4 Wins Away From Glory

Posted by Mike Giardi May 31, 2008 at 5:55 pm

Quick thoughts on what I just saw from the Celtics and questions I have on the series ahead.

1. Rajon Rondo is driving me nuts. His inconsistencies are not just game-to-game, but possession to possession. I’m on record as saying he’s the C’s most important player. He sets the tone defensively, and he’s responsible for getting this team moving offensively. But there have been too many times this postseason that the Green team is grinding to a halt in the halfcourt…and how can you put it on anyone else but Rondo? Take charge and finish this run off!

2. I’m an unabashed Kendrick Perkins fan. Man works like a kid forced to pay his way through college. Those lumbering legs never stop moving, and he made an indelible mark in the Pistons series. That 18-point, 16-rebound, 2 block performance in Game 5 goes to the head of his resume. but there are so many subtle things he does defensively. I’m assuming he gets Paul Gasol in the Finals. A difficult challenge, but if Perk is allowed to body Gasol, he could slow the Lakers gifted center (who’s really a power forward).

3. The C’s bench didn’t have big numbers in Game 6 versus Detroit. But their contribution was huge. I don’t want to get too simplistic on you, because are so many factors that go into winning, but when the bench plays well, the C’s have won in these playoffs.

3a. On that note, does Leon Powe reemerge in this series, or is it too late for him? They could use a little offense on the second unit, and if Cassell isn’t hitting jumpers, Powe seems to be the obvious choice.

4. If Phil Jackson pilots L.A. to a title, he’ll break Red Auerbach’s record of 10. Now there aren’t too many players on this current C’s team who got to spend any considerable time around Red, but man, they gotta do it for the old coach. You know he’s looking down, chomping on that stinky cigar, probably cursing at the refs. He is the Celtics. And it would be nice to deny a somewhat smarmy Jackson of that honor, even if he gets it eventually.

5. Do you just let Kobe get his, and focus on shutting down the solid supporting cast? I mean, I’m not suggesting you single Kobe up and let him torture you 1-on-1, because if you do that, he’ll beat Ray Allen and James Posey and whoever else tries to “D” him up off the dribble, and your big men will be in foul trouble from the word “go.” But if you devote too many resources to him, the Lakers have far more talent than LeBron had alongside. In other words, the Cavs took the C’s 7. If the C’s play the Lakers that way, they’ll get taken out.

6. Be prepared to hate Sasha Vujacic. The floppy-haired guard is a certifiable pain-in-the-butt. Also be prepared for me to butcher his name. Hey, you gotta know your strengths and weaknesses. That name will be on the negative side of the ledger.

7. Is it Thursday yet?

Celts Tickets on Sale

Posted by Mike Giardi May 31, 2008 at 3:36 pm

The Boston Celtics announced today that a limited amount of playoff tickets for the NBA Finals (Round 4, Home Games 1 and 2) vs. the Los Angeles Lakers will go on sale Monday, June 2 at 2 p.m.  There is a two (2) ticket limit per customer and seats start at just $30 in the Rite-Aid Family Section.

Home Game 1 and Home Game 2 of the NBA Finals are scheduled to be played at the TD Banknorth Garden on Thursday, June 5 at 9 p.m. and Sunday, June 8 at 9 p.m.  Further schedule details will be announced on Celtics.com.

 

Celtics fans will be able to purchase Monday by visiting Celtics.com, by calling 1-800-4NBA-TIX or by visiting the TD Banknorth Garden Box Office or Ticketmaster Outlet. Random number distribution will begin at approximately 1 p.m. at the TD Banknorth Garden Box Office for fans choosing to purchase there. Acceptable forms of payment for tickets are American Express and all other major credit cards and customers may also pay by cash at the TD Banknorth Garden Box Office or Ticketmaster Outlet.

They’re Learning

Posted by Randolph Charlotin May 31, 2008 at 10:11 am

Do you remember Doc Rivers saying it could be a good thing that the Celtics played in two series that were extended to game sevens? His words were, “Going through this thing twice has to be a positive to our team. It Just has to be.”

