[Transcript from my imaginary NLL Radio show]




Host: Welcome listeners to your favorite NLL based radio interview show, Ball Don't Lie, I'm your host Phineas Q Ballterscotch. As mentioned in our last episode, today we have an interview with the GM of the Miami Heat, Proid. Welcome Proid. The first question I have is how do you correctly pronounce your name? Is it Pro-id? Or proid as in proid, sounding like steroid?

proid: I'll never tell. Call me whatever you like.

Ballterscotch: Ok then... Now I'll start you off with an easy question. How would you grade yourself since taking the helm of the franchise? Why?

proid: I would probably have to grade myself as a B-. Either through lack of focus or miscalculation I had a few missteps and in this league in can not only cost you W's during the season but also effect how well you are able to sign free agents or even trade with other GM's because players want to see a commitment to winning and other GM's will trade with a team that has plenty of assets to work with. Its a delicate balance and I feel i dropped the ball a few times in that regard.

Ballterscotch: You've made a few trades this season, the biggest being the Al Jeff trade. How do you feel he is fitting in coming back form injury? Is he part of the future in Miami?

proid: Al Jeff has been extremely solid for us. It was a very tough trade to make because Al had recently gained a rep around the league of being a player that you can't win with. We were doing ok at the time so it definately kept me up for a few nights before and after the deal. I feel AJ has a place in our organization going forward. In the offseason we will make our pitch and the rest is up to him.

Ballterscotch: You had a tough middle of the season with injuries, but have started to put a few wins together to seal the 6th spot, what was the catalyst for the run?

proid:  Injuries are part of the game, ideally you hope that the other players step up and can hold it together. Alternatively you can trade to shore up the roster or just mail it in and prepare for future opportunities. In my case I actually traded an injured player (Al Jeff) into the roster and sent some key depth away at the same position. Not the best strategy I know. But the players and the coach bought into the game plan and really started to gel down the stretch and they are the real heroes here. I just roll the dice.

Ballterscotch: You lost the season series against Cleveland, yet In the GM survey, you has been predicted to beat Cleveland by two thirds of the GM's. Why do you think a 6th seed has the backing of the crowd?

proid: The Cavs as currently constructed have won multiple championships. They have top 5 players at multiple positions in their starting 5 so having lost the season series to them is something we can live with. I hadn't realized the crowd favored us. But everybody always feels sorry for the old homeless mutt so hopefully we can feed off of that and have a shot at doing something great.

Ballterscotch: Who is your teams MVP, LVP (Least Valuable Player), and most surprising player?

proid: Its really difficult to pinpoint a team MVP per se. We had a number of opportunities for different guys to shine and to make a difference on the court. Ditto for the least valuable. Players that don't get to contribute much on the court carry us in the lockeroom. That kind of chemistry is invaluable.

Ballterscotch: Who do you think is going to be the XFactor in the series?

proid: Our staff feels like its going to boil down to who wants it more and I pretty much echo that. Everybody knows everything about each other so its essentially gut check time. Personally I am not a big fan of fishing and I expect that our players and staff feel the same as I do.

Ballterscotch: If you end up having a first round exit, how do you see your offseason fairing with the amount of expiring contracts and so-so loyalty factor? What happens if Timmy retires?

proid: With contracts getting shorter and players always looking to keep their options open it will become harder and harder to keep guys. So I always look at the expiring contract as 1.) to prove to the player that they are not just some figure on a spreadsheet. If they play hard then we want them regardless of contract status. 2.) If they decide to leave then that's just a chance for us to bring in somebody that does want to be a part of our team. Its a win win the way I see it. Timmy controls his own destiny and if he decides to walk away into the sunset we will be sure to give him a send off worthy of such an amazing player.

Ballterscotch: Thanks proid for giving some insight into your thoughts on the series and season. I wish you the best of luyck for the playoffs. Well that's all we have time for today folks. Thank you all for listening, I might be back for another series of interviews next round, then again I might dissappear into oblivion, till then, remember folks, ball don't lie.

[end broadcast]