Celtics Make Moves + Embiid to Have Surgery | Bob Ryan & Jeff Goodman Podcast - video Dailymotion

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The gang is all here! Bob Ryan and Jeff Goodman sit down with Gary Tanguay to talk about the biggest news in basketball this week. The Celtics made some moves to bolster their roster for the playoffs, the Cavaliers are making a strong push, Joel Embiid is out with an injury, and much more! Plus, on the day of the unveiling of Kobe Bryant's statue in LA, the guys reminisce on their memory of Kobe and his untimely passing. That, and much more!  01:00 - Celtics’ new additions 09:30 - Porzingis 16:19 FANDUEL 15:55 - Embiid’s injury 20:47 - Cavs making a push 24:00 - Doc Rivers 27:53 - Kobe statue 32:40 - Super Bowl Picks      Fanduel Sportsbook is the exclusive wagering parter of the CLNS Media Network! Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY in BONUS BETS – GUARANTEED when you place a FIVE DOLLAR BET. That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS in BONUS BETS – WIN OR LOSE! Go to https://FanDuel.com/BOSTON! The app is so easy to use and there are so many different ways to bet like:    ● Live Same Game Parlays    ● Find Bets in the NEW Explore Tab    ● Make a parlay in the Parlay Hub – the best way to find popular parlays    ● And more!      DISCLAIMER: Must be 21+ and present in select states. FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. First online real money wager only. $10 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG in Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tennessee, and Virginia. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 in Arizona, 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, 1-800-9-WITH-IT in Indiana, 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com in Kansas, 1-877-770-STOP in Louisiana, visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland, visit 1800gambler.net in West Virginia, or call 1-800-522-4700 in Wyoming. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York.

Transcript

00:00 [MUSIC]

00:26 Welcome to the Bob Ryan, Jeff Goodman Tangway Along for the Ride, Zoom and

00:30 Pod right here with CLNS Media Networks.

00:34 We are driven by FanDuel, happy Super Bowl to all who celebrate and

00:37 who doesn't from FanDuel.

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00:43 all about scoring the best seats on the couch, grabbing your favorite football

00:46 snacks, and placing some super bets.

00:50 All right, so trade deadline coming up.

00:54 One of the things we had talked about, Bob, is while Brad Stevens is without

00:59 question to me the executive of the year and the things that he's done,

01:04 we were keeping an eye on what he was gonna do to give this team a little bit

01:09 of a boost.

01:10 And he came through with Xavier Tillman from Memphis, with Amar Stevens and

01:14 two second round picks.

01:15 The deal with Tillman, he's 25 years old, he's 6'8", strong,

01:19 versatile defender, six points a game, 4.6 a game.

01:23 But he's really there to give him some beef on the defensive end and

01:26 depth in the middle.

01:28 >> On the very day that Joe Mazzola was yet again going public with this

01:33 declaration that I don't need anything else, that I love my guys,

01:37 I like my team, I don't need any help.

01:39 I mean, I'm not looking, I'm not going to Brad and begging for anything, all right?

01:42 He said that, it was quoted just yesterday morning.

01:45 So now, so Brad Gibson, Xavier Tillman, I am not gonna BS anybody.

01:50 I am no expert on the life and lore of Xavier Tillman,

01:53 other than I was vaguely aware of his existence on this earth.

01:57 I yield to my friend, Mr. Goodman, maybe he has a little background he can shed,

02:02 other than what I've been hearing all day about the nature of his game, okay?

02:06 That's it, I'm going, okay.

02:08 The only thing I have to further say is,

02:11 the big issue with bringing in someone to augment this core eight,

02:16 I don't know what that is, it's a core eight,

02:19 will he fit in and not want to play too much?

02:23 Did they vet the personality fully to understand,

02:27 he understands why is there, what his role is, and

02:31 they don't want to disturb this chemistry that Coach Mazzola has been allotting.

02:37 >> I'm so not worried about that.

02:40 Xavier Tillman obviously played for a while at Michigan State.

02:45 He is a long, versatile big that isn't gonna give you a ton on

02:50 the offensive end and doesn't care about that.

02:54 He just wants to guard, he'll be a great piece.

02:58 When we talked about this and getting an insurance policy for

03:04 Al Horford, in case something happens to him or Porzingis.

03:08 Now again, if Porzingis goes down, you're in trouble.

03:11 >> Yeah. >> You're in trouble.

03:12 But if Horford goes down, or right now you wanna manage his minutes even more,

03:18 I think Tillman's the perfect guy to be able to do it.

03:21 Cuz I think in some ways he does a lot of similar things as Al Horford and

03:26 has a similar personality to Al Horford.

03:29 They're about the same size.

03:32 Tillman isn't able to step out like Al can do now.

