The Resilience and Rise of the Celtics

Remember the heartbreak of the 2022 NBA Finals? We do too, and in this episode of "Just 2 Murph's Talking Hoops," we relive those moments and the close call of last season. Reflecting on the Celtics' growth, we share our passion for the team, focusing on the rise of dynamic duo Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Coach Murph couldn't be prouder, flaunting his new Jaylen Brown jersey, as we celebrate their triumph in Game 1 of the Finals. Listen in as we discuss Jaylen Brown's evolution since last year's Game 7 and the crucial role of their supporting cast.

Jaylen Brown's journey is nothing short of inspiring. From tackling challenging moments in past games to becoming a cornerstone for the Celtics, his growth on and off the court is undeniable. We highlight his impressive contract extension and his dedication to community and education. Tune in to hear about the synergy between Jaylen and Jason , their defensive prowess, and how their combined strength could lead the Celtics to future success. We also revisit the Celtics' tough playoff path, praising their mental toughness and growth.

Team chemistry and mindset are vital for playoff success, and that's precisely what we explore next. We celebrate key players like Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis and veteran Big Al for their all-around contributions and emphasize the strategic evolution under Coach Joe. Special attention is given to unsung heroes like  Sam Hauser, and Jrue Holiday. From a lively Brad Stevens quiz to a heartfelt tribute to basketball legend Bill Walton, we wrap up with reflections on the spirit of resilience.  Join us as we share a hopeful outlook for the Celtics' future with a message of peace, love, and excitement for the journey ahead.

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Transcript

Podcast Paul 0:18

Just two Murph's talking hoops. The journey to June has arrived. Folks, that's right. June is here, the coach is here. Podcast Paul is here. We've made it. How are you coach?

Coach Murph 0:38

I'm fantastic, I feel fresh in my new official jb jersey. Let's go.

Podcast Paul 0:47

Okay, I got we got to talk about this jersey, but before we do that, I got to kick off the pod this way. This has been our second year, second season, of doing this journey to june. Right, rebranding the pod just tumors, talking hoops. The journey to june we got on after the celtics lost in the 2022, 2022 finals against the golden state warriors tough loss. We started last year. It's been a journey. Last year didn't end so well. We got to may 31st. Coach the celtics.

Podcast Paul 1:19

Of course, we took the pod to june because we're nba fans. Here we're gonna, we're gonna take, here we're going to, we're going to take whatever team takes us there. But folks, you're seeing it, you know it, we are diehard Celtics fans and this journey to June it's about the screen, it's about the Celtics. They were one day short. They made it to game seven, they almost did it, but it was a great journey. It led us into this season and what a wonderful journey it has been. And now we can finally say we, because of course, we're part of the celtics, we're part of the team.

Coach Murph 1:51

We have made it to june coach we've made it it's eight years, paul first of all, paul's, engulfed in the logo, his face is in his mug. Ha ha, ha ha. We just started the background stuff, feeling a little like.

Podcast Paul 2:09

Paul.

Coach Murph 2:09

Welcome folks. We call our fans, folks, welcome. I got boss in the background. Podcast P's got the Celtics logo. I'm Coach Murph, the younger brother of Podcast Paul, aka Prophetic P. Prediction P, podcast P, coiction P, podcast P, cozy P, we like to say, because we've got to keep it cozy right, this is going to be such a cozy pod.

Podcast Paul 2:30

Let's just start with present.

Coach Murph 2:31

I guess you're so good at taking the reins. I'm going to do my best to not interrupt but interject. That's what I've been figuring out. I can interject but not interrupt.

Podcast Paul 2:49

And I'm going to do my best to stay professional. Okay, and you go out. Where are we going? We are going to get to the. I said we're going to get to the journey jersey next, but we're going to get there next after this, wherever you want to go. So back to this journey yes we've been waiting a long time.

Podcast Paul 2:58

Of course, when we started this podcast in 2020, it was was just just to Merv's talk in sports. It was really about the green. We've been following this team for a while now and we've seen them grow and it's all of them about growth, just like this podcast, right? And last year was tough, even though we were excited when they went down three oh to Miami and the Eastern conference finals and came all the way back in game seven we it was so much fun. You knew it and I knew it. That team just didn't have it last year and it was very frustrating because the Jays have been together for a long long time. Ah, forget it, let's just get right into it with the Jersey. We love the Jays. We've been following the Jays. It's all about the Jays. They needed that supporting cast.

Podcast Paul 3:44

But I was actually thinking last night before we got on this pod. You know, coach, coach and I the Murphs, were brothers, of course. A lot of similarities, few differences. We're brothers, right. And I was thinking last night. We're always repping Tatum. You got the Tatum jersey hanging from the ceiling. I got mine falling from the wall. We love Jason Tatum. We're going to talk a lot about him today, but I thought about it last night Like wait, why doesn't one of us represent Jalen Brown, the two J, the two Mervs, the two J's, and boom, we get on the pod today, the coach in his shiny new Jalen Brown jersey.

Coach Murph 4:24

Boom.

Podcast Paul 4:25

Authentic, so that's awesome by the way anyways, I want to take that conversation in a second on the jays, because that's important so we, that's perfect.

Coach Murph 4:35

That's why I brought the. So what would paul podcast? Paul saying I'm this trusty sidekick knew that already that he's gonna like I have to rep what he was saying. I have to rep jb. And that's why I got the jersey, because I had a feeling you did. You knew I was. You probably knew I was in dicks, shout out to dicks and doing it because we're functioning sometimes on the same brain. You do a great job of of reeling me back in. We have a great time together, so our brother time.

Podcast Paul 5:02

I love this podcast and and I want to talk about his growth, because it's a huge piece of this, especially when you go back to where he was after game seven jb man well, okay, let's do this, but but I I do want to get to another theme that's very important to me with with where we are in the finals and why I'm feeling so confident right now on this team. But but if you think about last year, Congratulations Green Nation.

Coach Murph 5:28

Let's get that out of the way. We just got a big dub and it was a statement W-2.

