March 27, 2026

Can Joe Mazzulla Adjust When It Matters

We stop treating the Celtics like a fun regular season story and start asking the only question that matters: what survives a seven game series. We argue through Joe Mazzulla’s biggest pressure points, then map out how Boston can score in more than one way when the matchups get ugly.
• regular season success versus playoff chaos as the real test
• concerns about Mazzulla sticking to Plan A too long
• expectation shift after outperforming win projections
• Jaylen Brown as the first option in the attack
• Jayson Tatum’s reintegration and more physical driving
• need for multiple offensive profiles beyond iso threes
• Nikola Vucevic as a post scorer and passer
• value of paint touches, entry passes, and kickout threes
• bench “competency” lineups that protect leads
• playoff rotation questions for Shireman, Walsh, Gonzalez
• East threats that create bad series Atlanta and Cleveland
• Knicks, Pistons, and Heat as fight-based opponents
• West watch OKC, Lakers scenarios, Clippers chaos, Spurs rise
• player development as a quiet win this season

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Hosts: Mike Marcangelo, Dave Clarke, Rayshawn Buchanan, Bob Kelly
Producer: Craig D'Alessandro

Inquiries: Craig@mtpshow.com

00:00 - March Basketball And Celtics Stakes

03:06 - Why Mazzulla Still Raises Doubts

07:36 - Brown Drives The Offense First

16:35 - Vucevic And The Case For Post

26:33 - The Bench That Protects Leads

36:06 - East Matchups That Feel Dangerous

45:22 - Finals Dreams And West Wild Cards

56:52 - Expectations Shift And Closing Thoughts

WEBVTT

00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:07.919
It's missing the point.

00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:11.039
It is basketball season officially.

00:00:11.199 --> 00:00:12.960
It is the month of March.

00:00:13.359 --> 00:00:19.120
The NFL is firmly in our rear view despite their best efforts to make it a 12-month uh game.

00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:24.320
If you're a baseball fan, if you're into that sort of thing, I mean things are starting up for you.

00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:26.160
That's great opening day.

00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:29.280
But really, this is the time for basketball heads.

00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:33.039
This is the time to wrap your head and my head around basketball.

00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:37.280
Really think about the game and think about more specifically our team, Ray.

00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:41.280
I'm here with Hollywood Ray Sean Buchanan, the Boston Celtics.

00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:43.200
I'm just going to start with it right off the bat.

00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:44.960
We haven't really talked about the Celtics yet this year.

00:00:45.039 --> 00:00:50.399
I'm still not sold on Joe Mazzula, considering a shock to nobody.

00:00:50.880 --> 00:00:53.200
I I he still does things that annoy me.

00:00:53.359 --> 00:01:00.719
Now, I'm going to just use that to frame the overall, and then we're going to get a little bit more myopic as things go on.

00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:04.799
I want to be clear, it's not about results.

00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:05.200
Okay.

00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:06.400
They're winning games.

00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:09.519
They look like one of the better teams in the league.

00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:13.439
Try to catch up to maybe a surprise, maybe not a surprise.

00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:15.519
Detroit Pistons team in the East.

00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:22.879
My issue is the same issue I had at the end of last year, because it's time to start thinking about the playoffs.

00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:24.879
What happens in the playoffs?

00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:26.640
Things get chaotic.

00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:28.560
What's Joe Missoula good at?

00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:30.879
Executing a really stable game plan.

00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:35.200
Spacing, threes, pace, trust the system, trust the math, right?

00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:39.519
I don't think I'm saying anything totally outlandish about his coaching style there.

00:01:40.239 --> 00:01:46.400
But things happen, and we're going to get into this a little bit later when we have to talk about the sort of gauntlet that the Celtics are going to run through the East.

00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:47.439
Things happen in the playoffs.

00:01:47.519 --> 00:01:48.959
Things get crazy in the playoffs.

00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:52.959
And what I feel like I do this every year.

00:01:53.439 --> 00:02:00.159
But the regular season and the playoffs in basketball, so specifically in basketball, are such different beasts, right?

00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:01.040
We know this.

00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:02.400
This is a cliche at this point.

00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:03.760
We've said this a lot.

00:02:04.079 --> 00:02:19.039
And I don't think overperforming expectations in the regular season is going to really do anything but set us up for some frustration going into the playoffs because I think he was already found out in the postseason last year.

00:02:19.199 --> 00:02:29.439
So I guess my opening question to you, my opening salvo to you, Ray, is in the context of what's what we have built here, what are your expectations for this team going into the postseason?

00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:39.680
Are you now, because they sort of overperformed our expectations in the regular season, going to be disappointed if we don't make a deep playoff run or dare I say it, even compete for a championship?

00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:43.280
Or do you think this was always going to be a rebuild year?

00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:46.080
This was always going to be Jason Tatum trying to work his way back in.

00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:53.039
And despite being way ahead of schedule and look really good come coming back, I you know, I you haven't set your expectations super high.

00:02:53.120 --> 00:03:00.240
And I shouldn't be so hard on the guy because because we've won almost 50 games now at this point, I'm starting to think, well, why not?

00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:00.639
Right?

00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:05.680
Like so and then I start to think about Joe Mazzula in the playoffs, and I go, Oh, that's why not.

00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:10.240
Well, I mean, to that point first, right?

00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:14.159
And this is not about being an apologist, like you said, we're talking about results, right?

00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:24.159
So no, totally for first year, you know, he gets thrown into the fire, they go 57 to 25, they get to game seven in the conference finals.

00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:29.840
They ship out some pieces, ship out Malcolm Brogdon, ship out Marcus Smart.

00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:33.520
You bring in Drew Holiday, you bring in Christos Perzingis.

00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:34.240
They win.

00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:36.240
He then has the best roster in the NBA.

00:03:36.479 --> 00:03:43.039
No, right, but I'm like, but but it gets the best roster, but we've had other coaches have had the best roster and got smoked in the second round.

00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:43.919
Sure, sure, sure.

00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:46.400
When is the championship by a like a large margin?

00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:47.120
Like it wasn't close.

00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:48.800
Like they smoked at everybody.

00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:54.400
Then obviously they come back once again, took took a slight step back last year, right?

00:03:54.479 --> 00:03:58.560
Um, and I'm not I'm not talking about when you guys are playing, I'm talking about during the regular even during the regular season.

00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:00.400
But yeah, it didn't look right.

00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:03.199
But beat beat Orlando pretty easily, right?

00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:15.439
Even though that was a fairly yeah, beat Orlando, and then you know, you you got you got outplayed by New York, New York in those first two games, and then obviously between that it was a downward spiral.