03:37 I think he's more like Al was eight years ago,

03:41 where he can make some mid range jumpers.

03:44 He could switch everything.

03:47 He is a high IQ basketball player who kinda knows who he is and

03:53 doesn't try to be more than that, doesn't need to score 15 points a game.

04:00 He's gonna come in and play 15 minutes a game for a team.

04:05 And he's obviously been well coached coming out of college, right?

04:09 Like with Tom Izzo.

04:11 He's been pushed.

04:12 He's tough.

04:14 He's all in the winning.

04:17 I think he's the perfect guy.

04:18 Cuz like you said, Bob, if you brought in somebody who wanted more,

04:23 who was thinking like, hey, no, no, that's not what you're gonna be.

04:27 You're gonna be 15 minutes a game,

04:29 unless something happens to Al Horford or Porzingis, period.

04:34 >> Yeah, okay, well, that's very reassuring.

04:36 Because I was not conversant with Xavier Tillman, other than he existed.

04:42 So that's why we have an expert such as Jeff Goodman with us.

04:45 So that's good.

04:46 >> And I also think, Bob, in Brad, we trust, cuz that's where I am, right?

04:50 >> Yeah, right.

04:51 >> You know, Bob raises an excellent point.

04:54 You always worry about that.

04:55 But I trust Brad Stevens to make the right call in that regard, Jeff.

05:00 >> Well, also, Gary, all Brad Stevens has to do is pick up the phone.

05:05 And he's got a direct line to Tom Izzo to say, hey, Tom,

05:08 what type of player are we getting here?

05:11 What type of kid are we getting here?

05:12 What type of character are we getting here?

05:14 And Tom's not gonna bullshit Brad Stevens.

05:17 Now, Tom's not gonna bullshit a lot of people.

05:19 But he's certainly not gonna bullshit Brad Stevens.

05:22 Because again, that's the advantage Brad Stevens has over every other general

05:27 manager in the NBA, every other one.

05:31 He can go back, he can call their college coach,

05:34 he can call their damn AU coach if he wants to.

05:37 >> [LAUGH] >> That is the advantage that Brad Stevens

05:40 has when he brings in a guy like Xavier Tillman.

05:43 >> Has a bad kid ever come out of Michigan State?

05:45 >> Yeah, yeah.

05:49 >> But here's my point, of course, of course there has.

05:53 But to me, and Bob, you can jump on this as well.

05:58 If you played for Tom Izzo, generally, you're okay with me.

06:03 A song has just popped into my head, okay?

06:07 And a line from the song is, he's good, bad, but he's not evil.

06:12 And of course, I'm thinking of Draymond Green.

06:14 >> Right.

06:15 >> I mean, he's- >> I love Draymond at Michigan State.

06:19 >> He's a Spartan, folks.

06:20 >> I loved him at Michigan State, I gotta say.

06:23 >> I did too.

06:23 I couldn't believe you- >> He was a little different.

06:26 He got progressively, the last few years, he's gotten a little bit harder.

06:30 >> Yeah, I'll tell you what Draymond's suffering from.

06:33 Celebrity-itis.

06:34 >> Yeah, probably true.

06:36 >> No, it's really that.

06:38 I think to play amateur psychologist, which is never good.

06:43 But we've seen enough of it where, let's face it,

06:49 if you're winning multiple NBA championships, the Warriors are kind of,

06:53 they're like the Beatles, they become bigger than themselves.

07:00 We've seen this happen with players before.

07:02 They forget that, hey, you're a basketball player.

07:05 Then they become celebrities, then they start producing TV shows, and

07:09 then on and on and on.

07:11 And I think that's what happened to Draymond.

07:12 I think a lot of it got in his head, and hopefully he straightened it out.

07:17 But overall, if you tell me, this guy played for Tom Izzo, Jeff, I'm like, okay.

07:23 >> Izzo loved him.

07:24 Izzo loved him.

07:24 >> Well, there you go, he's okay with me.

07:27 Cuz if you can play for Izzo, you can play for anybody.

07:29 That's the thing, is again, it's gonna be easy playing for Missoula.

07:33 And fourth year, he's young, he could be a part of this organization for

07:38 a while going forward, because I think he's gonna be a perfect piece.

07:43 >> We've been sitting in a group.

07:45 >> Yeah, who's gonna be a role guy, knows he's a role guy.

07:48 Played three years in Michigan State, has played four years in the NBA now.

07:55 Started games for Memphis.

07:57 He's perfect.

07:58 I mean, the only thing I would have said, if you had said to me,

08:02 what's the ideal that you want for this role?

08:06 I would have probably picked somebody a few years older and more established.

08:11 But I think Tillman's perfect for what they need.