Boston Celtics Team & Jaylen Brown

Podcast Paul 5:35

I know we have so much to talk about. We are getting on here after Game 1 just happened. Right, it's Saturday, in between Game 1 and Game 2. And I want to talk about that matchup, but specifically Jalen Brown. Now that we brought it up, you get back to season one, you get back to game seven. They made it all the way back from down. Oh three, they come back in that game. Jason Tatum gets hurt within the first five minutes of the game and Jalen Brown just couldn't do it. He couldn't dribble, he couldn't shoot, and after the game he was so dejected he took the whole loss in his shoulders. I let the city of Boston down, he let coach down. Coach was not happy. Now you take that Jalen Brown that we've seen in the Eastern conference finals, which to me that is the key here. Yes, he's been great all year. Yes, he's he's earned that contract extension. But his play in the Eastern conference finals, dude, did you see how he showed up dressed to game One of the finals?

Coach Murph 6:40

They've grown so much Like all right, just.

Podcast Paul 6:43

Jalen. Talk about Jalen. Yes, they've grown so much.

Coach Murph 6:44

Just Jalen. Talk about Jalen. Yes, jalen, that's why I own it $304 million. There's another reason why I'm wearing this jersey. Where was he when he found out from his agents that, when he got the biggest contract of all time in NBA history and he's the highest paid player, do you know where he?

Podcast Paul 7:02

was. Where was he? I think he was at the boys and girls club or no, no, no, even better.

Coach Murph 7:06

Paul, because that's great, because, yes, he's a huge part of our community man diversity, education. What he's going to do with this money. They're like what are you going to do with that money? Jb, at a press conference he's like good question. He's a nerd man with muscle, he's a brain and that's why I always say to my people, my training whether 8 to 80, crippled old, crazy. We're student athletes. Student first.

Coach Murph 7:33

He was at MIT teaching a course and I believe, robotics I have it right here. But he was at MIT, okay, and he didn't go high in the draft. Why? Because they're like he's too cerebral, he's too smart, he's not going to do and we're seeing what he's doing. His mind is incredible. But what he told when he answered the question at the press conference, what he was going to do with the money, he just like went down a list how beautiful, what things he's going to do. And he just went down a list of beautiful things he's going to do and use the corporation to help build the community man Education and all that good stuff. We know that. So I love this man all around Off the court like the charity he's doing, education JB and then just dunking all over the city of Dallas. After the Zing came in, he dunked.

Podcast Paul 8:24

Wait, wait, wait. Hold, that thought I know that's a whole other topic, he dunks on everybody, he catches bodies.

Coach Murph 8:30

He's a beast. He's progressed as a player. He's not dribbling off the speed anymore, and it's just. They've grown.

Podcast Paul 8:37

What about his defense?

Coach Murph 8:39

Yes, yes, they were last game. We're only as good as our last game, right and the whole team so.

Podcast Paul 8:48

I'll just stop there, so before we get into probably the most exciting part of game one sorry.

Coach Murph 8:55

Last thing I want to say Andy got snubbed. I'm the all-star, this is him. There's no JT without JB and vice versa. God willing, we're going to get the ring and they're going to get that monkey off the back of the Jays.

Podcast Paul 9:05

Let's go Well, you know what Wait, now that you said that there's, you know they're, they're different players and there's no. Jt without JP.

Podcast Paul 9:13

I actually was listening to something last night online and I loved it. You know we all talk about the team with the player player right, dallas has got luca right. When the warriors were in, they had steph curry, michael jordan right, larry bird. It's always one guy, one guy, one guy. And and that's why tatum gets so much flat they want him to be the one guy. They're looking for this one guy in the team. Well, guess what? The jays together are one super guy. They're. They're. They're weak apart, but together they're strong they're better.

Coach Murph 9:46

They're better this right, yeah oh yeah, they've embraced their relationship. I feel like they, oh man, they're like break up the jays and I'm like no adversity, baby. They stuck together. We grow, man. It's like family, it is family right?

Podcast Paul 10:03

well, we can thank brad for that. We're going to get into the biggest part of the game in a second, but this is what I wanted to talk about, yeah off the jump here, um, the celtics path right, and you think about last year.

Podcast Paul 10:17

They just weren't mentally ready. But this year in the playoffs, um, people want to talk about how, uh, weak their path was in the east. I don't think it was, man. I think indiana is not getting the credit they deserve. Yeah, halliburton went out. That was actually tough. Yeah, I know we swept, but, dude, that could have easily been us down three one. We should have lost game one. We could have lost game three and four. That's what was so awesome about that series. They won games. They would have lost last three and four. That's what was so awesome about that series. They won games. They would have lost last year and that was kind of a tough series. But when you look at the Western conference playoffs and this gets back to our journey of June, season two, all through the regular season all the way, man.

Podcast Paul 10:58

Well, what were we talking about? We were you and I were talking more about the West than our only, than our green, because it was so exciting. What was exciting is the young kids of Oklahoma city Shay, SGA and chat, and all these young 19, 20, 21, 22 year olds. And then Minnesota. They're very young, too Right? Young guys that were killing it one and two in the league.

Coach Murph 11:27

That was fun to watch.

Podcast Paul 11:28

That's fantastic in the regular season, but we know from our own Celtics back in 2018, when the Jays were young and fresh, they went far in the playoffs. But they were little young kids, they weren't battle-tested. And Minnesota God love them they took out the champs. I can't believe it, but I feel like that was the hugest win here.

Coach Murph 11:52

You made that metaphor when we talked about that was the hugest win for our green this year is Denver.

Podcast Paul 11:58

In my mind, and I know you agree, we all kind of picked them like we're going to face Dan. We've been talking about it all year and we didn't really like that matchup. We saw them play him twice in the regular season for whatever reason, even as even when chris stops was healthy we just didn't match up well with denver. Denver was up 25 points to minnesota in the second round game seven and they blew it, and good for minnesota. But I'm a believer that if Denver got through like they should have, they would have beat Dallas. We'd be facing Denver.

Coach Murph 12:30

We would beat anybody that we face in the finals.

Podcast Paul 12:33

I just think and I got to be careful here, folks it's only one win.

Coach Murph 12:37

Look at how they played.

