Re: Ainge radio interview

[Tammo29@xxxxxxx]

Sorry if you didn't catch it guys.  Seems Danny called in 45 minutes early.

Not a lot of new stuff.

The trade:
-Knew it would be controversial.  
-He felt he needed to change the culture of the team.
-He thought Antione was too close to the coaching staff (sort of an odd 
statement, but he didn't go into any further detail).
-He didn't think Antoine fit what they needed.
-He's not a low post scorer or a high percentage scorer.
-He mentioned his 38% shooting last year and said he felt after watching 
practices and preseason games he was heading in the same direction this season.
-He said this was a mediocre team last season before the trade, and it's 
still a mediocre team, but with more options and heading in the right direction.


Shaq and Kobe- you can skip this part if you'd like:
-Never liked each other.
-Kobe is a loner, no close to his teammates.
-Shaq gets along with everybody
-Shame they can't value each other more

Carmelo and LaBron- ditto on the skip:
-Carmelo will probably be the more productive player this season.
-LaBron is a future Hall of Fame point guard.  Will be the next Magic Johnson.
Definitely the better player.

On his new job as Director of Operations:
-It's the opportunity of a lifetime.
-He's going to give it a couple of years and see how it goes.  (hmmmm)

On Paul Pierce:
-Always a fan.
-Saw him play some spectacular games as a radio analyst.  Mentioned the 
Portland game in particular, in which he said he single handedly willed them to a 
win.
-Never been around a player, Bird included, who worked as hard.  
-First one to practice-last one to leave.
-Always in the weight room or on the court.
-Loved the way he practiced-diving on the floor for loose balls, taking 
charges, treating it just like a game.
-Antoine played hard during games but did none of those things in practice.  
Just went through the motions.  Thought that was a bad example for the younger 
guys, especially from someone who was supposed to be a leader.

Addition of Raef LaFrentz:
-Makes the Celtics a better defensive team.  Better rebounding team. Better 
shooting percentage team.
-He is better able to space the floor.
-Allows for better combinations.
-Complementary player who can be an important part.
-Will get to use more of his post game than he did in Dallas.
-Needs to take the open shots and not pass them up.

That's about it.  There was some banter back and forth between he and Kevin 
Harlan.
Some mutual admiration stuff.  
Some In and Out Burger talk.  Only went there once, on the way from LA to Las 
Vegas.
I must have ordered the wrong thing because my burger was pretty 
unexceptional.  

Sometimes they will archive the better interviews on their web page.  Don't 
know if this one will make the cut, but if it does I'll post a link.



TAM