08:15 >> He fits right in with the profile.

08:17 Now, they still don't play anybody of consequence under 25.

08:20 And they are sufficiently experienced, let's face it.

08:24 And they are 39 and 12.

08:27 I just looked at that mark this morning, Bob.

08:30 Because on this weekly podcast, we look for things to talk about.

08:35 And generally, you talk about losing a game to the Lakers,

08:39 getting blown out by the- >> Gary was all, hey,

08:42 Gary was all up in arms over the loss to the Lakers.

08:45 I got him down off the ledge, Bob.

08:47 >> Well, I didn't wanna overreact to either the trouncing of Miami or

08:52 the loss to the Lakers, but it bothered me.

08:54 I was away.

08:56 And I heard about, in the morning of the game, last Thursday,

09:01 I heard out there in Brookings, South Dakota, that neither LeBron nor

09:07 AD would play, and I said to coach Eric Henderson, they're in trouble.

09:13 They're in trouble.

09:14 I don't like this.

09:15 The Celtics, I fear this game now much more than I would have.

09:19 >> Right. >> But we saw what happened.

09:21 They just got better, and they're 39 and 12, which brings us to Porzingis.

09:25 Is this right?

09:29 Did I see, am I seeing things?

09:31 Did he actually lead the Celtics in scoring in the win over the Atlanta Hawks?

09:37 >> 31.

09:38 >> Yeah. >> Right.

09:39 >> It was great. >> It was terrific.

09:40 >> And again, that is the beauty of Porzingis and this team.

09:45 That is the beauty of the team.

09:47 One guy has an off night, and you've got four other dudes, really,

09:52 who could step up.

09:53 >> Well, the box score was, it's a beautiful, balanced box score.

09:56 Look at it.

09:57 I'm a box score freak.

09:58 I love box scores.

10:00 And it's a thing of basketball beauty, their box score today.

10:04 I can tell you that.

10:05 I love box scores like that.

10:07 He continues to impress, and I continue to laugh at myself.

10:13 My absolute ignorant skepticism about the trade.

10:20 If you go back and dig up what I was saying, my God, but I'm owning it.

10:25 I blew it.

10:27 I was- >> You didn't blow it.

10:29 No, no, you didn't blow it.

10:30 You just didn't know because he was stuck in Purgatory in Washington.

10:34 >> Well, I said, at the time, nobody watches the Wizards.

10:37 I didn't.

10:38 I had no idea what kind of year he was having.

10:40 I saw the numbers after they traded for him.

10:42 I called, who I called after the trade was I called now former Wizards GM,

10:49 Tommy Shepard, and he's the one who kind of set me straight.

10:53 He was like, no, no, no, Porzingis was awesome for us, awesome.

10:58 He's matured a ton over the years.

11:02 He's not just a guy who wants to pick and pop.

11:05 He can go in there, great passer now.

11:07 So he was the one who kind of got me straight right away, Bob.

11:12 And he's been better than advertised, better than Shepard even told me.

11:18 >> By the way- >> Cuz now he's an adult.

11:23 Now I think that's the other part of the self esteem that you looked at a few

11:27 years ago and you're like, all right, Tatum, Jalen Brown,

11:31 they have no leadership qualities.

11:33 They're too young, this, that, and the other.

11:36 They've grown up now in these last couple years.

11:38 They're not kids anymore.

11:40 They're not kids, and then you surround them with Horford, Drew Holiday,

11:45 obviously Derek White, and Porzingis has grown up as well.

11:50 And you're like, and Houser comes out of college,

11:54 he's a grown man in terms of who he is, Pritchard.

11:57 There's not many leaks when it comes to character or

12:03 ego or any of that now in this locker room.

12:08 That's the beauty of Joe Mizzoula and what you're dealing with.

12:11 I understand why he didn't need anything else.

12:13 >> By the way, the more I see a Pritchard who I've liked from day one and

12:17 liked him in college, the more I like him.

12:20 And he had that nice little shovel pass from everyone at baseline last night.

12:24 He can- >> He's a great back up.

12:25 >> He gets sneaky offensive or defensive rebounds.

12:29 He makes sneaky steals.

12:31 He's aggressive.

12:33 And then of course, he's Rejon Detra and his earth is making those threes.

12:36 I mean, I love having him around.

12:38 And you know what started to remind me of in terms of the nature of the role,

12:43 just the nature of the proportionate role that he plays.

12:47 >> Can I guess?

12:47 Can I guess? >> Not that they have that similar skill.

12:50 Larry Siegfried, I'm going back 50 years.

12:52 He's the 20th person- >> You were not gonna guess Larry Siegfried.

12:57 I was gonna say Jerry Seisting.

