,
00:52:33I was going to say,
00:52:34sorry,
00:52:35I have bad wifi.
00:52:36I'm at TD garden.
00:52:37So it's not my fault,
00:52:38but I think my perspective on,
00:52:39on the Al Holford thing is unless there's something that we're missing,
00:52:42like he has some sort of on unstated injury,
00:52:44which you never know.
00:52:45I mean,
00:52:46they don't tell us unless they have to,
00:52:47but some of these things,
00:52:48but so unless there's something that's nagging him,
00:52:50he has some soreness.
00:52:51My understanding of the situation is just like,
00:52:53why play Al Holford in preseason games when he has 18 years of NBA
00:52:56experience and was playing through June and is going to have another
00:52:59really long season ahead of him,
00:53:00hopefully.
00:53:01And so it makes all the sense in the world to just sit him out for
00:53:04preseason.
00:53:05There's a possibility,
00:53:06obviously that we'll miss that we're missing part of the picture,
00:53:09but Luke kind of said it himself.
00:53:11You know,
00:53:12I was asking him post game about his improvements and about how good he
00:53:15looked tonight.
00:53:16And he said,
00:53:17you know,
00:53:18we had a lot of advantages in this game.
00:53:19Like it was a pretty easy game to look good in effectively.
00:53:21He didn't say those words,
00:53:22but yeah,
00:53:23competition.
00:53:24Yeah.
00:53:25It was like the post mashups were just ridiculous the entire night.
00:53:27And so I don't,
00:53:28I don't,
00:53:29she doesn't change my perspective on whether he should be the starting,
00:53:31the starter with this group.
00:53:33So you're going out.
00:53:35I'm going out.
00:53:37Yeah.
00:53:38I think I changed tonight.
00:53:42Wow.
00:53:43I just like Al being in the second unit.
00:53:45And,
00:53:46you know,
00:53:47before we get out of here,
00:53:48no,
00:53:49and obviously I have to discuss what Xavier did tonight,
00:53:51two hitting three threes.
00:53:52You can see Alan Tillman playing together off the bench,
00:53:56which was a pretty good look last year.
00:53:58And I think that's the thing as I think this through,
00:54:00that's solidifying it for me is you start Luke,
00:54:03you play him a short run,
00:54:04Al comes in pretty quickly.
00:54:06He's the six man here.
00:54:07And then you're able to get into that Al Tillman look and you play him
00:54:11bigger.
00:54:12You have all your bigs involved at that point.
00:54:14And with Tillman's hitting threes,
00:54:17you like him at the four.
00:54:19He's now what five for seven,
00:54:20this preseason from three small sample,
00:54:24but pretty good six for eight.
00:54:25He had another one late.
00:54:26That's right.
00:54:27Yeah.
00:54:29I mean,
00:54:30Xavier looks great.
00:54:31And I think,
00:54:32you know,
00:54:33Joe talked about it,
00:54:34that he's worked really hard and that he's evolved quite a bit.
00:54:36He's become more,
00:54:37he's working on becoming more versatile.
00:54:38I think,
00:54:39yeah,
00:54:40if you can hit that three and from just watching them shoot around,
00:54:41like Xavier Tillman looks like he has a really good shot.
00:54:43I know it's hard for us to assess.
00:54:44We're watching small samples,
00:54:45but I'm bought into the idea that he can stretch the floor.
00:54:48I like Luke.
00:54:50I think people,
00:54:51everybody wants me to push back on you.
00:54:52I think you're,
00:54:53you're pretty accurate on it,
00:54:54but,
00:54:55but yeah,
00:54:56Xavier Tillman to me was one of the,
00:54:57one of the things I know everybody else.
00:54:59So,
00:55:00I mean,
00:55:01Joe called him today.
00:55:02One of the best defenders on the team.
00:55:03I think people are over overlooked because he said it,
00:55:05not my words,
00:55:06not Bobby's words.
00:55:07No,
00:55:08we,
00:55:09we heard it and it was mind blowing.
00:55:10Yeah.
00:55:11It was so mind blowing.
00:55:13I need to go over and rewatch that part of the video where,
00:55:15where you guys reacted to that in life.
00:55:16I'll be our next guy.
00:55:17Ranked the Celtics defenders,
00:55:19but I don't think he needs like a one-on-one defender.
00:55:23You know,
00:55:24he's talking about just like the way that he communicates on the floor and
00:55:26the way that he kind of knows where to go.
00:55:28I mean,
00:55:29this is stuff we've been saying for a long time.
00:55:30Yeah.
00:55:31He's so trustworthy.
00:55:32And that's,
00:55:33that's another reason.
00:55:34I think he's,
00:55:35he's in that mix.
00:55:36It's in the discussion.
00:55:37You know,
00:55:38it might not be every night.
00:55:39I think opening night,
00:55:40it's cat.
00:55:41He's out the three point line.
00:55:42He's going to be taking 10 threes.
00:55:43That's not Luke's great position to succeed.
00:55:46So it doesn't make sense.
00:55:48Yeah.
00:55:49I could see Luke on those back-to-back nights when someone's got to start in
00:55:52place of outlooks.
00:55:53I'd go with Luke.
00:55:54Absolutely.
00:55:55Absolutely.
00:55:56But if I got a healthy Al Horford,
00:55:57who's ready to go out there and ball,
00:55:58I was going to be in that star lineup.
00:56:01Makes sense.
00:56:03Makes sense to me.
00:56:05I mean,
00:56:06there are three back-to-backs through November five through early December.