00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:25.519
Tatum goes crazy in game four, then obviously, you know, gets gets hurt and you know starts starts the uh basically the the the fire sale of the other team, so to speak, in more ways than one.

00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:34.959
So I'm pretty sure most people thought they would win it win more than 35 to 40 games.

00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:46.959
But to that, I'm like, well I kept hearing about how you know JB it was again, he's proven it, so I'm not gonna say it's not today to act any different.

00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:50.959
But people have been high, you know, the guy I'm doing the show with right now.

00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:53.439
Not many have been higher in Jalen Brown than you.

00:04:54.079 --> 00:05:01.120
So we should have expected at least a playoff, even if there was a plan, but they should have we should at least expect a playoff for him to get in.

00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:08.480
And Jalen Brown's been an MVP candidate, should be the MVP, and then you get a Galley Tatum back in the fold.

00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:11.120
But to the to the point about coaching.

00:05:13.839 --> 00:05:19.839
I I say good coaching gets you maybe another six to eight more wins in the NBA.

00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:24.240
I feel like you're right, it doesn't really matter that much in the regular season, all things considered.

00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:26.480
It's more of a it's less system, more talent.

00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:27.120
I agree with you.

00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:27.439
Right.

00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:31.519
So so he he's he's done, and once again, we had they haven't always had the talent every night.

00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:32.079
They haven't.

00:05:32.240 --> 00:05:32.639
That's true.

00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:41.360
But they all play you, and at the we will talk a little bit later about our fucking white boy everybody run really fast rotation, which I we haven't been able to discuss this year.

00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:42.720
I'm like, this is this is great.

00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:45.279
It's like the Celtics to the 1950s, it's unbelievable, right?

00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:46.160
Right, right.

00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:51.120
But yeah, I I I do think given the circumstance, he's done a great job.

00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:55.279
Do I I'm not taking anything away from his performance in the regular season, just for the record.

00:05:55.439 --> 00:06:00.720
Well, no, I'm I'm saying, but just in in a moment, because like I said, people didn't a lot of people didn't have them winning more than 35 games.

00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:05.839
So totally that for them to be 48 and 24, and once again, it gave yourself a chance.

00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:13.519
Once again, everyone, you're not gonna win a championship every year, but to give yourself a chance, this is absolutely his best coaching job since he's been here.

00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:15.439
Absolutely, you know, thus far, right?

00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:24.879
Obviously, we have to see what happens, but this feels this feels very similar to what we just witnessed up here this past season at Foxboro.

00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:26.879
Probably hope not.

00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:27.759
I'd be able to do that.

00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:36.319
But you get you you get uh, you know, you start piling on wind, you're like, okay, like, well, you know, they're okay, they're catching people by surprise.

00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:41.120
It's like, oh, teams are getting belted at teams are getting smoked by 20.

00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:48.560
Oh, like now they have an MVP candidate, and you know, obviously with the quarterback, and they end up getting all the way to the to the Super Bowl.

00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:54.879
Now, granted, obviously it wasn't a result that fans wanted up here, but that wasn't a probable run.

00:06:55.279 --> 00:06:59.519
And would I be here for a 2022 type of run to the finals?

00:06:59.680 --> 00:07:00.079
Absolutely.

00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:05.839
Now, granted, I I would want them to win it, obviously, if they get there, but that that would be awesome to see, right?

00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:13.519
Because we haven't seen something like that where you get a guy of that caliber to come back at this time of the year to to do that.

00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:17.120
But yeah, I mean, once again, I I think he's done a decent job.

00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:36.319
Once again, there's still I would love to see what adjustments can be made in in the playoffs, but despite the changes, despite like literally over 80%, not 80%, but about 60% of your roster changing on the fly, they damn never haven't missed a beat, and it's been great to watch.

00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:42.800
I mean, the guy I give credit for that too is JB though, to be honest.

00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:54.160
Just like on the eye test, I him being, and like, I'm not gonna revisit this take because obviously, you know, we've since won a championship with Jason Tatum as as our best player, so it is what it is.

00:07:54.319 --> 00:08:06.160
But I I did always think this is kind of hard to put this in a nuanced way because I don't think it's bad to have both Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown.

00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:09.600
I think that that conversation is is is is beating a dead horse.

00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:14.959
I I think you know that would it, it's such a it's such a the first four years of their careers conversation.

00:08:15.040 --> 00:08:21.920
Like we've had them both and they've both been great, and they've both been, you know, high usage, not getting in each other's way, they can compliment each other's games.

00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:24.079
Like we this has all been proven.

00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:45.360
But seeing Jalen be given the opportunity to do it himself, I think was something we all sort of suspected, you know, and maybe people that were more on the like, oh, you gotta pick one side of things for the first few years of their careers were more on the like probably just pick Tatum and then like see what you can turn Jalen Brown into.

00:08:45.440 --> 00:08:54.159
And I I, you know, it wasn't too long ago that people were very, very frustrated with JB and like his handles on the inside and like he can't go left and like blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:55.679
I mean, he kind of can now.

00:08:55.840 --> 00:09:01.360
He still does that thing where he runs into traffic, but he's blowing by guys so hard that it this season that it's like it doesn't really seem to matter.

00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:03.759
He's like such a downhill player this season.

00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:06.480
And it's a lot of it's because he's got all this room, you know.

00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:08.639
And I mean that metaphorically and physically.

00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:16.960
It's like the way that the team is set up, you don't have Christabs Porzingis's corpse like trying to get out of the way, trying to get out of the lane, you know.

00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:21.679
You don't have sort of, okay, we gotta get it's like it's like a less is more.

00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:23.360
We took away, but we added, right?

00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:26.559
Where it's like, okay, yeah, it was it was great to have all those players, you know.

00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:32.799
It was a it was great to walk a championship with Porzingis and and and Drew Holiday and Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown.

00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:36.879
But when you took away, you sort of stripped it down, and sometimes that's necessary.

00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:42.559
Like, how often do you see rosters die of bloat?

00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:42.960
Right?

00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:46.879
Like that could that that was probably our biggest fear go coming into this offseason.

00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:56.799
And the way that they were able to maneuver some of those trades away really set us up to be like, all right, well, let's see what we have, let's see what we're building around, like let's see what we're we're gonna reset and and do.

00:09:56.879 --> 00:10:02.720
And then you always had that thing in the back of your mind of reinserting Tatum into the lineup, which I think has actually gone really seamlessly.

00:10:02.960 --> 00:10:11.200
I was gonna wait till later for this conversation, but I think the reason why it's looked good with the exception of losing to an Anthony Edwards list Grizzlies team is very strange.