12:59 >> That's good, but Seisting wasn't anywhere near as tough as,

13:03 he was tough for people to think, but he wasn't as resourceful.

13:08 His thing was of course, not missing 15 foot jump shots.

13:11 I mean, he was doing, you know that he shot 65% from the floor in the last 17

13:15 games at 85, 86 season, think about that, 65%.

13:19 And we know that- >> Hey, how many were contested, zero?

13:23 >> Well, inside out passes from Max or from Larry or, but

13:30 90% of the 65% were 15 foot, 17 foot jumpers.

13:36 >> Why don't- >> It's a good comparison,

13:37 I like that, I can see those three in the Celtic lore, anyway.

13:43 >> Well, to your point about the lack of ego, you have two all stars in Jalen Brown

13:50 and in Tatum and nobody else cares.

13:53 Nobody else on the team, Porzingis doesn't care, Holiday doesn't care.

13:58 >> We know the guards don't care.

14:00 >> They don't care, they're like, go have a good time guys.

14:03 >> Porzingis was in Washington, so

14:05 he's just happy to be somewhere that he's playing meaningful games.

14:08 >> Right. >> Derek White right now,

14:10 could be in San Antonio.

14:12 >> Right.

14:13 >> Right, he could be in San Antonio.

14:15 And yeah, I think with Tatum and Jalen Brown getting paid,

14:20 I think it's different once you're Jalen Brown and you get that contract.

14:25 Now, there's something to be said about living up to it,

14:28 we've talked about that for a while.

14:30 But you can exhale and say, I just got the best contract in NBA history,

14:35 I'm good, I'm good now.

14:38 >> I wanna say something about the game last night.

14:41 And because I'm always trying on the lookout to defend the sanctity of

14:44 the regular season.

14:46 >> So people know- >> I know somebody-

14:48 >> The Celtics beating the Hawks, so when-

14:50 >> The Celtics beat the Hawks in a game

14:51 that was well contested from start to finish.

14:54 The Celtics didn't really pull away to the last couple of minutes to put

14:57 the game, in fact, they still, they needed that three pointer from

15:01 Krasinghs to put the thing to rest, okay?

15:04 It was a, I'm applauding the Hawks, missing two starters for

15:09 coming into Boston and going head to head with them and making them work.

15:13 Really, really, really making the Celtics work to win that game.

15:16 They deserve credit for what they did last night, the Hawks did.

15:20 I know somebody who went to the game,

15:22 it was his debut as a great Boston sports fan from Connecticut.

15:27 And loves the Red Sox, I think, and this is his Celtic debut,

15:32 he was all excited, went with his friend.

15:34 And just think the smile on their face when they walk out of that building last

15:38 night, they got a show, they got an NBA show.

15:42 And that happened, and probably with two or three others last night in other

15:46 buildings where people walked out and said, damn it, that was good.

15:51 I just hate it when people put down the regular season.

15:54 I mean, there's a reason for it, you gotta play those games.

15:56 You don't just go on pips and set up the playoffs.

16:00 So people got their money's worth, I know he enjoyed the hell out of watching it at

16:04 home, and I was thinking about my friend and I was texting with him and

16:08 saying, you picked a good one for your debut.

16:13 So anyway.

16:14 >> Got his money's worth.

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16:51 Jeff, you wanna talk about Embiid for Philadelphia.

16:54 He's out for four weeks with knee surgery.

16:56 At the time, he was averaging wilt-like numbers,

17:00 35 points per game, 11.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks.

17:04 And but because he's not involved in 70% of the game, the stats don't matter anymore.

17:10 That's maybe a side note, but you wanted to comment on that.

17:14 >> Well, just again, they're saying they're gonna re-evaluate in a month, but

17:17 the thing I've always worried about with Joel, since he came in the league, was what?

17:22 Health, right?

17:23 I mean, health and knocking what he had been pretty good for a while.

17:27 He had really been pretty good for a few years now.

17:30 But you're just worried about his body from the moment really that he left Kansas.

17:38 And went to the NBA draft and has had kind of a myriad of issues with his body.

17:45 Obviously, Philly, you can kind of stick a fork in them without Embiid.

17:50 And now what does this mean for the future of Embiid and the organization?

17:54 Because again, you just wonder how long it's gonna be before Embiid,

18:00 when he does get healthy.

18:01 And I'm not sure, again, is he gonna come back this year?

18:06 We'll see.

18:07 If I'm Joel Embiid, I'm not rushing back.

18:10 I'm not rushing back.

18:11 So what does this mean for him and the Sixers long term?

18:17 They're playing well without him, but they need another piece.

18:22 Even with Maxie playing out of his mind, they needed one more piece to me to

18:27 be legitimate challengers to whether it's Boston or Milwaukee in the east.