00:56:08So plenty of,
00:56:09there's three likely stars for Luke.
00:56:11That is the most likely scenario for sure.
00:56:16And it might just be trying to get him some chemistry with the starters for
00:56:19those situations now where Al doesn't have to start.
00:56:22So that's definitely the most likely scenario here.
00:56:25I want to play this real quick before we get out of here.
00:56:28Cause I thought it was pretty funny.
00:56:29We did talk to Gershon Yabusele.
00:56:30It was not a huge story.
00:56:31I don't know how big of a role he's going to play.
00:56:34I love Yabu.
00:56:35But Sharad covered him.
00:56:36I did not.
00:56:37I love him.
00:56:38That's my guy.
00:56:39For the first time before the game here and said it was pretty surreal.
00:56:42Come back to Boston.
00:56:43This was his first game in a start at center tonight,
00:56:45since 2019.
00:56:46After which the Celtics caught him.
00:56:48He ends up in Real Madrid and said tonight,
00:56:50he didn't know if he was ever going to be able to get back to the NBA,
00:56:53but one moment almost sealed it single-handedly when he dunked on LeBron
00:56:57and a dunk heard around the world.
00:57:00A lot.
00:57:01I got surprised that you guys didn't ask me that yet.
00:57:03I know.
00:57:04I know.
00:57:05That's even the first question.
00:57:06People wanted to see me in the street, the kids, you know, in the arena.
00:57:10Everybody talked to me about it.
00:57:12So it was a great moment in my career.
00:57:14And of course I'm enjoying it.
00:57:16I thought you looked pretty good tonight too.
00:57:19He competed, hit threes, played pretty physically.
00:57:23Jalen got him or Hauser got him at one point.
00:57:27Blocked his shot.
00:57:28In the lane.
00:57:29But good stuff from Yabu.
00:57:31They could use him.
00:57:32They're not a very deep team there in Philly,
00:57:34and that's why he's on that roster.
00:57:36Yeah.
00:57:37I mean, he's just matured.
00:57:39I mean, I think that's the biggest thing about him right now,
00:57:42is he's just a much more mature in terms of his ability,
00:57:46in terms of the role that he plays.
00:57:49When he was in Boston, you really didn't know what to make of him.
00:57:52I mean, is he a stretch big?
00:57:55Is he big on a block?
00:57:57Is he a facilitator?
00:57:59What exactly does he do?
00:58:01And I think it's taken him some time to figure out how he can be an
00:58:06impactful player at this level, at the professional level.
00:58:10And we saw in the Olympics.
00:58:12I mean, he can be very impactful when given an opportunity,
00:58:16because I think he's matured to where he understands what he can
00:58:19and cannot do now.
00:58:21And he's a great fit for that 6'3",
00:58:23because they need a versatile big who can play some small ball center
00:58:28and can play the four spot and has a little bit of a face-up game,
00:58:32things that he, I think, is very comfortable doing now,
00:58:35that I don't believe he was as comfortable when he was a Celtic at doing.
00:58:39So good to see him back in the league.
00:58:42Good to see him finally, I think,
00:58:44find a place where his skills and his talents are going to actually
00:58:47translate into meaningful minutes on the court.
00:58:51Yep. And that is a wrap for us tonight.
00:58:53We'll continue the conversation here with some garden reports.
00:58:57Noah Delazelle and I are going to discuss this game further and talk a
00:59:01little bit about what we might see tomorrow.
00:59:03Celtics back again against the Raptors.
00:59:05So you hear from us again tomorrow here at TD Garden,
00:59:08the final preseason game in Boston before the Celtics head to Toronto to
00:59:11conclude that part of the schedule and then opening night from there.
00:59:14Again, want to shout out our sponsors here, PrizePix.
00:59:17Go over there this weekend.
00:59:19Great time to start a daily fantasy team for the weekend's games.
00:59:23Pro football coming up on Sunday.
00:59:26Use the code CLNS.
00:59:28Two or more players pick more or less on their stat projections.
00:59:32And if you play $5, you get $50 instantly with that code CLNS.
00:59:36And game time, as we mentioned,
00:59:38still offering $20 off your first purchase over there.
00:59:40Terms apply.
00:59:41So go to the game time app, create an account, and use that code CLNS.
00:59:44Today, Noah Delazelle.
00:59:47Check out You Got Boston here on CLNS Media and her continued coverage of
00:59:51the WNBA finals, which look like they could be a classic over on SB Nation.
00:59:56And A'Sharad Blakely, a great contributor here to the Garden Report.
01:00:00You'll be hearing him again all season long here.
01:00:02And check out clnsmedia.com.
01:00:05I talked to Luke Cornett before the game about the possibility that he could
01:00:09start conversations he's having with Joe about that.
01:00:12Hit on all that with him and more.
01:00:14More to come for my conversation with Luke before the game tonight.
01:00:17Fifth year of Luke in Boston.
01:00:19Great start to it.
01:00:20Three starts for him and a breakout performance here against him.
01:00:24Oh, Bobby, get it over with, please.
01:00:27We'll do it.
01:00:29That's a wrap.
01:00:30See you guys.
01:00:31We'll talk to you tomorrow.
01:00:32Wait, Ahmed's got an outro for us, I think.
01:00:35No, he doesn't.
01:00:36You said he was going to work on an outro.
01:00:38He had a phenomenal game.
01:00:41Phenomenal.
01:00:44Porfrit's out.
01:00:45I think it's an option.
01:00:49That did not sound like a chair.
01:00:51It was a freaking chair.
01:00:53It does sound like a chair.