00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:20.320
All right, Timberwolves team is very strange to me, but I think I think it's I think it works better when Jalen's 1A.

00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:22.879
Where Jalen's one and Jason is 1A.

00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:34.960
I think that slight tweak in just the idea of reintroducing him to the team, because it has to be like this as he's like starts to get his minutes back and starts to feel you know more confident in his body and like you know, whatever.

00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:45.200
I there's something about how the offense moves through Jalen Brown that they haven't really fully taken away from him that's allowed Tatum to reintegrate into the squad.

00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:46.000
Does that make sense?

00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:52.159
And I think it's I think in the playoffs it would be nice to stay with what's been working.

00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:54.080
Yeah.

00:10:56.320 --> 00:11:01.679
I I always thought that once the injury happened, I said, and I think I said this on a Discord chat that we're on.

00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:08.399
I was like Tatum becoming more of a thinker of the game is gonna be dangerous.

00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:10.639
Because I think you can see that already.

00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:11.840
No, right, right.

00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:26.720
But we we know we know that he can go get a basket anytime he needs it, whether it's a step back three, whether it's getting to the rack, uh, which he's actually driving more uh since he's been back, which lets me know that he has to under trust his body more, which which is a good sign.

00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:30.080
I think he's been driving better than ever.

00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:34.159
I think the way he goes to the cup now is like, I don't know.

00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:38.720
It's like I I that was the thing I least expected was like that he was gonna be get more physical when he came back.

00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:39.200
That's it.

00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:50.159
Early in his career, the reason why people got so excited about his projection was because he was a three-level guy, and you heard me speak about that all the time.

00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:52.639
I'm like, he scores at every level.

00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:59.519
I was like, that's in today's NBA, you need at least you know, one or two of those guys.

00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:00.559
If you have three, great.

00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:02.399
But it's like you need a guy that can score.

00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:03.840
I'm thinking they have two guys that can score.

00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:05.519
I was gonna say, so can JB though, too.

00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:06.639
Like, yeah, no, exactly.

00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:08.799
So it's like it's it's it's it's amazing.

00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:17.360
So the comparison I've always made though was you know, OKC went with Russ and KD.

00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:29.519
Like I I never I never thought that Russ was better than than KD, but what KD wasn't willing to do, Russ was.

00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:31.039
And that's how I feel here.

00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:43.039
The thing, and I won't say willing, but the the the things that KD wasn't as comfortable doing, Russ was, and I feel like the same thing is that Tatum may not be comfortable with as much as Jalen Brown is.

00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:50.720
So whether that be vocally, whether it be you know, how you know, getting to the getting to the basket more.

00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:55.360
Like I think that's that's that to me is a is always been a good comparison.

00:12:55.519 --> 00:13:05.759
Even even when we were growing up with Antoine and Paul, Antoine Walker, as good as he was, was never better than Paul Pierce, but Antoine would get in people's face.

00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:09.600
Paul, that wasn't Paul's, it just wasn't his mentality, wasn't his game.

00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:11.360
Not early on, anyways.

00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:22.240
Paul wanted to play and he gave you 50, and you know, then then he talked to you, but he wasn't someone that was gonna get in teammates' face and say, Oh, you know, come on, y'all, rally wasn't a rallyer.

00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:25.120
Maybe later, maybe later in his career he got a little mouthier.

00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:25.919
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:27.120
Later on, but I'm like, you know.

00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:29.679
After he played with KG, he couldn't help himself.

00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:31.039
Yeah, correct.

00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:31.519
Correct.

00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:38.559
You know, and you know, I feel like you know, Tatum is is is you know, to bring it back to the current day, Tatum is mom manner.

00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:41.120
JB takes no prisoners, none.

00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:45.360
You're not saying anything that he doesn't like, you're not pushing him around.

00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:47.519
And he's also a veteran now.

00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:56.480
And I think that like I think that's one of the things that really, I mean, but it's benefited both guys, but I think it's really benefited Brown in the sense that he's sort of seen it all.

00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:57.759
And I think he's a smart guy.

00:13:57.840 --> 00:14:02.320
So I think he's like, if you're a little smarter, you're gonna be a little bit more affected by things, right?

00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:11.600
Like you're gonna take things in at sort of a higher dosage, and I think I'm not saying he's like smarter than Tatum or whatever, but he's always been a cerebral sort of player, despite his athleticism, right?

00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:19.440
And I think what I think we're saying the same thing in that it doesn't matter who's better, and it's a silly conversation to have.

00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:25.679
But what I like is I like when Jalen touches the ball first in in the in the attack.

00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:26.480
You know what I mean?

00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:38.960
Like when we're when we're trying to drive up a lead, especially if we're if we're trying to turn a seven-point lead into a 13 or 14-point lead, I I really like when Tatum sees the ball early, right?

00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:41.519
Like I think that's the kind of game that you can really have with him.

00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:48.159
But if we're kind of even and going back and forth, I really think I think that I like it better when JB's the decision maker.

00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:54.080
Not necessarily even like the playmaker, but like if he because I like you know I love a driving dish.

00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:55.759
You know, it's like my favorite thing, right?

00:14:55.919 --> 00:15:01.759
And I think most people, most kids from our era are like that we think about basketball in those terms still, right?

00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:04.159
Like that's you, you're you you sort of want to see it.

00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:05.840
Stop in him alone.

00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:06.559
Yeah, exactly.

00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:08.799
And like I always just am coming back to this.

00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:14.240
I'm I've like a broken record with you here, but I'm always coming back to this idea that this is the with them at their best, right?

00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:19.440
When they play like that and they play off each other and they play off the ball with intention for each other.

00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:36.480
And I think what I've seen since Tatum's come back, and I it's it is a compliment, is that he's playing with, to your point, a little bit more between the years, which that's always gonna make you better off the ball, which I've always had criticisms of of Tatum, like just not necessarily effort, but guile off the ball.

00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:38.559
I I always wanted to see a little bit more of.

00:15:38.799 --> 00:16:08.960
And then that gives JB the confidence to, like you were saying earlier, go to things that he might lose confidence in easily, like handles, you know, or like top of the post play, and then not falling back on things like shooting threes, which is like I understand that they're part of the game, but this system is still one that when they go inside more, we look like a better basketball team.

00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:15.360
And you know, defense travels, and I understand that he's set up a really good defensive team here at Joe Missoula, and I think that's a really good thing for the playoffs.

00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:29.440
But to me, it's like I don't want to, I don't want Jason Tatum's comeback to result in like degrading to ISO games that aren't working because they're just doubling like when needed or playing like playing in the zone.

00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:35.039
So like that, like that's the thing I'm nervous about still seeing in the playoffs now that now that we've kind of put all this together.