18:34 And yeah, I just feel bad cuz I love Joel.

18:37 I wish he would stay, be healthy cuz I think he's kind of, I mean, again,

18:42 he and Jokic are just, they're two guys that you love to watch

18:48 because they're so different as bigs in this day and age.

18:54 >> I looked him up yesterday for a reason and

18:58 forgot he missed his first two seasons.

19:01 Not just this open, he missed his first two seasons after leaving

19:06 Kansas because he injured himself during rehab on his, what was the thing?

19:14 His foot, navicular bone.

19:18 >> Navicular bone, I think he had a back at one point.

19:20 >> He also had back problems at Kansas.

19:22 >> He's had a bunch of things.

19:23 >> But he had injured himself, but he had broken his navicular bone,

19:27 which I'm told is the worst thing you wanna do.

19:30 And of course, they asked Bill Walton, he will tell you.

19:32 So anyway, that game he played, guys, the game last year,

19:37 remember he had that 52 point game against Boston.

19:41 And I said it was the easiest, beautiful,

19:43 just dazzlingly smooth and beautiful game.

19:47 He has a beautiful game, he really does.

19:49 And I don't know him as Jeff does, and I wish him the best though because

19:54 he deserves a career.

19:55 He's made himself into something coming out of Cameroon, folks.

20:00 >> Well, yeah, I mean, listen, even out of Kansas,

20:02 we remembered he had the injury label and it hasn't changed, unfortunately.

20:06 >> And by the way, one more thing, I was counting on him being an Olympian, but

20:10 it doesn't look like it's gonna be any chance of that.

20:13 >> Well, that's the other part, that's the other part.

20:16 I mean, he's 29, guys.

20:18 The question is, is Joel Embiid gonna play beyond like 33, 34 with this body?

20:26 I don't know, I think he's probably got four or

20:29 five more years left in him at a high level.

20:33 And to me, if I'm Joel Embiid,

20:35 I wanna go somewhere where I have a chance to win a title.

20:38 >> Well, hopefully the Sixers get that third piece because then they can be in

20:42 contention.

20:43 Because when you look at the Eastern Conference right now,

20:46 look out here come the Cavaliers.

20:48 And it seems like the Celtics are the short bet right now.

20:52 Milwaukee, they had to change coaches.

20:55 The Knicks are, we all know what the Knicks are.

20:57 But now Cleveland is in second place in the Eastern Conference.

21:01 >> Yeah.

21:02 >> And they've won seven in a row.

21:04 So how big of a threat are the Cavaliers, Jeff Goodwin?

21:07 >> Well, I mean, we knew they were gonna be good.

21:11 I still don't think anybody's taking them as a actual threat to beat

21:15 the Celtics or Milwaukee.

21:17 But they got Darius Garland back, their point guard, you throw him.

21:22 >> They're a well constructed team by Kobe Altman and Mike Gansey.

21:26 And I say that because, again, you've got Donovan Mitchell is your star,

21:32 but you need help for him.

21:34 He's got a point guard in Darius Garland who just loves to distribute the ball.

21:40 You've got a shooter in Max Struess around them, which fits, right?

21:45 Like that's what he does.

21:47 >> Yes.

21:47 >> Then you've got Mobley and Jared Allen up front.

21:51 Mobley is one of the best, honestly, young forwards in the game.

21:56 I mean, in terms of versatility, and these guys have high character.

22:00 And then I love their bench.

22:03 I do, like George Nyang, our guy, coming off the bench.

22:06 Karris Lavert coming off the bench.

22:08 He was a star before he had injuries kind of derail his career.

22:13 Dean Wade, I love how they've,

22:18 Kobe Altman and Mike Gansey deserve a ton of credit.

22:21 Cuz this organization looked to be absolutely dead and

22:26 buried a few years ago.

22:27 And they've drafted well, they've made some really good trades.

22:33 So again, I think they're probably a,

22:39 if they could get to the Eastern Conference Finals, that would be a hell of a year.

22:43 I think they're probably an Eastern Conference semifinals type of team.

22:47 I don't see them as a true threat to beat the Bucs or the Celtics.

22:51 >> Donovan Mitchell is on a major role, so people should know.

22:55 In his last five games, 40-29, 31-25, and 45 last night,

23:02 he's shooting in that stretch 55% from the floor.

23:05 He's led the team in scoring 12 of the last 13 games.

23:09 And the 13th was our buddy George Nyang, who had 33 and a loss to the Bucs.

23:15 >> [LAUGH] >> But Mitchell, yeah,

23:17 everything you said, no, that should be taken seriously.

23:21 And let's salute the coach too, JB Bickerstam.

23:25 >> Yeah.