How many thought it was a load of bull? It sounded like a coach trying to spin a positive out of disappointment.

I did. I saw no good out of the best team in the East being extended to a seventh game by two teams clearly inferior to the Celtics. For goodness sakes, Atlanta barely made it to the playoffs. And Cleveland is a one-man team. And it took the Celts seven games to beat both of them? And Doc is calling it a positive? Come on!

Looks like Rivers was right. This team wasn’t playoff tested over the years. They are basically picking things up along the way when the expectations for this club are sky high. Finishing with the league’s best record and being rated as the top defense can do that, even for a unproven playoff team.

It hasn’t been an efficient playoff run, but the results are as desired. How they did it shows that Boston is learning from their playoff experiences. What they learned so far:

Resiliency: Rivers showed Muhammad Ali fights to the players to get across the message of always moving forward even when absorbing a lot of punishment. They took the best punches from the Hawks, Cavaliers and Pistons, but in the end Boston fought back and put them away.

Road worries: Boston was win-less on the road in the first two rounds of the playoffs, a 0-6 record in Atlanta and Cleveland. Whether it was not having equal intensity or failures to secure wins in crunch time, the Celtics played like a different team away from home and allowed leads to slip through their fingers.

They put an end to that problem against Detroit. When Boston had to win on the road after losing game two at home, they took it to the Pistons and won convincingly. It was a skill they displayed again in game six at the Palace. The 10-point fourth quarter hole meant nothing as they executed offensively and locked down the Pistons. In the Conference Finals Boston reversed their road trend and won two out of three.

Finishing touch: Because the Celts couldn’t win on the road in the first two series, they couldn’t finish off their opponents, even when they were on the ropes. Against Atlanta and Cleveland, Boston was up 3-2 with a chance to take them out of their misery on the road. Both times Boston came up short.

It looked like it would be the same story against Detroit, but the Celtics re-wrote the ending. A second half lead became a fourth quarter deficit. But instead of folding up the tent, the Celtics rallied a final time and put away the Pistons in six games.

Boston gets high grades for showing rapid application of the hard lessons learned from the playoffs. It’s easy to think they are prepared for the Los Angeles Lakers because the Celts already beat L.A. both times during the regular season.

Not quite. This isn’t the same Lakers team. They raised their level of play during the playoffs. The Lakers hadn’t traded for Pau Gasol yet. He’s not the same player as Andrew Bynum.

Boston will have to do their research for the Lakers, but will learn the most about their opponent by playing them. Based on the first three rounds, the Celtics are ready for the Finals exam.

Game 6 Running Blog: Dropping the Hammer

Posted by Adam Hart May 31, 2008 at 5:24 am

It worked so well for Game 5, I figure we’ll do it again. Editing and blogging are a wonderful combination. Mixed with a fresh bag of circus peanuts, and you can see why NECN is the best around when it comes to coverage of the hometown team. Let us begin our night of dominance. I say begin, because Sports Producer Dave Green (1) handed the rest of sports row a beating during tonight’s showing of Jeopardy. He is a trivia mastermind. Fun fact, a high school history teacher of mine, Mr. Bill Cute, won a handful of episodes of Jeopardy. He is retiring from teaching in just a few weeks. Good luck in the future, Mr. Cute. Let’s see, any other way to delay the start of this running blog? Nah.

8:34 The Pistons still open with the same cheesy video as always. This time I pay particular attention to the drummers at center court. In the dark, with the spotlights and all, they remind of the drummers at the circus from Batman Forever. And in that movie, the drummers were murderers.

8:42 Ray Allen sinks a wide open three. KG draws a double team down in the post and dishes to Ray, who is ready to step into his shot along the left side of the three-point arc. I sure hope he is carrying over his shooting touch from Game 5.

8:44 Lots of whistles early, especially on the Celtics. The refs must have heard Rasheed’s post game rant after Game 5. It was so pleasant and kind toward the officials. Nobody likes a brown noser.