Podcast Paul 12:38

But the NBA is all about matchups. And this matchup for the Celtics. Wow, did we score?

Coach Murph 14:20

Yeah, they have to. Kyra didn't show up. There's so much on him to score Him, and Luke Luka and him have to have games to beat us, that's right. And we have more weapons than the Nugs.

Podcast Paul 14:35

So I'm going to like not well, I got another one for you on the Dallas.

Coach Murph 14:40

But I've never seen the garden, heard the garden, felt the garden like that. I don't care who you're facing, it was stratospheric Mars. They were in Mars. When Zingas came in, it was next level zonal.

Podcast Paul 14:51

We're going to get there.

Coach Murph 14:52

Who the team was nuggets matchups or nothing. We were going to destroy them.

Podcast Paul 14:58

No no hold on hold, on hold on. We're going to get the Chris Stapps in three seconds.

Coach Murph 15:01

Yeah, I'm just saying it doesn't matter who you were, we were beating you, Doesn't matter who you are.

Podcast Paul 15:08

But here's the thing. Did you see the?

Coach Murph 15:10

game. You know what I'm talking about.

Podcast Paul 15:11

I know, but I'm the first one to admit this I didn't watch all of Dallas's games in the Western Conference Finals. I actually was really into Denver, Minnesota and Minnesota in general, but I feel like Minnesota ran out of gas.

Podcast Paul 15:24

But the reason why Dallas won these games. I'm listening to because, by the way, folks, we've had 10 days off before the finals started. So it was all this analysis I got to get caught up on, and everything on the analysis was how are the Celtics going to stop the lob game? It's all about the lob game, the lobs, the lobs, the lobs.

Podcast Paul 15:48

And I go what are they talking about? No, no, I had to look at this. The reason why Dallas is here, it's not Lucauka, it's not well, it is in the sense that they're getting Washington no, it's this lob game, lively.

Podcast Paul 16:01

And what's the other guy's name? Gaffer? They've been feeding off these lobs. Well, guess what folks? The Celtics are the best rim protectors, even without Chris stops. Derek White, get it out of here. Jalen Brown, get it out of here. Jason Tatum, get it out of here. Jalen Brown, get it out of here. Jason Tatum, get it out of here. Okay, we waited too long. How many minutes on the pod?

Coach Murph 16:22

No zing, no ring coined here J two M's We've set up first. We'll make the t-shirts one day, absolutely not. Well, I've never wow. I've never wow. We love him and I want to give you a big. I guess they listened to the last thought. Thank you for listening, because the crowd was proper, they didn't boo, there wasn't a negative energy towards Kyrie, it was fire Positive, one of the best six men. I'm so happy for Green Nation and how they stood up and the way they were. It was incredible. And when he stepped accepting the court, it was beyond electric. We love him and he just didn't stop boom, boom, blocks and shots. It was his. I was like what is happening?

Podcast Paul 17:06

it was incredible that was, and like you said, he's great, we sprinkled him.

Coach Murph 17:10

We didn't need to play him the whole game dude.

Podcast Paul 17:13

obviously the offense was great. Back to defense Nine blocks.

Coach Murph 17:17

We had nine to their one, the Boston block party. But the big stat that I sent you was the differential. What was it? It was the assists?

Podcast Paul 17:28

Yeah, one assist, but that's back to the lob game. All the assists are these lobs. We're taking away the lobs and guess what, unless they have a huge adjustment and we're getting on this pod after game one. So it's the finals. This is the way it's going to be. We're going to be reactionary to every stupid game, but if you look back to how Dallas is winning again outside of Luka and Kyrie, the only offense they have is the lobs. If you take away that offense, what do they have? What do they have? I know, but it's all about Kristaps man.

Coach Murph 18:04

Wow.

Podcast Paul 18:05

We, you know.

Team Chemistry and Growth in Playoffs

Coach Murph 18:06

I was hoping he'd look good, but this we went through the whole playoffs without having won. And when he came in there I was like you know me, rarely two for words, I had no words, I was silent, silent coach. It was incredible 20 to their five assists, we had 20. They had five. We had nine to their one, like you said, in blocks Nine, and it was just the defense, everybody, it was just oh, but the assist, like you said, that's it, man, is that lob game? And you could see how frustrated Luka was. Oh boy, did you see it? And then we just stopped Kyrie Kryptonite, did you hear?

Podcast Paul 18:46

Kyrie after the game.

Coach Murph 18:47

I thank God, I didn't. What did he say?

Podcast Paul 18:49

So he's all fresh and clean. He's holding the basketball and they go. So how was that crowd he's like? Actually, I didn't think that they were that loud. Oh, he's just playing.

Coach Murph 18:58

He can't help himself. No, that's just part of the game. That's good, it's all. Here After this, I have the privilege and honor to warm up my Pembroke boys. They're incredible. And what do you think I'm doing? I'm prepping their minds. We're getting ready. We're getting our joints ready. We're getting to a circle circle of trust, we call it circle of doom and that. And then we do our warm up. And what do you think I'm doing? I'm saying where are you guys? I'm like the motionless calm killers. We're playing a fun role and we get it in there and they're having fun. This is what jt said. He was mic'd up to our man. Paul coined it tod T-O-D. Trade of Destiny. What year did you whenever you got traded to us? What?

Podcast Paul 19:38

year was that that was the 22 finals.

Coach Murph 19:41

Paul's beautiful. I was like all right, I was at the time. I was like beautiful aka for Derek White Trade of Destiny and they're close. You know, jb, them three are really like you know the whole team's chemistry, that's the whole thing. Them three are really like you know the whole team's chemistry, that's the whole thing. But he's like before he goes to over to over to derrick, he goes, we just gotta do. We gotta do, do what we do, have fun and everything gonna be all right. Right, that's how simple this is. Highest level, all the way to hembroke, eighth graders.

Podcast Paul 20:13

It's the same right. We don't need to over. Like you said, have fun. And the other thing about this we've all watched. Everybody listening to this pod is sports fans. We've been sports fans a long time. We've been waiting for this team to break through. This is their fifth Eastern Conference Finals, right? Am I doing the math? Right? 2018, 2020, 2021. Wait, wait, no. 22, 23, 2021. Yep, wait wait?