23:25 >> Who's I knew dad back in the day, who's a wonderful guy, loved Bernie.

23:31 Bernie's still involved in the organization, I'm told, and I'm glad to know.

23:35 And that's nice.

23:36 And Cleveland, they went through such a painful,

23:41 romantic, athletic relationship with you-know-who.

23:45 I mean, LeBron, and he left them in the lurch again.

23:50 And I think their fans deserve something good, so that's okay with me.

23:55 >> Hey, Gary, Gary, we have yet to talk to Bob.

23:58 I haven't, I don't know if you have yet, about Doc Rivers' return.

24:05 >> We did, yeah, we did.

24:06 But go ahead, I mean, yeah, sure, let's get, go ahead, ask him a question.

24:09 >> I just wonder how this is gonna work.

24:11 So far, so bad, it has not been good, and we all love Doc, we all love Doc.

24:16 But Bob, try to be objective on this one, okay, try.

24:21 I know it's hard for you with Doc, I get it.

24:24 It's like, you're long lost brother with Doc Rivers, but

24:29 was this the right move?

24:33 Like, was this the right move to bring in a guy who's been in the booth for

24:38 the last, or on the court, TV-wise, for this season,

24:43 who's had their struggles in the playoffs?

24:45 And again, I love Doc as much as you do.

24:48 Was this the right move to bring him into Milwaukee right now?

24:52 >> You mean I can't recuse myself?

24:54 >> You cannot, you cannot.

24:55 >> All right, I don't like it, I wish he hadn't done it.

24:59 And I just, I don't want people having further excuse to

25:04 examine the Clippers' failures, frankly.

25:07 >> [LAUGH] >> I don't want that, but

25:09 that it's gonna be thrown in his face if something bad happens.

25:13 And maybe there's something funny, I don't know.

25:18 I mean, Giannis, is he a two-time coach killer?

25:23 I'm asking.

25:25 >> It would be shocking if, I gotta say this.

25:30 I'd heard some stuff about Adrian Griffin, that it just wasn't working there.

25:36 I just, I feel like it would be very difficult to point any blame on Giannis,

25:40 cuz I've never heard a bad word about Giannis.

25:42 >> I'm posing the question, which probably isn't fair at all, but

25:45 it's out there.

25:46 And I'm just posing it, I don't know, I don't wanna believe that either.

25:48 I wanna like Giannis, and I love his game.

25:51 >> And everybody loves Doc, right?

25:52 Everybody pretty much loves Doc.

25:54 So Doc and Giannis should be the right marriage.

25:57 I think it's just gonna take time.

25:59 But like you said, the problem is, all you're doing now, if you're Doc,

26:04 you've already won a championship.

26:06 All you're doing is putting yourself in a situation now,

26:10 where if something else bad happens in the playoffs,

26:13 and you're up like 3-1 in a series, and you lose.

26:17 It's like, no, Doc, why did you do this?

26:19 Why?

26:20 >> I'm just kinda surprised.

26:22 I mean, this is a life of a move.

26:25 >> Hey, you see how much money?

26:27 Did you see how much money they gave him?

26:29 >> No. >> Why are you surprised?

26:31 >> Yeah, I know, that's right.

26:32 But still, I think the bank account should be in good shape anyway.

26:38 But yeah, I'm sure.

26:39 I'm disappointed.

26:41 I just was happy for him.

26:44 I think he was in a good place.

26:45 I know he liked Mike Green.

26:48 I know he told me he liked Doris and- >> Yeah, Doris, they're the best.

26:52 >> All right, and the other thing is, in terms of how much time it's gonna take,

26:57 just get in, as the borrowed phrase from Bill Purcell, get in the tournament.

27:01 Just get in, and once you're in, so he's got enough time to sort things out.

27:09 >> Well, my response to Giannis would be, and I'm a Doc apologist as well.

27:14 I think the Clippers, with ownership, that was a tough situation.

27:19 He had to deal with Harden in Philadelphia,

27:22 that is not the same Harden now that's in Los Angeles.

27:25 And I would say to the Greek freak that if you can't, Giannis,

27:31 if you can't play for Doc, you can't play for anybody.

27:36 So to me, this is on the player.

27:38 >> No, right.

27:40 So we'll keep it, it's worth keeping an eye on.

27:43 I mean, obviously, it's worth keeping an eye on.

27:44 We have to keep an eye on it because it directly involves the Boston Celtics,

27:47 there's no question.

27:48 >> Guys, on a somber note, I mean,

27:51 they're gonna celebrate the life of Kobe Bryant.

27:56 They're gonna unveil the statue outside the arena.

27:58 That is actually gonna happen today on the day of the taping this.

28:00 I don't know if this brings back any thoughts or any feelings at all, Bob,

28:06 about this.