8:46 Garnett is cutting to the hoop, Rip Hamilton pushes him just as he’s catching the pass, so that KG is forced to put up a shot as he goes flying past the backboard. He misses the shot, and no foul is called. I forgot that this is “just playoff basketball.”

8:53 Paul Pierce checking in with a three. Boston up 14-10. Pierce and Allen are getting wide open looks on that left side of the three-point arc. They must have seen something on the game tape, and are now exploiting it. I still like Flip Saunders’ move to give the Pistons the day off in between Games 4 &5. That’s working out for the best.

9:03 Rodney Stuckey hits a buzzer beater, except he didn’t beat the buzzer. Working only with naked eyes, the refs count the bucket. This will go to replay, though.

9:05 Mike Breen, enough is enough. Stop trying to defend the Pistons. I could look at the replay 10 times and get the same outcome – the shot is not good. Clear as day. Clear as Rip Hamilton’s binky – his stupid loser mask.

9:06 The call is overturned. No basket. “This is the value of instant replay.” Thanks Jeff Van Gundy. I always thought it was valuable for a totally different reason: allowing us to see prettier shots of the action without all those ugly scoreboard and game clock graphics. Celtics up 24-21 at the end of the 1st quarter.

9:06 (still) Craig Kolodny (2), the best Sports PA in town, possibly the nation, has suggested that I work everyone in sports row on this Friday night into the running blog. We’ve got a packed house tonight. This may be a tough goal to reach.

9:09 Mike Giardi (3) is hounding me about the amount of circus peanuts I’m eating. Not because he wants any, but because he considers them disgusting. Whatever, he’s not my dad. He can’t tell me what to do. Well, he can’t tell me what to do when it comes to eating. But when it comes to editing video or getting scripts or laughing at his jokes, I am his female dog.

9:13 Kendrick Perkins cleaning up the offensive glass. He gets the put back, but was pushed on the way up. No foul call. I keep forgetting, it’s still “just playoff basketball.” 26-21 Boston.

9:14 Sam Cassell fouls Richard Hamilton on a reach in. Rip hits the deck. Thespian tears, we call them. He ends up staying in the game.

9:15 Ray Allen for three. C’s up 29-23. Ray and Rip going at it. A mini shootout here in the first half.

9:24 Rip getting some help from the basketball gods on this shot, as it bounces around the rim a few times before finally falling. He is now 6-of-9 from the field with 13 points in the 1st half. That elbow nonsense looks to have been a smokescreen.

9:29 Tayshaun Prince misses the open jumper, but as the shot is on its way down Kendrick Perkins backs away from the hoop, not boxing anyone out. The Pistons get the board and Chauncey Billups steps into a three pointer. Detroit down 32-31. As Mike Breen has made painstakingly clear, second chances are playing a huge impact in this game. That was one of those second chances.

9:31 That should be a fine. Rip Hamilton just flopped while battling Ray Allen for a rebound. But how will the NBA know who to fine? That mask protects his identity so well.

9:36 PoweNasty in the game. Cleaning up around the hoop and gets a chance for the three point play. The tradition style, I’ve been told. The three-point line has been in basketball my entire life. I know no better. Celts up 37-33.

9:40 This is what PoweNasty brings the team. Ray drives and dishes to Powe, who goes up strong and draws the foul from Rasheed Wallace. Didn’t catch Rasheed’s reaction after the whistle. I’m sure it was compliant with league conduct policies. Celtics up 40-36 with :38 seconds to go in the half. I say the Celtics recharge their batteries during the break, and come out firing in the 3rd quarter. I want Mason crying for Muh-muh-muh-muh-muh-mercy! over the PA system.

Celts up 40-37 at the break. Here are some stats to busy yourself with:

Ray Allen: 13 points

Kevin Garnett: 4 points, 1 rebound, 3 personal fouls

–

Richard Hamilton: 13 points

Chauncey Billups: 18 points

Rasheed Wallace: 312 “Bleeps”

At halftime ESPN shows Kobe Bryant talking with Stephen A. Smith. Kobe says he doesn’t want to be compared with Michael Jordan because they are different people. I totally understand that. Like, it would be wrong of me to compare my new mailman with my old one. Even if the old mailman delivered the mail two hours earlier. They are two different people. And it would be unfair to compare my old vet and my new one. Even though my old vet was creepy and changed the sign on his building to read “…Veterinary Clinic and Animal Sperm Bank.” They are two different, incomparable people.