00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:57.679
Well, uh another piece that we haven't spoken about really says the trade because we've just been more on football and other things that we spoke about, but I think there's a certain part of the office that we're gonna lock when Vusevich comes back now that Tatum's back and with Brown, and because we are we kind of already seen it briefly with Derek White.

00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:05.759
Derek White messed right away with Nicola Vucevich because that's the type of player he would play with as San Antonio.

00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:08.880
And that's what pop pop, hey, pop is an inside out guy.

00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:10.480
Hey, get it to the post.

00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:23.920
Then, you know, if if someone's open in the corner, a lot of Bruce Bowen, Gary Neal, Steven Jackson, you know, he had many of those guys throughout the years that can go stand in the corner and just hit a hit a three if needed.

00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:37.440
Vusevich approximates what uh Perzingas did, what Horford did, and we saw when they won the championship, the two main game between Horford and and Tatum was amazing.

00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:43.759
So I think that's another level that's going to be reached or can be reached, you know, when he comes back.

00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:46.880
And once again, it was just it was just uh a finger injury.

00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:50.880
So I felt like you know, they wrap it, tape it appropriately.

00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:53.119
He seals the post really well.

00:17:53.440 --> 00:18:02.720
Dude, I honestly can't believe we haven't talked about this because like you know, you know, this is exactly the kind of player I'm always calling for the Celtics to have because he can playmake from the post.

00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:03.759
We like don't have that.

00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:06.160
So why I'm always bargaining a tame to do it more.

00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:06.880
Right.

00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:08.640
And right, exactly.

00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:13.759
But I I think that's where I'm trying to think of who used to run it.

00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:18.559
But I think we talked about it was Phoenix used to run it back in the day.

00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:32.799
They used they used to run basically what you they would call an inverted pick and roll, where Nash Nash would set the screen for Amari, and you know, either he'd pull up or he'd roll and just you know jam on anybody that was that was around him.

00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:34.480
It's like when he was younger.

00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:48.880
Obviously, Tatum is much bigger than Steve Nash, but I feel like having those, having that in the offense, having Tatum in the low post, having Jalen Brown in the low post, you know, having another floor spacer with Vusavich out there.

00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:54.319
Dude, I've been saying Tatum as the as a role man for a million years because of his size.

00:18:54.400 --> 00:19:00.480
And like I know that everybody he he wants to dribble and he's like he's really he's got great handles for guys his size, especially.

00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:03.279
And I know he's fast, so he does like to go around screens.

00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:04.799
And like you don't have to stop doing that.

00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:08.079
But every now and again, with I've like I've been saying this for years to you.

00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:16.559
Every now and again where you got a guy bigger than you, which there aren't that many guys bigger than you, you know, all things considered, like he's pretty, he's not he's not Steve Nash, right?

00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:30.640
But if you got a guy bigger than you and you set a screen for him, a guy that can space, you know, a guy that can shoot from like the mid-range, a guy that can like playmate from the post, and you get him in a dangerous position, they start sliding to him, and you're you're gonna find anywhere you want.

00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:32.000
It's such a good idea, right?

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:32.480
Right.

00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:38.160
And and that's but if you've seen even, I don't know if it was last night per se, but it was even on Sunday as well.

00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:42.240
Like, you know why Luke Smart used to do it for Tatum, like a little bit, yeah, right?

00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:47.680
Where like you know, but Luca Garza has looked so good since Tatum's return.

00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.319
You know why?

00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:55.200
That's like that's literally the type of guy, or type of big that he like he he has enjoyed playing with.

00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:59.279
So Horford was you know was was perfect in that role.

00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:06.720
Luke Cornet, when he got here initially, was a pick-a-pop guy, but then you know they kind of changed up his style with with how he played.

00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:13.920
But yeah, like I I just think that there's more dimensions to come.

00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:19.359
And you know, I was disappointed in what T Mac had to say.

00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:22.799
I also think that T Mac's a Jalen Brown guy, and they're close.

00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:28.319
So I think that whatever his feelings were about JB, he's gonna get that out there.

00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:38.960
I I don't I don't blame him, but there's no way inserting a Jason Tatum ruins what's going on in any in any situation.

00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:39.680
No, totally.

00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:47.680
I mean, we've had to your point, we've had varying levels of this exact type of playmaker, or not playmaker, this exact type of role player next to Tatum.

00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:57.920
I think the first example of it where you could see that, like I agree that Horford's the best example of it, maybe followed by Porzingis to a certain degree, although we didn't really get to see that for as long.

00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:01.359
And like, you know, there was basically one kind of playoff run where it worked.

00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:07.839
But the I think the prototype of this was Marcus Morris, like really, really early on.

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:27.440
Was yeah, like he he would he sort of I think started that trend for Tatum when like you know, I mean it seems like a billion years ago now, but I always really liked him on the Celtics personally, and I you know, we I think we all like that iteration of of the Celtics team under Stevens, but he that's been a that's been a staple of of of JT's game for for years, I agree with you.

00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:38.559
And I think it started then and there's been varying levels of it, but I think he's probably good enough at it now, and he's enough of a veteran where he can just tell a guy like Vusevich what to do, and he'll do it, he'll accomplish it, you know.

00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:39.759
So I think it'll be really helpful.

00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:40.400
I agree.

00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:51.279
Yeah, uh my only thing, and this is not even a critique, I just want JB to think about this because I I've seen it a few times when they got Vusevich.

00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:55.920
Like, and it wasn't just on JB, like Derek White did this, Peter Pritchett did it a few times.

00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:59.759
Like, it's almost like they didn't they didn't know what to do.

00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:50.079
when they saw Vusifit sealed in the post because they they haven't been they haven't had a guy that could go down there seal the guy off and really just lay it up so they would take it too long to throw it into the entry entry or give the entry pass to him or you know catch him on a on a screen and roll so he he could shoot it obviously he's actually a really good passer that that's where he's similar to Horford because Porzingas was okay with like Horford was he he's close to the Horford now he he Horford was one of the best passers I've seen from that position but like Volsevich is another guy and we've seen it a few times in his game already like that little backdoor I called that that Princeton cut that backdoor cut like that's in there when he comes back like Tatum and Brown can score six to eight points off that play alone because you can't really stop it.

00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:51.359
Because what are you going to do?

00:22:51.519 --> 00:23:02.079
Most guys are our height trying to guard that what do you what are you going to do outside of follow them so I think you know just you know find ways to incorporate him into the offense.

00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:21.680
Once again he doesn't need to be Orlando Vosevich he doesn't even need to be early Chicago Vusevich just be someone that can just do what what Kate has been doing get you 10 and 10 because he can get you 10 rebounds still very easily so you know I I I I'm I'm excited to see what they live like at full strength completely.