28:07 I mean, certainly I'm glad that memory is not gonna be forgotten.

28:10 >> When Kobe passed, the enormous outpouring of grief and

28:19 love for him from so many circles, so many areas.

28:22 I wasn't ready for that.

28:25 I didn't realize he was that beloved.

28:28 I had underestimated the mamba bull.

28:32 And the way he died with his daughter, it's just awful.

28:40 So it's poignant, there's no question.

28:46 But I mean, he is a revered figure in LA and elsewhere too.

28:52 And a lot of players grew up looking patented, wanted to be the next Kobe Bryant.

28:57 So good, I'm just reminded that the shocking news we got at how he died

29:04 was really one of those awful stories, no question.

29:07 >> Yeah, I mean, I think, what is it, like the fifth or

29:12 sixth person to have a statue outside of crypto or whatever it's called now?

29:17 >> Yeah, whatever, crypto.com, yeah, whatever.

29:19 >> Yeah, I just call it the Staples Center still.

29:22 >> Yeah. >> It just sucks.

29:23 It sucks that he's not here to be there, to enjoy it, to appreciate it.

29:30 It's just, it's still weird.

29:32 It's still weird.

29:33 I mean- >> It's very weird.

29:34 >> He's so young.

29:35 >> It's very weird.

29:36 >> He's so young and so- >> And so involved,

29:40 because of his daughter, he was so involved in women's basketball.

29:44 >> Yeah, he would have loved this.

29:46 >> Who knows where he would have taken that interest.

29:49 He could have taken that interest to somewhere to really help the WNBA and

29:53 help women's basketball everywhere.

29:55 Although it certainly is the growth sport.

29:58 It's the growth stock right now, women's basketball.

30:00 So that's another story.

30:01 >> Hey, Bob, what other all time great can you remember?

30:08 There have been a few, but that died as young as-

30:12 >> I'm trying, yeah, well, I mean,

30:14 I'm trying to think of, I knew I was just kind of running it through my head.

30:18 And we had back in, well, Ken Hubbs died after the year after we won the

30:24 National League Rookie of the Year back in circa 1961 or two.

30:29 I know I'm forgetting something obvious.

30:32 I have to be forgetting something obvious.

30:35 >> Pistol Pete died young.

30:39 >> Pardon me?

30:40 >> Pistol Pete died young.

30:42 >> Yeah, well, I'm talking about during the active.

30:44 Yeah, Pete was inactive, he had retired.

30:47 >> I'm saying young.

30:48 >> Yeah, he was only 40, I think.

30:50 >> He was playing pick up hoop, wasn't he?

30:52 >> Yeah, only turned 40.

30:54 He had a congenital heart defect that we didn't know about, as it turns out.

30:58 Yeah, Pistol Pete was a shocker, that's for sure.

31:01 And I'm sure I'm gonna think of an answer after we're done.

31:04 But- >> I'm just trying to think of

31:07 great basketball players.

31:10 >> Or any sport, I'm thinking about, I'm just- >> Yeah, I was just thinking more basketball

31:16 who died.

31:16 >> Well, the greatest basketball tragedy of inactive remains during the active career

31:22 of Maurice Stokes.

31:23 That situation when Maurice Stokes was stricken with, I believe encephalitis,

31:29 but he was stricken with a street wing sickness.

31:31 And then he lasted and lingered, he'd be able to live a life of another however many years,

31:38 thanks to Jack, on large measure, thanks to Jack Twyman, taking him in.

31:42 That's the story, became a movie.

31:44 And it was an all true story what Jack Twyman did to become his legal guardian.

31:49 And Maurice Stokes, people don't know, he was probably LeBron before LeBron or Elgin before

31:57 Elgin.

31:58 He was a very versatile six forward who came out of St. Francis de Loretto and was playing

32:06 with the Royals and was an all star right away.

32:09 And was on his way to a great career when he was suddenly stricken, he collapsed and

32:14 now of course, then, so anyway, Maurice Stokes would be the NBA standard of somebody in their

32:23 career during the height of their fame.

32:25 - Great guys, well, always a pleasure.

32:29 Thank you very much for those thoughts.

32:31 We'll talk again next week.

32:32 Now, are we going to, are we gonna, no, I need Super Bowl picks, right?

32:38 - No.

32:38 - I'm not gonna talk to you guys again, I don't believe.

32:41 - No, no, we won't be talking before again.

32:44 - We might, we might not, but let's do it again.

32:46 What do you got, Bob?

32:47 - I'm just gonna say, I'm gonna have to subscribe to a new theory.

32:52 It's foolish to pick against Patrick Mahomes.

32:55 And I'm not gonna pick it, I have to say Kansas City, Mahomes.