Coach Murph 20:36

no, Is that eight years 22,?

Podcast Paul 20:37

23. Right Five, yeah five Eastern Conference finals, one finals. Here's the key. Back to Todd. Yeah, that was his first finals. That was JT's first finals. They were nervous, dude. Oh yeah, they were not ready. They played the Warriors. These guys have played in the finals. None of these guys except Kyrie have. And you saw it in the young players for Dallas. They were scared. Now we'll see. We'll see in game two, I think the others for Dallas.

Coach Murph 21:04

it was incredible. Yeah, let's, let's hold it down.

Podcast Paul 21:07

I think they're going to play better. They have to. The others will play better.

Coach Murph 21:10

Oh yeah, they did in the second half. Second half they made some adjustments. It was there was no, it didn't matter who you were, it was us, it was on a whole nother level. The energy, the chemistry, and that's what we have can we talk about something? Back to the crowd yes, okay, you just pumped up our crowd.

Podcast Paul 21:27

They were great. The energy, hey, this is. This is a shout out to boston fans and who's going to game two, green, especially game two, because I know what I'm doing. It. Congratulations, good guys, listen to what we're saying, relax it's enjoy the moment.

Podcast Paul 21:46

This team is good. We've seen all year. We saw last series. They can go down. They can. The other team's going to go on a run. We're not going to play a thousand percent the entire game, but don't get nervous. You can feel it in the crowd. It's almost like they know when this runs happening. Oh no, they don't need that. Don't give the nervous energy. Be excited about this.

Podcast Paul 22:15

I mean I I'm the first one to admit I didn't like it but I, but I knew, I knew, I'm like wait a second, I caught myself, we're still. I caught myself.

Coach Murph 22:22

We're still up eight points.

Podcast Paul 22:23

Yeah, we're still up eight points. It was fine.

Coach Murph 22:27

And then boom, JB started locking down. I was not in the ward at all, I didn't have. But yeah, just keep the energy going in the arena.

Podcast Paul 22:34

Can we talk about Jason Tatum but?

Coach Murph 22:35

you're like you said you're the moment man. It's moment. I'd like to talk about jason tatum now all right, jt let's go so back to paul cozy p oh dude, we're in june.

Podcast Paul 22:50

We made it back to june, the journey to june. We've arrived. Oh, have we arrived? Not only we have arrived, jason tatum has arrived. And for all the pundits out here that don't understand basketball, let me explain something to you. It's not about scoring 30 points, because, guess what? You know who scored 30 points in game? One, luka Doncic. They lost by 20 points. He had one assist, one friggin' assist. Yes, would we like a little bit more scoring? Actually, no, because Mr Coach here texted me right after the game and I could feel his smile and the warmth of his text when he sent it. He sent the box score after the game of our six. We don't even call them our five starters. It's our six starters because we have. We have big alan there, I guess. Uh, poor zingas came off the bench, but whatever, however, you want to do it, do you have that up right?

Podcast Paul 23:41

now, yes, right here okay, I want you to read that to me right now, all the way down the line well, you just said the name who.

Coach Murph 23:48

I'm so happy. I think I'm the happiest for him because he's one of the longest he has. I think he's tied with stockton or right behind stocks for most postseason like playoff games. He's played bigyear-old doing work, right he was hungry.

Podcast Paul 24:05

He wants the ring. Give it to me.

Coach Murph 24:07

Give Big Al his seven rebounds 30 minutes, 10 points and three assists 10 points. Jt 16 points, but what did he have? 11?

Podcast Paul 24:18

rebounds, thank you, and like eight assists, I'm going to guess.

Coach Murph 24:22

Five, but that's fine. Okay, JT, jt. J points, six rebounds, two assists. Derek White 15, five, two, five assists, two rebounds. Our guy who I can't say enough about right now, he's our true floor, general Rose, to the occasion in this playoffs through holiday, 12 points, we brought him up, yeah, assists, eight rebounds, and then, and then Zing knows eight rebounds for holiday eight rebounds.

Podcast Paul 24:55

And he had double figures and points.

Coach Murph 24:57

Everybody had dubs. That's what I'm saying.

Podcast Paul 24:58

There you go, 20 points.

Coach Murph 25:00

To save the best for last, our guy, welcome back. We love you. Hashtag different here 20 points and Noah says no big deal Because he wasn't playing that much. He only played 20 minutes and had 6 rebounds there it is right there, it's all spread out. Perfectly.

Podcast Paul 25:21

That's exactly what we're looking for. Don't we remember folks? Are we forgetful here? All spread out perfectly, exactly. That's exactly what we're looking for, don't we remember folks? Are we forgetful here?

Coach Murph 25:28

We don't want to live in the past, Let me. That was a lot. Let me do the points here. Ready Points 10, 16, 22, 15, 12, 20.

Podcast Paul 25:36

We don't want to live in the past, but we don't want to forget either. And and are we forgetting just in the most recent past, last year, how upset we get when it's just this one-on-one game with JB and JT right?

Coach Murph 25:50

And now we're yelling because JT's not scoring too much dude.

Podcast Paul 25:53

He's letting the. The growth in this man. I almost want to cry. It's amazing. He is letting the game come to him, those drive and kicks the rebound. He knows what he needs to do. Last finals 2022, he did too much on his own. That's why we lost. If you know, if game two I do too much, if game two means he's got to score more, he'll do it. Yep. But wow, I mean the growth in this team man. I don't want to get too confident here, coach, because I want Banner 18. I can feel Banner 18. Peyton Pritchard, I just don't see how we're going to lose this series.

Podcast Paul 26:36

Now are we going to sweep. Come on now.

Coach Murph 26:38

This is the final night, baby, so we're taping this, we're doing this podcast.

Podcast Paul 26:53

The, the final night baby. So we're taping this, we're doing this podcast. The only thing that's going to get in our way is ourselves. We know this. You know, I mean I think we look is here we exactly. We're in june. This team let go of the rope. In april, in may, when they're playing friggin miami with nobody and cleveland with nobody. But do the pacers? Even without halliburton, they're in the eastern conference finals. They gave it to raw dude. They're not gonna have a, they're not gonna lay an egg in the final.