00:23:22.079 --> 00:23:33.119
But you know I just I want to wrap that up by saying there's there's no there's no scenario in where you bring Jason Tatum back or a player of his caliber and then it's fall off.

00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:34.319
No way.

00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:51.279
I don't want to beat a dead horse but that does tie me back to Joe Mozilla because the one thing we haven't consistently seen from him is the ability to adapt in the playoffs to different playstyles.

00:23:51.599 --> 00:26:32.480
And that's something I would love like you know you pointed out ways that Vusevich wasn't working properly and it's like can we see him integrate like I've just spent a lot of time with Missoula now and I just feel like a lot of the time as I I have been sitting on my couch and I can see this in my future being like why don't they just run a screen right there with Vusevich please for the love of God like it's just there you know there it's plan A and if plan A doesn't work it's still plan A you know with with the Celtics in the playoffs and it's like that that's that's not a that's not an illegitimate fear right right I I do I do think the year like the year they won the championship right because you know we had a lot of the same of those a lot of those a lot of those same concerns I should say but if you remember there were times when they would put Persingis in mid post and either he was scoring from that position or someone was getting a three whether it be Drew Sam Hauser Paint and it was like oh you realize that when you pass it to a 7-3 guy and you let him you know make a play from the elbow you have a very good chance of scoring because his shot's not going to get blocked or someone's he's gonna draw two he just kicks it out and they shoot a three now you know the game is blown is blown wide open so I do think there was times when the adjustments were made I think and I'm sure I'm I feel like this is what you're alluding to so I I'll I'll I'll say it hopefully I'm corner you correctly I I think what it is we've seen the adjustments made just can you do that consistently can you be patient not even can you be patient enough that if the threes aren't falling the way you want it to fall can happen in some games can you say okay let's play in the post even even if you're getting a wide open three fine now I I'd rather that than shooting a contestant three but can you play from the paint or they call now call it paint touches can you get you get some paint touches kick it back out drive it kick like you said you know get a layup because after a while getting the layups and you get a stop a layup and a stop now you may get an A1 you may get a three in momentum three in transition because the defense is playing behind you like so there's so many things that can happen the goal is for the Boston Celtics to score not Dishonatum not Jalen Brown not Derek White the goal is for the Boston Celtics to score in every possession as much as possible like that's the key.

00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:53.440
That leads me to my next question which I alluded to us talking about earlier the the super white boy competency lineup that is our sort of 2A bench what I really like about these guys is it it's I mean it's a real Brad Stevens is our GM sort of group of guys that he's he seems to have been able to assemble.

00:26:53.680 --> 00:27:37.920
And they just they do all happen to be white which is funny but like the way that the that these guys play can at the very least maintain leads there they're it's a bunch of don't fuck it up guys right when you got Garza, Baylor I mean Vusevich can count in this when he comes back I think he's whatever like I you know he has some defensive some defensive issues so maybe he fits into this maybe not but Sam Houser Peyton Pritchard you know these guys that go out there and essentially don't fuck the game up despite their obvious limitations in some areas like you know you can get a lot of those guys and I know Peyton Pritchard has been great offensively but you can get him on in mismatches pretty badly on the defensive side of the ball.

00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:46.240
Sam Hauser is not going to beat you on pure athletics but he's you know get it gaining momentum as a as a serviceable rotation guy.

00:27:46.400 --> 00:28:03.039
You know Garza, he he can stretch the floor a little bit, you know like he's he's offensive at least sound so he can like get you a bucket every now and again when you're trying not to let let a lead slip limit a little bit of limited mobility from him probably you know there's some matchup dependence stuff with him.

00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:10.480
So it's guys that if they were implemented differently or you know not used to the best of their abilities, they wouldn't be great.

00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:42.319
And honestly the bench and I know we always do this but the bench that I see it resembling the most I'm not saying this means we're gonna win a championship but the bench I actually see it resembling the most is the 08 bench to be honest because that was a full-on competency bench it was all about bringing guys on that were not idiots right and that happened to be a bunch of black guys so it's like you you bring on guys that don't that that are that are veterans or they're just smart players or and or and they can get you a bucket you know there was kind of crazy exceptions on that team.

00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:48.880
It's like also Eddie House can somehow you know go for 30 like every now and again like that's a thing that can happen like we don't really have that guy.

00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:51.599
Maybe Pritchard I guess there's some comparisons there.

00:28:51.920 --> 00:29:10.000
But it's a but it's a bunch of guys where if you're up nine and you gotta rest your guys at the end of the third quarter going into the fourth you they'll get you to eight minutes left in the fourth before you have to start putting your stars back on which I really think is a huge asset in the playoffs and we might be seeing a deeper rotation than we're used to in the playoffs.

00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:11.359
Do you agree?

00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:20.960
Was it deeper rotation no because of the patience that Missoula has at times I feel that's right he does give up on guys if they're not doing things.

00:29:21.200 --> 00:32:10.480
Yeah so so I feel like so I I answer that perfect you don't think we're gonna see Baylor out there for the playoffs so I that's what I was about to bring up I'm I'm like I'm actually surprised that I are you a Baylor guy because I feel like that's I feel like he's should be up your alley like I like him a lot a lot yeah he's yeah he's he's he does everything right I wouldn't be like beside myself if we did I'm I'm not like calling for him in the playoffs if we need to change the game but I wouldn't mind seeing I I disagree with him I really yeah him between between him him and Hugo uh Gonzalez like I think with them two because there's no there's no fear they play with no fear and that's I mean that's but that's what I like about him you know right you yeah you you need that in in the postseason and like you even seen it last night against OKC like Baylor comes in there you know lets SGA fly by ain't nothing over there big dog hits a little gets a little side dribble sidestep cast and I was like oh I was like oh yeah he's he's he's feeling it to tonight and he's guarding SGA he's causing turnovers so I was sneaky strong sneaky strong he crashes I like you need yeah you need that you need that mentality so I'm like I'm I'm here for that Ugo another guy balls to the wall like you know it's just the playoffs though man you know like when I like again I'm not I don't want to be a Baylor detractor here be like before you move on Ugo but like I to me it's like everybody's matchup hunting so hard in the playoffs and there's just things where it's like you know I I don't know where where Tatum's recovery is going to be by the time we're like does he have the the full uh workload of the playoffs in him or are we just still managing him where we just need to bring this guy in for for a few survival minutes but he's he he's played 32 a couple of times which I think that's that's fine I mean that's fine you know I feel like in the playoffs depending on what's going on maybe you push that to 35 maybe yeah that would be that would be best case scenario best case scenario but you know like I don't I don't see them getting close to 40 unless it's the finals which makes sense but it's just like you know he he has looked better movement wise many Tatum each game but but to your point about the rotation so I feel like so it's you know White Tatum Brown Hauser and and Cater that that's been that's been the five now and then it should be Pritchard Vicevich and then to me it's a it's a rotation of Walsh Simon and and Gonzalez because to me those three can play depending on the matchup I like how Jordan Walsh can defend so if there's certain games that I'd probably put him in there and say hey just follow them for 94 minutes.