33:00 Now I know he hasn't been dazzling in his previous Super Bowl,

33:03 but I think he's ready to put on a show.

33:06 So, and I hope it's a great game and I love McCaffrey by the way, and I have nothing against

33:12 the 49ers, I got no emotional stake in this game, emotionally, it's intellectual stake

33:18 and academic stake.

33:19 And I'm gonna say Kansas City and Mahomes will have a good game.

33:22 - Yeah, and Gary, I say it's foolish to go against Taylor Swift.

33:27 (laughing)

33:29 I'm also gonna go with the Kansas City Chiefs, but for a very different reason.

33:33 I think Kelsey's gonna have a big game.

33:36 They're playing great football when it matters most.

33:40 - Yeah, agreed.

33:41 - And I just don't know if Brock Purdy, like love the kid, love him, but like, I don't

33:46 know if he's ready for this moment this quickly.

33:49 - I know this is blasphemous, but I just see a lot of Brady in the Kansas City quarterback.

33:57 - Well, you know, it's not blasphemous.

33:59 - Also, you can't say that, but I see a lot of Brady's confidence.

34:05 Look, Mahomes has more tools than Tom did.

34:08 I mean, that's no argument.

34:09 - Yeah.

34:10 - But when you talk about the persona, the ability to lead, being on the field, the big

34:15 moment, I see a lot of Brady and Mahomes, and I don't think you can bet against them.

34:21 - I think it's a valid comparison.

34:22 - Hey, I have one final thing before you guys, before we wrap this.

34:28 It's another football question.

34:31 My question to both of you is, does Bill Belichick ever coach again?

34:38 - No.

34:38 - I say he's not gonna coach Ketch Shuler, and it's gonna drive him crazy when he

34:45 does.

34:45 But I'd be surprised.

34:49 I don't think so.

34:49 - Nobody hires him.

34:51 - No.

34:51 - Nobody hires him.

34:52 - No.

34:52 I cannot believe that he would want to go anywhere where he doesn't have the final say,

34:57 and it's not.

34:59 - But does anyone, he wants to break the record.

35:02 - Yeah, he does.

35:02 - So to me, he would come back for any NFL job, would he not, Gary?

35:07 - I think that he should have taken any opportunity at this point in time and just

35:13 coached and not worried about, as Parcells would say, pick the groceries, because he

35:17 wasn't very good at that.

35:19 He should have just coached, then he had a shot at Shuler's record.

35:22 What happens now with Bill, I think, is that he's been exposed, and some of these young

35:27 coaches are coming out with different philosophies.

35:30 They're very offensive-minded.

35:32 They can pick wide receivers.

35:33 They don't care about special teams, and they're really forward-thinking coaches.

35:38 And right now, Bill has the reputation of not being a forward-thinking coach.

35:43 - He's not an adapter.

35:44 He's not an adapter.

35:45 - He's not an adapter.

35:46 Now, in '07, he did it when Moss had 50, Brady had 50 touchdowns, and they were lighting

35:53 it up.

35:53 - That was 15 years ago.

35:54 - That's the point.

35:55 And, you know, or was that Josh McDaniels?

35:57 I mean, I don't know.

35:58 Or was that Brady?

36:00 But if Bill Belichick was going to prove himself, he had to do it this year, and he had to just

36:06 take the job and coach.

36:07 But I think people look at Bill, look, he's one of the greatest coaches of all time in

36:12 any sport.

36:13 I think people look at Bill as a fossil.

36:15 - Well, you know, again, what Bill should do is team up with Nick Saban on ESPN, do

36:22 a podcast together.

36:24 - Great.

36:24 - And, you know, neither one of them are the most media-friendly on the planet, but I think

36:32 they would actually be fun together if somebody had that.

36:36 Let them enjoy life.

36:38 At this point, Bill, you've done it, kind of like Saban's done it.

36:42 Just close the chapter, go out the right way.

36:45 It's actually too bad he didn't go out the right way and retire instead of being forced

36:50 out.

36:51 That's the shitty--and I don't like Bill Belichick.

36:54 I will say this.

36:55 - Well, yeah.

36:55 - Because having to go through enough of those press conferences, I'm not a fan of how he

36:59 treated the media and people.

37:01 But what I will say is it's just too bad they didn't have the foresight to see what was

37:06 coming and say, "Hey, you know what?

37:09 He's going to retire instead of being forced out."

37:11 - Agreed.

37:13 On that note, yes, Bob, final thought?

37:16 - I'm done.

37:17 I'm done.

37:17 - He's got it.

37:18 All right.

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37:34 [Music]

Celtics Make Moves + Embiid to Have Surgery | Bob Ryan & Jeff Goodman Podcast

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