Coach Murph 27:12

That was the worst wrong of my, my calling out they made. I was like there's no way they're going deep. They showed a lot of heart and he was injured too. But you see these injuries, you see who's out. There's certain injuries that you're having here, but they just we were their major kryptonite. They'll adjust. Gafford didn't do too much. Their center Jones didn't do too much. Junior, he's a great player. Pj Washington's a dog. I told you this already. I like him. He's a dog, so do I, and I love his play. And Jay Hardy came in there off the bench.

Podcast Paul 27:44

You know what I learned about PJ Washington? So all I knew is he was hitting all these threes in the last couple of series, but you know where he hits his threes, but you know where he hits them. Corner threes.

Coach Murph 27:55

Yeah.

Podcast Paul 27:56

And we took that away. Yeah, we did they can't hit them, they and hit him up top Dude. Okay, that brings up. I want to talk about a couple other players. We'll get there. This is the finals dude.

Coach Murph 28:05

Yeah, baby, welcome.

Podcast Paul 28:06

I hope you're enjoying this Pod alert.

Coach Murph 28:08

Wait, wait, wait. We've got pod alert Check it out. I don't know.

Podcast Paul 28:11

Let's go. All right, here we go, here we go I love it, so we have Will.

Coach Murph 28:20

Oh Will the.

Podcast Paul 28:21

Wise. So Will the yeah, will the Wise. Well, first off, I don't know if he's Going to let go of his His Disdain of Doris. I like that, the disdain of Doris.

Coach Murph 28:29

He's not a Doris fan, she's. She's smart man. He does not like Doris, disdaining Doris, but His number one thing. He's a Celtics fan though, so shut up.

Podcast Paul 28:38

His number one throughout the year, all the way up until I talked to him just yesterday. That's why I want to do this oh you had a nice chat with Will. He's always sending these text messages.

Coach Murph 28:47

Let's get you on soon, will? Let's get him on Paul.

Podcast Paul 28:49

He's always sending me these text messages of second row Joe. Second row Joe, Just making fun of Joe.

Coach Murph 28:58

He knows he's going to get you Second row, joe. Joe just stands there, he doesn't do.

Podcast Paul 29:02

Joe just stands there. Well, guess what folks will. Has taken a turn. He is praising coach Joe.

Coach Murph 29:15

Thank you, everybody, he, they will, they will they will I like I said? He was, he was, so imagine what he had to soak in for the two years. First of all, he's the most winningest coach of all time.

Podcast Paul 29:25

Can we talk about his record this year right now, 77-20.

Coach Murph 29:33

Enough said. Like I said, we're not going to get into what we already talked about before, but everything we were talking about taking away their lobs.

Podcast Paul 29:44

The way Kristaps came off the bench, he's pulling all the light levers.

Coach Murph 29:48

He's grown in his coaching, he's open to growth. That's all you have to be man, willing and open to listen to your players. And he was like I'd see him. He'd be so focused His eyes man, so focused, man of faith and soaking it all in. And here we are.

Podcast Paul 30:06

Brad, everybody's like get rid of.

Coach Murph 30:07

Joe Brad's like no, no, no, no. Brad's like no, no, no, no. And then look what happened this year.

Podcast Paul 30:12

What happened, I don't know as you were talking, I just started feeling really cozy and kind of zingy Anyway.

Coach Murph 30:19

Let's go, and I just wanted to. I'm looking at the stats. Last game I said 20 to 5. I'm just doing corrections, coaches, corrections 23. It was 23, 9 after I sent you that before the game was over, but but 23. I'm just looking at the cysts, though, man. I'm looking at these stats. We, we beat them on the boards barely.

Podcast Paul 30:38

You know, it's not, it's not that big a deal can I talk about an underrated thing that happened in the game.

Coach Murph 30:42

Turnovers, what Probably one of my favorites.

Podcast Paul 30:47

I was going to actually text you before the finals started to say this is going to be my unsung hero. And he did absolutely nothing last series, like literally nothing. It was embarrassing, but man, was I so proud of little Sam Hauser.

Coach Murph 31:00

Dude, he's back. He's back.

Podcast Paul 31:03

We never went, when we do, he's no, he couldn't hit a three to save his life last year. Yeah, he had a couple, I know, but he's no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no no no, no, that was like new, this game, the D where he rose up and played better D.

Coach Murph 31:23

It's like whoa, sammy, let's go. And Pritchard Luke got a little time in there, I think Shvi got a little time in there and we didn't talk about it. We didn't see. We did talk about X-Men, x-men coming in, but we didn't see that yet. We didn't really need it.

Podcast Paul 31:40

We don't need it but.

Coach Murph 31:42

We didn't really need it. We don't need it. We'd like to see we have the bench.

Podcast Paul 31:45

We had a little Luke in garbage time.

Coach Murph 31:47

We did, we did.

Podcast Paul 31:50

What we're saying about. We had Geno time in game one, jason Kidd throwing the white flag.

Coach Murph 31:57

Your Brissette, your O'Shea. He is a player, he's a body. I guess X-Men didn't even.

Podcast Paul 32:06

I don't think we're gonna see a lot of those guys. It's a finals dude. It's all he didn't even dress up, dude, in fact, did you notice? Yeah every time there was so many substitutions in the game. I don't know if you noticed that back to coach. Joe back to coach joe every time kairi went out holiday went out out Every time Irving went back in.

Coach Murph 32:24

How strong did he?

Podcast Paul 32:25

play. Oh, and let's talk about that, drew.

Coach Murph 32:27

Wait, wait, wait. Let's talk about Coach Joe again.

Brad Stevens Quiz and Celtics Moves

Podcast Paul 32:29

Another coach? No, another Coach, joe. So in the beginning it was Jalen on Luka, and Luka, or Jalen, was playing great. Remember he picked his pocket and had to dunk right, oh yeah, I remember his pocket and had to dunk right, oh yeah. But then lucas started getting going. That's why it got down to eight points. He said screw this, others, you stink, we're in the finals. And he's. He did all his scoring in the third quarter, but you know when it stopped?