00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:37.759
If it was something where I know I need a guy that can knock down a few shots but also play play some defense then I I I'd call on on Baylor Shireman and then if I just need someone who's gonna pick up 94 feet maybe occasional dunk on somebody then I'm then I'm calling on Hugo and I Yeah I mean I I think that's I think that's those are all legitimate points and I like I like Shireman a lot.

00:32:37.920 --> 00:33:07.039
Yeah but in the regular season like I it's in the playoffs teams are just gonna drag him into every pick and roll until he proves he can survive you know and I'm not saying that that means he's gonna fail that test but I would really hate to lose a game like like an annoying game two against the Knicks you know where where we're like fuck that game was like in our hands and they just started exploding mismatches and Brunson just like kept getting switched out on the perimeter on Baylor and he was just fucking cooking him like because he's so quick.

00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:50.319
He's so you know Hart just takes it to him relentlessly downhill over and over again and you're just like oh my God like it can't and then it does bring me back to like how quick do we make the adjustment then you know and it's like that would be my worry just to play devil's advocate on the kind of I'm gonna that's that's that's that's that's fair but I'll bring it back you said you you compared this to the 08 bench right Eddie Hells's offensively talented he was wasn't a defensive stopper right James Posey was an ultimate 3nd guy right he'd already won a championship in Miami a few years prior once again they got PJ Brown off the street PJ Brown we made made one of the biggest shots of that playoff run in game seven against Cleveland.

00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:57.039
So it's like with that team just like here you never know who was going to be on a given night.

00:33:58.559 --> 00:34:19.119
And I think there's there's some there's some mystery in that there's some there's some good in that right and yeah there will be times you know we saw like I like the game I think about with the OAS helpers right because it's basically the game that won them the championship was the game for when LA is just giving it to them.

00:34:19.199 --> 00:35:04.239
I mean Lamar Odom rolling down the lane you know hitting every layup Kobe's handshots Fisher's handshots like uh Sasha Voyage is doing whatever and they're they're rolling they're up 24 and you know remember that lineup that year Rondo Ray Paul KG Perk if we remember that run was made when Eddie House was out there and when Posey was out there Ray Allen made some shots to get him back into the game but they made it with a team that with a with a with the part that wasn't as defensively sound so sometimes you just gotta go with the field and say hey guard guard your yard but you but you better make it you better make an impact on on the other end.

00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:15.440
And we saw that happen in real time we even seen it even a couple years after that with uh big baby and Nate Robinson in game once again in game four in the finals against LA that year as well when they came back.

00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:28.559
So we've seen those moments where guys that wasn't defensively sound if you will professionally had big moments and you know stamped their name in Celtic's lore forever.

00:35:28.800 --> 00:35:33.920
And I think we could see that with those guys having to increase confidence because I think that's the biggest thing of this year, right?

00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:47.360
We can speak about Taylor coming back we can speak about Brown being 1A 1B whatever like the fact that Jordan Walsh took a leap we've seen Ugun Gonzalez take a leap we've seen Baylor take a leap that's that's coaching that's player development.

00:35:47.599 --> 00:36:05.760
So that alone like even if they don't get to where we want them to go that's huge because now you have cheaper you have cheaper uh contract under and impact players like that's that's huge that's huge so that that's what I'm that's what I I'm looking at that too.

00:36:06.639 --> 00:38:44.800
All right so let's zoom out to the wider playoff picture now that we've gotten granular about the bench we've talked about the obvious wing pair which is still a thing that wins championships in the NBA so we've got the obvious kind of heavy hitters in the East that we're probably gonna have to see at some point at least one if not all of these teams depending on how the playoffs go the Knicks the Pistons the Cavs who are you scared of of any of them and I don't mean in the sense of like if we come up against them we're not gonna win I do think we still have a chance against anybody in the Eastern Conference but I mean more like I'd hate to get them early I you know I'd hate to see them like I'd hate to have to go there for game seven like what what are the things you're you're thinking about instinctually as we start to wrap our head around the playoff picture oh it's the team they faced on Friday night and that's Atlanta won no parts of them in the first round interesting not to say that I don't think I think that we we would still beat them in a seven game series but it takes seven is what you're saying or at least six right that would get an Irby that would be I it would but I really like Jalen Johnson I mean the dude's averaging damn near a triple double in year but he he's he's really good yeah um Nikar Walker Alexander I don't know where that where this is coming from he was not this guy in Utah he was not this guy in Minnesota but now he's a 20 point game scorer over there under uh quent snider like and wow wow i think it's a great call honestly because like I think Austin's a better a better team but Atlanta can drag us into a series we really don't want to be in right and and but but when they won in no eight same thing right same exact thing we can we thought hey we I mean even but even even a couple years ago Atlanta or our I was there I think we was up I want to say we was up three one in that series I think smart whenever we hit a big shot down there and then they came back here and then the one play that you hated to see and I I it it was funny at the I was mad they lost but it was funny just to hear you rant about it afterwards when when they would have you know Horford switch out on on a guard and which I think sometimes he would take the challenge too I don't think it was always they until there came a point where he was getting cut yeah he would take the challenge and Trae Young said okay well I'm just gonna pull up from Cambridge and he did and he buried it and and brought it back to to Atlanta.

00:38:44.880 --> 00:39:03.360
Now they got they got beat in game six down there but I I just remember that happening so you know I'm I'm good on seeing him in the first round you know but yeah dude do you think I want to sit and watch Clint Capella run 40 fucking pick and rolls on subjects and just have them be exhausted going into round two?

00:39:03.599 --> 00:39:06.960
Like no that's that's absolutely not what I want to see.

00:39:07.199 --> 00:39:27.280
But another team I would say probably probably Cleveland only because like this the size you know I feel like it's not a great matchup with Mobley and Allen but as really as good as Donovan Mitchell is and will continue to be in my opinion same thing James Harden.

00:39:27.840 --> 00:39:47.119
James Harden even more so than than Donovan Mitchell like regular season merchants and it's like we we know that you could go get 55 you know 11 and 8 in a regular season game but for some reason you go three or 16 and we're not talking about stone cold C Boston.