***Always a good sign. Sports Director Morry Levine (4) is taking our old Celtics-Lakers footage into the system. Bird vs. Magic. I can feel it already.

**The circus peanuts are about halfway gone. I offered one to Intern Anne (5). When I came back around the corner to get my pen, I found her throwing it in the trash. That’s very disrespectful. I believe we should start an Intern Points System at NECN. For this offense, I would dock Anne six Intern Points.

*Anyone watching the Red Sox out there? Didn’t think so. Intern Mike (6) is forced to, since he is logging the game for us. He did not accept my offer of the circus peanut. He is awarded one Intern Point for logging the Red Sox while the rest of us are having a blast with the Celtics, and no Intern Points for rejecting the circus peanut.

2ND HALF

10:12 Garnett just picked up his 4th foul with 7:16 to go in the 3rd quarter. And a technical is called on Perkins for arguing. Of course, Rasheed had just mouthed off to Bennett Salvatore on the other end without a technical being called. I wonder if it’s because if Rasheed gets one more technical, he will be forced to sit out Game 7. I agree with Marc Jackson. I want consistency. Celts up 52-48.

10:25 Ballgame. With Detroit up 4, at 62-58, Paul Pierce drives to the hoop and is fouled. Except for the fact that the ref emphatically called a foul on the Celtics. That’s why I say ballgame. Phantom calls against the Celtics negate Detroit’s inferior play.

10:30 IS THIS SERIOUS?!?!?! Pierce called for an offensive foul when Rip Hamilton bites on the shot fake, jumps at him, hits Pierce, and then Pierce sinks the three.

This is what’s running through the ref’s mind, and I’m paraphrasing here:

“An impossible shot goes in. How nice. Oh, wait? That was a Celtics player shooting? Offensive foul.”

This is a circus. A circus with evil clowns dressed in black slacks and tight, gray NBA-issued t-shirts. Celts down 64-58. Absurd.

10:34 Hamilton hits a jumper. Celts down by 8, 68-60 at the end of 3rd quarter.

10:41 Sam Cassell called for pushing off on a shot. Here comes the train of elephants holding each other’s tails with their trunks. I heard the trapeze are next.

10:45 Rasheed has just been called for his 5th foul while guarding KG. He takes to the bench and talks to himself, like a crazy person. Then he throws his towel over the camera lens in front of him. I don’t get it. Isn’t that why people act crazy? To get attention, be on camera? Seems to work for the people on Maury Povich. Celts cut the Pistons lead to 3, 70-67.

10:50 KG hits a jumper. Celts down 70-69, cutting the deficit to 1 on a 9-0 run. Now we play for blood.

10:55 Game tied at 74 apiece now. I like this momentum swing. If the Celtics can overcome biased officiating, then they can take L.A. to the cleaners. Well, maybe not the whole Lakers team. Wyc isn’t made of money.

10:59 Rondo very tentative going to the hoop on fast breaks. That was his best attribute this season. This is the second straight time he has pulled back when going one-on-one to the hoop. Pierce still gets the bucket on this possession. C’s up 77-74. “More!”

11:03 James Posey with a HUGE rebound on the defensive end. And Rondo hits a pull-up jumper at the other end. Celts holding to a 83-76 lead. They are on a 21-6 run. Think about it. Rondo hitting a jumper. Now you know we’re winning this game. It’s destiny.