Podcast Paul 32:54

yep when they switched up and put holiday on luca and he stopped him. Dude he was. We have so many guys to throw at them.

Coach Murph 33:03

Oh, he's a dog. You see, he wasn't he letting the full dog out. He's out. He was out, he want he's. He was bossing up thank you those vets dude him in big alice betting up. You seen it, you seen it.

Podcast Paul 33:15

The vets play, oh yeah, tomorrow night talk about brad out of june 8th saturday. This is where can we talk about brad out of nowhere? Right now times the game probably the same five o'clock, eight o'clock, your time look at that look at, the crowd will be ready to go he is ready, he knows the time can we talk about brad, just in the middle of this pod, out of nowhere?

Coach Murph 33:37

it's 5 pm. Western boys and girls and folks. It's 8 pm for us eastern. He's he's got the pacific, so it's 8 pm for us Eastern he's got the Pacific, so it's 8 pm for us out here in the Green Nation, paul's repping Northwest big time.

Podcast Paul 33:52

Thank you for repping. We have some Brad talk.

Coach Murph 33:54

Please Want to talk a little. Brad Stevens, can we go back?

Podcast Paul 33:59

This is a story of a journey, guys. We finally arrived.

Coach Murph 34:04

Let's get funky and just make it a Brad Stevens quiz Go.

Podcast Paul 34:07

Go, go, right ahead. You're going to answer the questions.

Coach Murph 34:10

You started answering the questions before they even happened. Anyway, that was my quiz. I have one quiz and that was the backup one. Maybe I was going to do that's the major one we're doing.

Podcast Paul 34:21

So let's just go right into it All right, let's do it.

Coach Murph 34:24

Brad Stevens quiz. Do we know how old Brad Stevens is?

Podcast Paul 34:31

I'm gonna guess on this one 42.

Coach Murph 34:35

Oh, he's not that young brother. He's one year older than you, trusty sidekick. He's 47. I turned 46 in july, october 22nd 1976. Where was the man born um?

Podcast Paul 34:51

well, he, uh, what was the green law? Green law? Oh, he was born in massachusetts.

Coach Murph 34:57

No, no, no, no no, no green law as in larry law oh, indiana, all right, because butler, of course, indiana. Yeah, do you know what college he went to? Did he go to butler too? He did. He went to depaul and like he was a guard and he did work, but you know about where he coached, that's also where he went to. Butler. Do you remember how long he was? People don't know how long he was at Butler. He started at Butler as an assistant.

Podcast Paul 35:23

Let's give him 10 years.

Coach Murph 35:26

Listen to this. He started as an assistant at Butler.

Podcast Paul 35:29

I'm not doing well on this quiz.

Coach Murph 35:31

I know, but it's okay. You're going to know we need to do a refresher about Joe 2001,. He started as assistant at Butler and stayed there all the way until 2013. He was there for 12 years and then became head coach. You know how everybody, if you're a real basketball fan, you know how well he did at Butler as a coach basketball fan, you know how well he did, you know and at butler as a coach. So 12 years he was. I was at butler and rose up from assistant all the way up now I mean like an assistant assistant, like way low level you know he's. Can you name anything? What? What is he now to you? What did? People might not even know who he is like. What is he in the Celtics organization? He's a general manager. He's our NBA.

Podcast Paul 36:18

Oh, excuse me, the actual title would be president of basketball operations.

Coach Murph 36:24

Yes.

Podcast Paul 36:25

Did I get it Ding ding?

Coach Murph 36:27

And what did he win this year? For a war as an executive Executive of the year, boom.

Podcast Paul 36:32

Let's go, man, All right 200. He's making moves, well well okay, I'm almost done, we can keep going.

Coach Murph 36:39

You can talk about it while I do this.

Podcast Paul 36:40

I was going to say with that executive of the year once we're done with the quiz. That's where I want to get to?

Coach Murph 36:44

Yeah, it's almost done. Yeah, we're almost done. Keep going, keep going about the executive. I'll go on. No, no, no, no after all right, so we'll just go into the right, like his coaching. Do you remember when he was coaching? Can you give me the years of salt is coaching people don't remember this stuff tough.

Podcast Paul 37:03

I would say it started, because when was isaiah there and we started doing some stuff? I would say it started maybe 2014. Then if he was that butler for 2013, it was the next year 2014, 2014 to 2020 or 2019 sorry folks when did my quiz just?

Coach Murph 37:23

got, my quiz went bye-bye.

Podcast Paul 37:25

I have to go back to my quiz did brad coach during the, the, the bubble year. Oh yeah, he coached through 21. Yeah, in 2014 to 2021.

Coach Murph 37:37

On July 3rd 2013, stevens was signed as the head coach of the Boston Celtics Right To coach.

Podcast Paul 37:45

So 2013, 2014 season.

Coach Murph 37:48

That's right, you got it. Ding, ding, ding, ding, boom. That's hard. Good for you, he left the post 21.

Podcast Paul 37:57

Good memory man, because we lost in the first round. Remember we were a playing team that year. But your boy, jalen, coach loving that jersey more and more oh man I got the black so fresh and they're wearing that one.

Coach Murph 38:10

I get really fresh right now. What?

Podcast Paul 38:14

you know what's awesome about that Now.

Coach Murph 38:16

Coach is getting crazy.

Podcast Paul 38:17

They are wearing that Jersey game too, cause they that when they started losing those game twos? Here's some knowledge for you. You might not know this coach when they lost game two and round one and in gate member round two, one and two they lost game two. Yep, remember, yeah, well, they switched it up and said no more this, we're wearing our black jerseys for game two. So good timing on that. Wear that tomorrow night. Thank you, oh, I'm wearing this I'm where, I'm rocking this.

Coach Murph 38:46

I'm at the practice, I'm warming these kids up. I'm gonna come in just like this son and it's gonna, it's going down, people are gonna. There's a whole show going on, baby. There's a inflamed coach, fully fervent on fire, and that's what we got to be man, you got to be on fire. You got to turn it on, man, you know, and that's it for this quiz. It was kind of weak, but it's the Brad.