00:39:47.199 --> 00:39:48.880
So it it it looks bad.

00:39:49.039 --> 00:39:49.920
It looks bad.

00:39:50.159 --> 00:40:19.440
I mean honestly I Atlanta can make us uncomfortable I think Cleveland could potentially beat us you know there's a lot of I agree yeah there's a lot of rim protection there's a lot of lob threats the rebounding battle will be hard to beat with them I think I I I hate to keep belaboring the same point but like we need multiple shot profiles and offensive profiles to be able to beat Cleveland in my opinion and like because they have they also have like it's not just one guy over there.

00:40:19.519 --> 00:40:32.480
You know they've got two elite ball handlers on it to to start the game every every single game and they're gonna take the challenge as you as you put it right those guys are going to take the challenge they're not that they're not lilting violets or whatever it is.

00:40:32.559 --> 00:40:56.159
You know they're they're they're they're ballers and you're gonna have to fucking play them and I you know I have a respect for Cleveland and the and the team that they've built up over there more so than the kind of oh shit the game script has gotten really weird Atlanta hawks right i i I I think I think both I think you've called out the two that make me the most uncomfortable to be honest but I think it's for different reasons.

00:40:56.480 --> 00:41:20.400
And I think Cleveland I know the Pistons are ahead of us and we can we can go on to talk about that matchup too if you like but that might be a little later in the down the road I I just think you're right to call out Cleveland too because when you look at Evan Mobley and Jared Allen like I hate playing teams where I like all their players does that make sense sir I'm like oh I would have been happy if we got like any of these guys on this roster and like that makes me uncomfortable too.

00:41:20.719 --> 00:41:53.840
Like playing playing Philly you know I can I can always get up for that game because it's like it's Philadelphia same thing and also like I we have the muscle memory of just beating their asses for the past decade so plus so I also just from a poetic standpoint like it's it's it's not it's not a coincidence that New York and Boston are still two and three in the east we we should get that again in the second round and this time they'll get them they'll get them they'll get him yeah I I would have to agree.

00:41:54.880 --> 00:42:08.400
I you know like I'm expecting a a big time performance from them if that that happens in the second round like I I like as a basketball fan I I need that to happen I I need I need that badly to happen.

00:42:08.639 --> 00:42:30.000
As far as Detroit goes I don't know how severe Kate Cunningham's injury is and right now they're on that you know next man up mentality and you know we still got Jalen Duran and we got you know the Duncan Robinson of the world and Isaiah Stewart's so they still have a very good team right it's not like they was a bunch of scrubs without Kay Cunningham.

00:42:30.480 --> 00:42:39.599
But they don't have to out talent us though right to be a problem and we we saw that last year they don't have to out talent us to be a problem they have to drag us into a fight and we sometimes we don't love fights.

00:42:39.840 --> 00:43:14.079
Right drag us to the fight but a lot of those I mean that granted a lot of them got in they got into the playoffs last year so they was able to kind of they lost to New York in the in the first round last year at top of Detroit obviously Cade being hurt you know limits their limits their ceiling obviously that that's not that's not prophetic that that's just that's that's just the truth because to me if that's the case it kind of feels like they would look like how we looked in 2009 because we were see we were we were running through teams that year.

00:43:14.320 --> 00:43:29.039
They started 27 and 2 and I was like oh my God I said we're about to go back to back and then that game that lowly February night in in Utah and K KG gets hurt on a non contact contact and changes changes the season.

00:43:29.199 --> 00:43:35.679
Now granted Celtics end still going like 18 and 18 and 2 to finish that year.

00:43:37.599 --> 00:43:40.079
So kind of like what what Detroit is doing right now.

00:43:40.400 --> 00:43:45.280
But eventually you know and you run into a D Rose.

00:43:45.519 --> 00:43:48.320
Cause that that Atlanta team reminds me of that young Chicago team.

00:43:48.559 --> 00:43:58.559
That Derek simple I mean granted no one on there is as good as what D Rose was but like Jalen Johnson is that good in my opinion but he's just he's not obviously on Derek Rose's level especially at at that time.

00:43:59.199 --> 00:44:05.440
But yeah I I I can I can see I can see that them having that type of run.

00:44:05.760 --> 00:44:08.079
So like they'll beat whoever they play in the first round.

00:44:08.159 --> 00:44:08.960
I mean in Detroit.

00:44:09.039 --> 00:44:11.519
I think right now they would face Miami.

00:44:12.480 --> 00:44:14.880
Talented or not, Miami's gonna give you a run for their money.

00:44:14.960 --> 00:44:17.920
We know better than they're always the most annoying seven seeds.

00:44:18.000 --> 00:44:18.880
So it's really good.

00:44:19.039 --> 00:44:25.119
Yeah, so you so you bet you better not go in there thinking, oh well, you know, I'll you know, you you you you got you have to beat them.

00:44:25.280 --> 00:44:26.159
You got to beat Miami.

00:44:26.400 --> 00:44:30.880
Can't be like, well, you know, well, you know, we just went by two and we, you know, we won.

00:44:31.920 --> 00:44:33.119
That's not how it is down there.

00:44:33.840 --> 00:44:40.880
They they they keep they keep coming and they keep going at you and they say, You you you got you have to kill us basketball watch.

00:44:41.039 --> 00:44:41.920
You have to kill us, if not.

00:44:42.159 --> 00:44:44.239
Did you see Pat Riley get his statue?

00:44:44.719 --> 00:44:47.760
Yeah, like he was like, Don't who did he say?

00:44:47.840 --> 00:44:49.840
He was like, only one guy showed me any respect.

00:44:49.920 --> 00:44:51.119
He's the only guy who wore a tie.

00:44:51.360 --> 00:44:53.679
Yeah, love it, love it.

00:44:53.920 --> 00:44:54.800
But yeah, I love it.

00:44:55.039 --> 00:45:00.079
He's like, it was just kind of weird because I was like, I was watching it, and like Leah came in and she was like, Oh, who's that?

00:45:00.159 --> 00:45:00.800
What's going on here?

00:45:00.880 --> 00:45:04.000
And I was like, It's the current GM of the Miami Heat.

00:45:04.079 --> 00:45:09.440
I don't I don't know why he's like here getting a fucking statue for from the from the Los Angeles Lakers.

00:45:09.519 --> 00:45:10.079
It's like strange.

00:45:10.159 --> 00:45:16.079
It's just kids, it's like it's not like he's retired, you know, it's not like he's off into the fucking into the sunset at this point, you know.

00:45:16.639 --> 00:45:18.239
But yeah, I don't know, it's weird.