11:06 Chauncey hits a runner, and then gets a trip to the free throw line. Where’s the foul? Seems to me he initiated the contact. Celts up 83-79

11:09 What a steal by Posey!!! After the Celtics misfire, Detroit comes away with the ball and a shot to keep this game close. As Tayshaun Prince holds the ball, looking for his point guard, Posey sneaks in from behind and pokes the ball free. He dishes to Pierce who gets fouled. It’s down to free throws from here on out. That gives us some time to turn-and-burn in the edit bays. Can’t help but be nervous. Pierce hits both. C’s up 85-79. Need a stop with 1:30 to go.

11:10 And the stop is ours. Perk blocks the initial attempt, then Chauncey comes up short on a long jumper.

11:13 Rip short rims a 3. He has run out of gas. And TJ Walsh, NECN ENG guru, just tackled me, yelling “We’re going to the finals!” KG at the line, C’s up 6. He misses both. 36.1 secconds to go. I’m not worried. The Pistons are cashed out.

11:17 Celts up 86-79. Hamilton short rims another open 3. I almost feel bad for the guy. Oh, wait. No I don’t. He’s the man in the stupid mask. No one feels bad for him.

11:21 Welcome to the NBA Finals, Boston. Celtics win 89-81. They take the series 4-2. More importantly, they get their first two road wins of the post season. How about two more in Games 2 & 3 of the Finals?

12:45ish After a dynamite Sports Late Night, Giardi eyeballs that circus peanut bag. He estimates that I have eaten about 9 ounces of circus peanuts. By reading the nutritional information on the back of the package, Giardi also finds that this amount is crudely unsafe. The calories alone should have stopped my heart. It’s quite possible I will die in my sleep tonight. It’s okay. I’ve led a good life.

POST GAME:

Just a couple quick notes. Doc Rivers is interviewed at the trophy presentation. The trophy is silver. In his closing comments, Doc says something like “we didn’t come here to win the silver, we want the gold.” All I can think of when this hits my ear is the greatest news package in the history of the news. From start to finish this thing is great. The look on the guy’s face when he gets the crowd to say, “Yeeeaaaah!” The amateur sketch. The guy with the leprechaun flute, who just came to help out. Even the anchors mocking the reporter when the package is done playing out. But Doc’s comments remind me of the guy at the end of the clip: “I wanna know where the gold at. I want the gold. Give me the gold. I want the gold.” Please tell me the Celtics’ video crew finds a way to incorporate that into an in-game Jumbotron clip. I think Lucky would demand it.

I love the Celtics players during the trophy presentation, coming out with the “Beat L.A.” chant.  Love it.  Greeny, Craig and I couldn’t get enough of it while watching ESPN after the show with cans of Coca-Cola in hand.  I definitely think it’s going to happen.  Boston is going to beat L.A. worse than Jason Ki… nope.  That joke can lead to only one place: trouble.

P.S. So I’ve mentioned before about my 50 minute drive from NECN Central to my house in Rehoboth, MA. Because of all that went on tonight, I didn’t leave until around 2:20 am. Listening to the radio makes the drive more bearable, because I can sing along and keep my mind fresh. But tonight, 95.5 WBRU has a set of co-hosts engaged in a lengthy argument over which of two television shows is better. With circus peanuts and lack of sleep eating away at my body, the last thing I need is two Brown students doing their best to drive me into the guardrail. And if I did end up dying, I would hope they’d get charged with manslaughter, because what they are doing is wrong.

Daisuke to the D.L.

Posted by David Green May 30, 2008 at 5:20 pm

Well, it’s official. The Red Sox placed Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day disabled list this afternoon after an MRI on his right shoulder showed a mild strain of his rotator cuff. Matsuzaka had been forced out of his last start after only 4 innings and 65 pitches, and even though the exam showed no structural damage in his shoulder, the Sox opted for caution.

Prior to tonight’s series-opener in Baltimore, skipper Terry Francona said, “The best way we can see to attack this, we’ll DL him, take the time down and get him ready to pitch the rest of the season. That’s kind of where we are.”

Francona added that Matsuzaka tried to talk his way out of a DL stint — and “that’s first of all good news because it means he feels good about himself. That’s what good pitchers and good players do. That’s part of the reason they’re good.”