Podcast Paul 39:08

No, no no, no, it's the Brad Stevens quiz.

Coach Murph 39:10

All right, never mind, no, alright, nevermind, no, we should have judged it.

Podcast Paul 39:12

never moralize or judge yourself it was an awesome quiz and I'll tell you why you and I wouldn't be sitting here he was a great coach. We wouldn't be sitting here right now if it wasn't for Brad. We would. Who knows if season two would have happened without Brad. And that's getting back to your executive of the year and getting that one right. Going through the journey I'm going to take us back now. The end of season one coach was not happy. He was ready to just jump ship.

Coach Murph 39:42

He was done with the Jays. I wasn't going to jump ship. I was not.

Podcast Paul 39:44

Because you didn't know what Brad was going to do. You didn't know what Brad was going to do. Look what Brad did Chris stops Porzingis. How did he remember Chris stops Porzingis? How did he remember? We were upset at first, though.

Coach Murph 39:55

A little upset. Even though we were happy, we lost.

Podcast Paul 39:58

Marcus, we lost Marcus.

Coach Murph 40:00

I was. I was completely everybody's, whatever. I was good about that. I was good with Luke getting Chris steps right away, like I didn't know we were going to get him. Like I was good, I'm not like Ooh, but like I knew that that team was not going in, it was doing it. I knew it, I was and we were going through the heartbreak, heartbreak. So we had, as boston fans you're telling us not to get nervous, we have post-traumatic stress, bro we were like healing and growing, getting past that stuff. Because it was like oh, oh and you're like he's talking the inconsistency of marcus. I was like, oh, we loved him. He was so defensively, amazing, gifted and talk about a fire. But oh, the boo-boos and you know he would do and yeah, I hate it.

Podcast Paul 40:47

I mean, I, I really don't want this to be a uh one, you know, blame it on marcus mark.

Coach Murph 40:52

But it's not a blame game, not a blame game, not a blame game no, never.

Podcast Paul 40:56

But it's called an upgrade game, it just is.

Coach Murph 40:59

Upgrade Chris Stapps and Drew and like the bench, like we are. No, we had to expect those two Without Drew too. Then Don't let the big man shadow Drew.

Podcast Paul 41:13

No, of course. No, that's where I want to go with this. Yeah, how did Brad, how did this happen? Thank you, milwaukee.

Coach Murph 41:19

LeBron's got him for peanuts. What did he say? He said something funny. When he was with Redick, jj had him in his show. He said they got him for like a what was Milwaukee? Thinking Got him for nothing. We got him for nothing. Got him for nothing, we got him for nothing.

Podcast Paul 41:33

What were they thinking? I mean, we get back to chips.

Coach Murph 41:36

We got him for a bag of chips. Think about the growth of this team.

Podcast Paul 41:39

Ron said yeah, we think we talk about how, how mentally strong they are. It's because of drew holiday. Drew's the glue.

Coach Murph 41:48

Drew's the glue that coined here Folks podcast. Paul drew the glue.

Podcast Paul 41:53

Check it out. And again, I love Marcus. I always love Marcus. This is not a diss on him, it's just this holiday thing. He's a champion dude. He just won the championship.

Coach Murph 42:05

Do you know what I'm saying? He was our, he was our missing ingredient Shooting big man, the league, he's overshadowed. He was overshadowed by the Nuggets. It's hard to win back-to-back, it's hard to any team to get back to the finals, man, but we didn't know, that was the habit of Minnesota. That was incredible. That was so cool to see that. But Dallas anybody think Dallas is going to be in the finals? Dude, come on, dude, they did it, man. But they don't have enough All right, it's just it's.

Coach Murph 42:35

Let's talk about moving forward in this finals because we're on here in between, it's just pieces and players.

Podcast Paul 42:42

You kind of hit on it earlier as far as the adjustments and all that, but we got to remember all this great stuff we're saying about our team and how confident we are. That being said, two years ago we actually won the first game in Golden State. We were up 1-0 in the finals. Last year we lost the second game, but then we won at home we were up 2-1.

Coach Murph 43:04

Talk about traumatic stress.

The Spirit of Bill

Podcast Paul 43:05

And we lost. So one win is one win. We only have three to go, but we've only got one. We haven't accomplished anything, coach, so talk to me about going forward in this series. What's going to happen? What do we got to look out for? How are you feeling? First of all.

Coach Murph 43:21

This first game in first blood was a huge statement. Just play your game. It's like do your job with Coach Bill. It's so simple. This play. They don't have to do anything. They just do what they do. Man, I don't have to say anything. Do what you did last game.

Podcast Paul 43:40

That's it in every game I also want to say hold on let me finish.

Coach Murph 43:43

They, they, they did was one thing that was different. I was like all right, let's see, they've closed the game. Yes, they made, they had a little dip and when they came back, but they played, that was like the most hole I've seen them play. I feel like just all the way through, all the way through to the fourth, the last five minutes, that's what will kill us right, close the game this is what's amazing about what you just said.

Podcast Paul 44:16

They look great, complete. It's amazing to think that we hadn't seen Chris Dapps since April 29th. It is June 8th, dude 30 games out, I think. April 29th, we basically played, because he only played the first three games in the playoffs. Yeah, we won all these games and did all of this without him. I almost forgot what it was like with him. I forgot, I forgot.

Coach Murph 44:41

All my good fans. They're here. We were all going out to the gym. We were all saying we don't need him, we don't need him. We forgot we don't need him until the finals. We were saying that in the beginning, all the way. So all of us were one. We're on the same page.

Podcast Paul 44:59

But you know what? I think it's good that they won. Obviously we needed to win without him and there was rumors he could have come back. That's why I knew he was ready last series. But he is Chris Dobbs. He was smiling, having fun.

Coach Murph 45:13

He was grooving dude.

Podcast Paul 45:15

This is not to be a downer, because this is more to get us positive. He is Chris Stops. Things can happen in a long series. We can win. Do we want him? Do we need him? Yes, of course, but if something happens, we can still win without him. We can still win without him, man. So just remember that.

Coach Murph 45:38

Fans out there that are nervous every time he jumps, he jumps, he jumps, he jumps.

