Sports Illustrated NBA writer Chris Mannix joined the Dennis & Callahan show Thursday morning and expressed caution about reports of LeBron James deciding to sign with the Heat.
"I can't define somebody as being in the driver's seat because it's just too close," Mannix said, noting that there has been a "campaign of misinformation" coming out of the LeBron camp in an effort to build up the hype leading to Thursday night's ESPN special, something Mannix termed a "self-indulgent, ridiculous announcement."
Mannix said he thinks the Knicks and Nets are out of the running, but the Cavaliers and Bulls still have a shot. "Right now, momentum is building for a short-term deal in Cleveland," he said.
Mannix also said that even if James does join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, the Heat aren't necessarily the favorite to win a title. "Even if those three come together, I'm not convinced they're going to come out of the Eastern Conference," Mannix said, giving the Celtics the nod as the favorite. "I just think [the Celtics] have enough left in the tank to make one more run." He also said the Bulls will be formidable following their acquisition of Carlos Boozer.
To hear the interview, visit the Dennis & Callahan audio on demand page [1]. Check the Green Street blog [2] for more news on the Celtics and the NBA.
Links:
[1] http://audio.weei.com/weei/dennis_and_callahan.htm?resultType=media&media=audio
[2] http://greenstreet.weei.com/
[3] http://www.weei.com/category/boston/celtics