00:45:18.400 --> 00:45:20.159
He plays for another two years.

00:45:20.559 --> 00:45:21.599
Here's your statue.

00:45:22.320 --> 00:45:29.519
Can we talk about the West to end this segment a little bit just to just to kind of gauge your feelings on those guys?

00:45:30.159 --> 00:45:32.159
Made me feel pretty good how we played OKC.

00:45:32.320 --> 00:45:45.599
I I really saw a lot in that game that that made me feel really, really good about how we can kind of give them problems if, you know, I know this is a long way off, disclaimer, but we can probably give them problems, right?

00:45:46.880 --> 00:45:50.480
Sentimentally, I would love it if the Lakers made a run.

00:45:50.639 --> 00:45:54.159
I would really love it if this iteration for so many reasons.

00:45:54.320 --> 00:46:04.079
For the fact that LeBron James, our old Eastern Conference nemesis, is or maybe we were his, I don't know how he thinks about it, but he is not a fan of Boston or the Boston Celtics.

00:46:04.159 --> 00:46:06.719
He's on record for that, and we're not a fan of him.

00:46:08.239 --> 00:46:15.840
You know, Paul Pierce hitting that three in his face, like it's and having him storm off all the way to Miami, like that's you know, we we have these memories too.

00:46:17.039 --> 00:46:21.760
Sentimentally, the franchise, Boston, Los Angeles, in the finals.

00:46:21.840 --> 00:46:24.480
It's the best finals matchup anyone can think of, no matter what the year is.

00:46:24.559 --> 00:46:28.239
It's the finals matchup everybody wants to see from a franchise perspective every year.

00:46:28.719 --> 00:46:31.039
So, how possible do you think that is?

00:46:31.280 --> 00:46:38.320
And say the smart money wins, the house money wins, and we and we make it all the way there, maybe maybe, and we see okay.

00:46:38.480 --> 00:46:40.960
See in the finals, how confident would you be?

00:46:41.039 --> 00:46:42.800
And how confident would you be if it was the Lakers?

00:46:42.880 --> 00:46:44.320
Actually, I'm curious about that too.

00:46:44.480 --> 00:46:46.639
I mean, I'd be more confident if we face the Lakers.

00:46:46.719 --> 00:46:49.599
Um I would agree, but it's there's still problems they can give it.

00:46:49.679 --> 00:46:50.639
Like, you know, of course.

00:46:50.719 --> 00:46:52.079
I mean still LeBron James.

00:46:52.400 --> 00:46:56.320
Still LeBron, obviously, you know, Marcus Mark coming back to Boston.

00:46:56.400 --> 00:46:56.719
My God.

00:46:57.039 --> 00:46:57.920
There's that's a storyline.

00:46:58.000 --> 00:46:59.440
Yeah, yeah, that would be crazy.

00:46:59.679 --> 00:47:02.400
Can I just say, because I haven't had a chance to say it on the show?

00:47:02.719 --> 00:47:04.559
He should you shouldn't be playing there, Marcus.

00:47:04.719 --> 00:47:05.519
Just for the record.

00:47:05.599 --> 00:47:06.960
That's not you shouldn't have done that.

00:47:07.039 --> 00:47:07.760
It's not a good look.

00:47:07.840 --> 00:47:08.960
Anyway, go on.

00:47:09.760 --> 00:47:11.519
I mean, they gave him the money.

00:47:11.599 --> 00:47:13.119
I mean, get it.

00:47:13.199 --> 00:47:14.000
Yeah, you know what I'm saying.

00:47:14.159 --> 00:47:19.840
You still want to play, so I mean, hey, you know, you know, though, he was always a little weird like that, don't you think?

00:47:20.239 --> 00:47:21.119
Well, I mean, is it no?

00:47:21.760 --> 00:47:22.400
What was your thing about him?

00:47:22.480 --> 00:47:23.840
You gotta let other people say it, Marcus.

00:47:23.920 --> 00:47:25.039
You remember that whole speech?

00:47:25.199 --> 00:47:26.639
It's like you can't say it to this guy.

00:47:27.119 --> 00:47:29.599
I felt I felt the same way about Rondo being over there.

00:47:30.239 --> 00:47:31.119
Yeah, I didn't like that either.

00:47:31.280 --> 00:47:39.760
But I actually it this it's been a little history of that because Rondo's done it, Isaiah Thomas did it.

00:47:40.960 --> 00:47:44.400
Avery Bradley was over there, so it's only the guards.

00:47:44.719 --> 00:47:46.880
Yeah, no, they got the guards, yeah.

00:47:47.199 --> 00:47:47.599
Crazy.

00:47:48.079 --> 00:47:51.199
Thankfully, Rondo was definitely like a shell of himself.

00:47:51.519 --> 00:47:55.199
Marcus wasn't the same guy, Isaiah wasn't the same guy, you know.

00:47:55.280 --> 00:47:57.199
I mean, it's at least that.

00:47:57.360 --> 00:48:00.800
At least they weren't going over there and playing it their best basketball for the Lakers instead.

00:48:00.880 --> 00:48:01.840
That would suck.

00:48:02.159 --> 00:48:04.719
Yeah, they they absolutely probably would win.

00:48:05.760 --> 00:48:07.840
Yeah, with any of those scenarios, honestly.

00:48:08.159 --> 00:48:15.119
I mean, as as a as it goes right now, they LA would face the Rockets in the first round.

00:48:18.880 --> 00:48:23.199
I that's a tough matchup because I feel like Do you think they're gonna go out in the first?

00:48:24.480 --> 00:48:25.119
That would be the case.

00:48:25.199 --> 00:48:28.719
I mean, you're facing like Phoenix, they they'd beat.

00:48:29.519 --> 00:48:32.719
You know, I can't believe that the Clippers have found a way to be back as an AC.

00:48:32.880 --> 00:48:34.480
Like that, that's unbelievable to me.

00:48:34.719 --> 00:48:36.159
They're not gonna make any kind of kind of run, though.

00:48:36.239 --> 00:48:36.960
I wouldn't worry about it too much.

00:48:37.119 --> 00:48:43.119
No, right, but I'm saying, but like could Kawhi, like whatever people thought like coming, like clearly he's healthy.

00:48:43.280 --> 00:48:44.960
Clearly, clearly he's healthy.

00:48:45.199 --> 00:48:48.880
Clearly, whatever fun he's found, like he's he's clearly having fun again.

00:48:49.039 --> 00:48:56.320
And he was like, hey, I'm reminding y'all when I'm when I'm on, there's not so many people that's better than me in this in this game.

00:48:56.639 --> 00:48:57.519