Podcast Paul 45:44

I know we're all thinking that. Right, he jumps up for a dunk.

Coach Murph 45:46

We're like no, don't do that, don't jump. I wasn't at all, don't jump, I wasn't at all. It's just a calf strain dude. I used to get him all the time. He's got, he's fine and he's it's stop running. No, no, no. You can't have that mentality at all when you're out. That's what I'm saying. You're gonna be a dog with, like, when I go out there, man, I don't care, I'm in the spirit, I'm carefree'm just. I'm just. It doesn't matter about my body. I do what I do, man, there's no if I think that I get injured anyway it's like you know.

Podcast Paul 46:21

That is exactly my point. Thank you, coach.

Coach Murph 46:24

I'm glad we're on the same page, Coach Murph baby.

Podcast Paul 46:26

We got to let the the rest of go. Well, no, that that's the one little critique especially with well, with our fans, let it go enjoy the moment.

Podcast Paul 46:41

This team's awesome, feel it. If something happens, something happens. But stop thinking, oh no, I don't want anything to happen, it's. It's like we we're. We know how good our team is and we were like they have to win. If they don't win, we're gonna screw up. Like, stop thinking that way, dude. Yeah, just enjoy it. We have a good team, enjoy it, it's gonna. It's gonna work out the way it's gonna work out if freaking luca and kairi score 3 000 points a game and have had the best games of their lives and they beat us. Well, whatever, dude, what are you gonna do? It's not gonna happen, but I'm just saying like kairi's gonna show up next game.

Coach Murph 47:14

It's gonna be tough. He didn't we? Yeah, he has to, and then everybody else will rise up as well. But those two like like big I think it was bill russell who said it, but it's like you, you let the superstar you don't do.

Podcast Paul 47:26

Oh, luca, do do what he, how about the bill walton thing in the beginning?

Coach Murph 47:30

well, there it is, folks, the bill walton quiz. I was gonna save it for bill. You said this is near the end, anyway, right, yeah, yeah, and so I was like he just calls, just went right into it. But we, it's the bill walton quiz. Why are we doing that?

Podcast Paul 47:46

I want one of those shirts they had, it's cool beautiful bill, with his jubilant spirit, always smiling.

Coach Murph 47:54

This is, this is for you, bill. That's why the spirit of the pod man, and don't forget the granny in the green, the granny in the green Almost forgot again. No way, I'm not going to forget. We forgot but granny Paul and Coach Merz's mama. She's into the Celtics now. She landed in Seattle right during that miracle win.

Podcast Paul 48:21

What game was that? Game one. That was game one where Jalen had the three-pointer Of the Eastern Conference. Finals Of course we were glued to the TV when that happened, right, Coach, it was awful, that game we should have lost easily.

Coach Murph 48:33

And she comes in and it's granny in the green. So we have all this fun stuff going on. But Bill we call it the spirit of the pod His spirit's with us and I'm thinking like, wow, he's here. This is affecting everything in such a good way. So we're going to just talk quickly about Bill. He's amazing. He was a Celtic, of course. Great tribute.

Coach Murph 48:55

Perfect. They did an awesome tribute to him. He loved being a Celtic. He was such a black green. But he was an NBA champion twice, 1977 and 1986. Ding, ding, ding Bill. So think about this pod June's arrived. But who else is the spirit of bill? There's a couple bills russell, so it's the bill twice.

Coach Murph 49:23

You know, I like that bill squared so we have the spirit of the bills with us right now, guys. Mvp finals in the 77 the blazers you know that I'm not gonna even ask you. You played for the portland chair blazers. You know that I'm not going to even ask you. He played for the Portland Trail Blazers, so dominant back then. He was a MVP finals, a MVP, two-time NBA All-Star in 77, 78. And he was an NCAA champion for.

Basketball Finals and Brotherly Love

Coach Murph 49:51

UCLA Bruins it's easy for Paul Gatlin, ding, ding, ding, and I just wanted to give him some love. He had his career NBA statistics. He had 6,200 plus points, he had almost 5,000 rebounds, he had almost 1,500 plus assists. You know, he rose to prominence, as we know, in the 70s. But what we love about Bill is what? His joyous energy. He's so positive and he's stunk, he's stunk. The guys were like you put on some deodorant, man that's. He wouldn't wear it on purpose. So the guys didn't want to guard him, did you ever hear that one?

Podcast Paul 50:30

No, that's a new one, that's a fun one for you.

Coach Murph 50:34

You're welcome, but we just want to give him a little love on may's 27th just recently yeah and uh leaves behind his his beautiful family. And thanks, bill, man, you're being there in spirit, spirit of the pop.

Podcast Paul 50:49

He's making us feel cozy. He's, he's giving the zing more zinginess right giving the zing more zinginess dude so here we go, coach. It is saturday the 8th. In between, it's media day again. They they have a two days off, so they're getting back on for game two on sunday. Game three is wednesday, game four is Friday, and I mean, who knows right? Well, as it is right now as we talk, that could be it Right, and I guess that's my question to you.

Coach Murph 51:25

Do you think this will be a sweep? Because I was right about Indiana, right, I was joking and you're like stay in the moment. Stay in the moment, yeah.

Podcast Paul 51:33

We shouldn't predict right, should I?

Coach Murph 51:35

just sign us off with the, with the answer, and let's just okay, why not? Why not? We're good, you got anything else to talk about? No, that's it that was a wonderful brotherly time man. We have this pod now. We're in the finals game, one in the books, so we have some good confidence going on. But isn't confidence what it's all about, life? God, god, I know that confidence.

Coach Murph 51:55

We got to gain it, you got to walk tall, but there's a lot of, like you were saying, paul, like the nervousness, like the judgment. We're all here, man. Just use these two things, man. It's how simple it is To serve and love and, to my eyes, to see and not to judge. Keep it simple Green, keep it simple people. We call it the grace of the present moment. So, peace, love and the Green machine, baby, we out of here.

Podcast Paul 52:28

She has two Mervs talking hoops. June has arrived. Enjoy the rest of the finals. Maybe we'll see you back for banner 18. We shall see peace out.