Jeff Bailey, one of the hottest hitters in the International League, has been recalled to take Matsuzaka’s roster spot for the weekend series in Baltimore. Bailey has 13 home runs and 33 RBI this month for the PawSox.

Finally with Matsuzaka sidelined, Tim Wakefield will be moved up to Monday in Baltimore. That means we could see Justin Masterson’s 3rd big league start on Tuesday at Fenway against the first-place Rays, though the Sox haven’t made any official announcement about that yet.

UConn’s Calhoun Treated for Skin Cancer

Posted by Morry Levine May 30, 2008 at 2:22 pm

Connecticut basketball coach Jim Calhoun says he is being treated for his second bout of skin cancer in a year, and he wants to keep coaching.  The 66-year-old Hall of Famer says a lump removed from his neck on May 6 was malignant. He is to undergo six weeks of radiation treatments next month. His doctors say there should be no long-term effects from the radiation. They expect him to return to a normal lifestyle, including coaching.

(AP)

Professional Sports Team of the Year

Posted by Morry Levine May 30, 2008 at 1:13 pm

The Boston Red Sox were bestowed with the award for 2008 Professional Sports Team of the Year in the inaugural Sports Business Awards.  Other sports franchises nominated for the award include the Buffalo Sabres, Hendrick Motorsports, Phoenix Suns and Toronto FC.

The Sports Business Awards, presented by Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal and Sports Business Daily, were initiated to recognize the best that the sports business has to offer.  The award ceremonies held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City on Thursday, May 29, 2008 recognized the Red Sox for being “baseball’s gold-standard operation” and “the game’s unofficial organizational leaders”, for the ballclub’s efforts “to expand internationally”, “build a sponsorship base that has tripled during (this) six-year ownership tenure” and “successfully renovate storied Fenway Park”.  Principal Owner John W. Henry also received a nomination for Sports Executive of the Year.

The 2008 season is the 108^th season in the illustrious history of the ballclub and the 7^th for the current ownership led by Principal Owner John W. Henry, Chairman Tom Werner and President/CEO Larry Lucchino.  Under their stewardship, the franchise has successfully won two World Championships while selling out Fenway Park for 414 consecutive games dating back to May 15, 2003, second only to the 455 by the Cleveland Indians and a record that the Organization hopes to surpass later this season.

Hamilton Questionable

Posted by Morry Levine May 29, 2008 at 4:33 pm

Richard Hamilton is listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game 6 in Detroit.  The Pistons guard strained his right elbow in the final seconds of Boston’s 106-102 win last night.  X-rays were negative.

Flash! Belichick smiles!

Posted by Ted McEnroe May 29, 2008 at 3:37 pm

Of course, he’s not talking about the Patriots…

Belichick on the Celtics

Posted by Morry Levine May 29, 2008 at 2:44 pm

The Patriots passing camp continued today.  Bill Belichick spoke about the team’s progress, but also weighed in on the Celtics Pistons series.

BB: We are wrapping up this week at camp and we will start back up on Monday with our full team. These three days we’ve had players that haven’t played as much – rookies, guys coming from other teams and guys that didn’t play that much last year. [Also] players like Mike Richardson that were on IR. We are just giving guys reps that haven’t had too much with this team. So it’s good. We have had some good opportunities with the wind and throwing in different conditions. It’s been good for the guys to get used to handling the ball and so forth. We have gotten a lot of exposure and we are trying to get a lot of teaching done and we will resume that on Monday when we get everyone back in. From a team standpoint, we have a lot of work to do. We are just plugging along but we are getting there.

Q: How’s Victor Hobson working at that position? It is a little different than what he was doing with the Jets.

BB: Good. He is playing inside linebacker for us. He had played a lot of outside linebacker the last two years down there. I think he is a smart guy, runs well, he’s got some experience in the system and certainly playing inside. I think he has a good combination of experience, toughness and athleticism to the position.

Q: What do you look for in this offseason in regards to him playing a different position than he is used to? Do you look for signs like ‘this could work’?

