I tried my best to record the quotes said during tonight's conference. A full transcript will be up shortly. The folowing is some memorable quotes:
Danny Ainge - "Ownership had a strong desire to put a winning product on the court...It's going to be a lot of un this year...Without Ray Allen, we don't get Kevin Garnett [Garnett shrugs]...Over the next two years, there is a chance to be a very special team."
Kevin Garnett - "Well, I'm happy to be here...It's been the hardest seventy-two hours of my time in the NBA...And when Boston traded for Ray Allen, my whole situation changed...This is probably my best opportunity to win a ring."
Danny Ainge - "We're not done...We need supporting players...Theywon't be the big three until they win."
Paul Pierce - "I think this is a tremendous day for Kevin, myslef, the whole organization...The Boston Celtics is an elite franchise...A shot at a ring drives Kevin; drives Ray...I know how unselfish they are...Whatever it takes to make it work...I feel like a rookie again."
Danny Ainge - "These guys are very familiar with each other."
Wyc Grousbeck - "Thse players emboy Celtics pride...I'm proud to have them here...Boston is a special town...This is a great time to be a Celtics fan."
Ray Allen - "I have great respect for the organization...Opponents will walk into this building knowing they have a lot to be afraid of...We share similar responsbilities...It's a great pleasure and honor to be here."
Doc Rivers - "I put my heart into this game, these players...On this trade, I love it...It gives us a chance, a hope...I wish training camp started tomorrow [laughter]...Thse are three classy unslefish players.
Danny Ainge - "Dave Wohl is having conversations with other free agents."
Kevin Garnett - "I reached out to Paul's four phones. He didn't call me back. Luckily, Ray had two phones." Paul Pierce - "I didn't recognize the area code. [laughter]"
Kevin Garnett - "I reached out to Antoine about the city...He gave nothing but compliments...I'm exictied...It's like being in a Lamborghini, going 200, head out of the window." Paul Pierce - "You done that, man?" Kevin Garnett - "I don't have a Lamborghini."
Paul Pierce - "These guys thrive under pressure...I couldn't ask for any better."
Kevin Garnett - "I'm passionate. I'm confident...We know that gelling and chemistry is a big part of this...It feels good to have two big guns next to me...Real good...I think the East has gotten better...I wouldn't go that far to say that we're the team to beat...I will say we will be a force to be reckoned with."
Paul Pierce - "I've always thought that we're the team to beat since I was a rookie. I'm an optimist.
Ray Allen - "Other teams see us coming, they have to pick their poision [off camera, "well said."]"
Kevin Garnett - "I really felt that it was my only scenario...This came to be the best scenario...When you speak on basketball, when you sepak on fans and the way they fell about sports here."
Danny Ainge [on reports that Garnett didn't want to come to Boston] - "False reports..."
Kevin Garnett - "I have never been on a cruise. I've never been on a cruise. Let that be known. Yeah. Serious. [laughter]."
Why on earth was it reported that he was on a cruise? What a weird thing to make up.
The season can't start fast enough. Not only are these three guys All-Stars, but they're also upstanding citizens who are great role models. I really don't anticipate any friction on the court. Their styles complement each other so well. I think the end of game situations are going to improve dramatically. Before, it was give the ball to Pierce and stand back. Every defense knew that. Now it's going to be a nightmare for teams to decide who to double. One on one, these guys are unstoppable. Allen will drain it in your face. Pierce with either drain it or slash to the basket and get a foul at the very least. And Garnett will pound it at you. And if those options don't work, well there's two other guys on the floor who should be wide open.
I like Allen telling the opposition to pick their posion.
That's really something to think about and something that we haven't had in a long time.
The last time we were semi-relevent, if Pierce or Walker weren't feeling it, we lost. Without Walker (hate him if you want, but when he was on, he was fun), if Pierce wasn't on, we were a college team...sometimes when Pierce was on, we were a college team.
Now, if Pierce isn't on, Allen or KG can cover and the same goes for any of them. And the odds of two or all three not being on are so small its not worth talking about.
these guys all looked very comfortable during the whole thing, how cool must it be for guys who played together 12-13 years ago as high school kids to meet up now they are veteran all-stars and make a championship run... its a good story and hopefully they all get that wish of a championship.......... or 2
Notable Quotes from the Press Conference
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