BB: It is pretty much the same for everybody. We teach them what to do, different plays, how to cover routes, how to defend and cover different running plays and what their reads. Then we give everyone a chance to do it.  All the players that play that position are all getting the same amount of reps, so then when the get the chance to execute in training camp we will evaluate them based on how they do then. It is really more of a teaching opportunity and an opportunity for those guys to get reps that haven’t had as many. That’s all.

Q: How had Jerod [Mayo] been doing on defense?

BB: Good. He has done fine. He has a long way to go but we are plugging along.

Q: How valuable is it to have this one on one time with rookies, newcomers to the team and have this time on the field with the assistant coaches and yourself?

BB: It’s good. It’s what everyone has. Actually, we probably do fewer days than what most teams do. We try to give everyone a good base so we can make the competition as even as possible for when we get to training camp. We have a lot of guys on this team that have run our defense and offensive system for a number of years. We have guys who have taken a lot of snaps and guys who haven’t. We are just trying to level the playing field a little bit so everyone has a chance to compete in training camp.

Q: Looks like [Kevin] O’Connell has been focusing on some different mechanics. Is that fair to say?

BB: I think everyone is working on new techniques and trying to improve on what they have done in the past so we will put everyone in that category.

Q: Back in the owners meetings in late March you mentioned Junior Seau, at that time it probably wasn’t the best time to say which way that would go, but as we get deeper here in the off-season is that situation anywhere reaching a point where we will know either he will be back or won’t be back?

BB: I think it is closer to reaching that point. I don’t think it is any closer to having any kind of commitment one way or another. We are just not there yet. But we are closer to being there. We just don’t know where that is.

Q: Have you gotten your crystal ball out to tell when that is?

BB: I’d say it will probably closer to training camp than mini camp.

Q: Just to clarify, I know the veterans aren’t out here but are you doing meetings with these guys this week?

BB: Not in meetings, no, but there are a lot of guys who are still working out in the off-season program. In the Spring, guys have different schedules and different commitments so it is kind of a make up week that some guys are making up and other guys aren’t.

Q: Have you enjoyed following the Celtics in their playoff run?

BB: I sure did. I enjoyed it last night. What an awesome performance. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, [Rajon] Rondo, [Kendrick] Perkins played great and Paul Pierce. It was an exciting game to watch. So was the first one. I feel like the team mascot.

Q: You scored some pretty good seats too.

BB: The seats are awesome. There is a lot of contact down there. It looks like a lot of tight ends playing and bigger.

Q: I know you have a friendship with Terry Francona, do you have a good rapport with Doc Rivers or anyone else on the Celtics.

BB: Yeah. Doc and I have talked several times over the last few years. He has been really supportive of us and I really appreciate that. The Celtics take great care of not only me, but you also see a lot of our players at the games. I know all the guys love to get over there and watch those great athletes perform. The Celtics have been great. They have been very supportive of us and they have taken great care of us and we appreciate it. We are pulling for them. Hopefully, they won’t have to come back from Detroit and play them Sunday. Hopefully, they can wrap it up in Detroit – we are pulling for that.

Q: With the punters, you have the two veterans and the rookie. Do you envision it to be similar to evaluating over a long stretch of time to see the consistency or is that harder to do this year that you have some roster restrictions?

BB: I’d say it is going to be harder this year given the roster restrictions. Right now without contracts being signed we can carry a little bit over the 80, but once those guys sign contracts it is a hard 80 number. We will have to make some decisions there. I’m not sure that we will be able to take everyone we want to, to camp. The numbers have been lower than they have been in previous years with the Europe guys with those type of exemptions.

Q: Is this camp about teaching or evaluating?

BB: Teaching. We don’t have pads on. Some of these guys are doing things for the first time. It is hard to evaluate anybody when they do something once. You teach it to them, if they don’t do it well than you come back and teach it to them the next time and the next time. Once everyone comes back and they have a little bit of confidence and they have done something previously, than they have a fair chance to go out there and do it to somebody else. Then we will go out there and evaluate when everyone has a better understanding of what to do.

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