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Doc Appreciation Thread

Posted: Thu Jun 5, 2008 1:37 am
by Cyclical
From the Orlando Sentinel:
"They are like the guy who dumped his girlfriend and then watched her blossom into Halle Berry, marry Bill Gates, move to South Beach and become the first female president of the United States. They still can manage a smile, they will tell you everything worked out best for both parties and they act like it doesn't bother them. But I'm not buying it. Deep down you know it has to eat away at the Orlando Magic that the likable coach they fired five years ago -- Doc Rivers -- is now playing for the NBA championship."


I'm continually amazed by this guy. We keep underrating him and the Celtics keep winning. Yes, talent wins, but not without unity and a good game plan. We all knew he's a players' coach but reaching the finals proves he's more than just that. Would the Hawks and Cavs series be shorter if the Celtics were coached by any of the available coaches of the past two years? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe this new group of guys just needed to learn how to play with each other in high pressure situations regardless of who was coaching them. I keep wondering if the Phil-Doc face-off is the biggest mismatch of all or no factor whatsoever, and frankly I can't reach a conclusion. At this point, it just may be up to the players to decide. But I digress, this is not a "Phil-Doc, Who's Got The Edge" thread.

Doc, here's to you! :beer: You've withstood the criticism, the losing seasons, the first round playoff exits and through it all you've been miraculously consistent and cool under pressure. Win or lose this series you've brought us this far and for that I'm thankful. 4 wins to go. Let's make this happen. And by "let's" I mean you and the boys since I'm a little out of shape these days. And old. And 5.10". Go Celtics.

Posted: Thu Jun 5, 2008 1:48 am
by BlameTheRefs
I'm still not sold on Doc, but you have to give him some credit for getting this far.

Posted: Thu Jun 5, 2008 2:50 am
by Bad-Thoma
I've always liked Doc, I thought he did a good job keeping the young guys playing hard last year even though we sucked, and this year much could be said the same even though we were so far ahead at times. The players respect him.

Posted: Thu Jun 5, 2008 2:55 am
by CantStop
Good luck to Doc in the Finals.

Posted: Thu Jun 5, 2008 2:55 am
by Truthiracy
Props Doc

Posted: Thu Jun 5, 2008 2:56 am
by CantStop
greenbeans wrote:-= original quote snipped =-


Bad luck to Phil in the finals


Usually coaches that aren't mediocre with 9 rings don't need luck.

Posted: Thu Jun 5, 2008 2:56 am
by greenbeans
CantStop wrote:Good luck to Doc in the Finals.

Bad luck to Phil in the finals

Posted: Thu Jun 5, 2008 2:58 am
by greenbeans
CantStop wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Usually coaches that aren't mediocre with 9 rings don't need luck.

yeah, youre right. they walk into MJ and Shaq/Kobe

Posted: Thu Jun 5, 2008 4:01 am
by Vincent Burnett
I was probably one of the first to start bashing Doc. I started this after the Pacers playoff series loss. I do think that Doc has his strengths and weaknesses and I also think that he is better with veterans than young players. One thing is that I think he gets to emotional during games and this lessens this decision making during games, but on the otherhand he has had to deal with some very bad officiating.

Vincenzo

Posted: Thu Jun 5, 2008 5:32 am
by eatyourchildren
Go Doc! You just coached a 66 win team to two 7-game series and one 6-game series! Way to improve on the regular season!

Posted: Thu Jun 5, 2008 5:43 am
by Cyclical
eatyourchildren wrote:Go Doc! You just coached a 66 win team to two 7-game series and one 6-game series! Way to improve on the regular season!


Wait, was that 66-win team given to him or did he no coach them to that best record in the league?

Posted: Thu Jun 5, 2008 7:24 am
by eatyourchildren
Cyclical wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Wait, was that 66-win team given to him or did he no coach them to that best record in the league?


How does it feel to say the same things that Mavericks fans said 2 years ago?

You would be right, if the regular season was like baseball, where you had mini-series all the time. But from game to game, such a higher % of winning is attributable to energy and intensity (which the Celtics excel at) from game to game for the fact that travelling takes its toll and there's a lot less prep time.

Isn't the gauge of a player and coach's greatness his ability to excel when it isn't just about energy and intensity? When it becomes about tactics and skill and the ability to perform up to your usual standards or great, all while under pressure?

And in this regard, hasn't Doc really come up short so far?

Yes, you guys are in the finals, but Jesus, how hard is it to admit that the Celtics just have not played their best basketball and that Doc Rivers is plenty to blame for that? It's a testament to the insane level of talent and energy that you guys put on the floor night in and night, but you would think that 2.75 certified all-stars and a bunch of great roleplayers would have breezed through the East by now, no?

Posted: Thu Jun 5, 2008 7:29 am
by Cyclical
^
I suggest you re-read my post.


And please, for god's sake don't ever compare us to the Mavs. Reasons a plenty.

Posted: Thu Jun 5, 2008 8:09 am
by BillessuR6
Come on, Doc! You need to step it up in the finals! A good job so far but the real test lies ahead!

Posted: Thu Jun 5, 2008 5:35 pm
by sully00
First of all the only people dumber than fans are sports writers and at least they are paid to be.

The same Laker fans who will tell you what a great coach Funky Phil is were booing and hating his ass when he couldn't fix Kobe and Shaq.

I like Doc and ended up defending him quite a bit but most it is I think that Doc stays the hell out of the way. Everyone wants Avery Johnson or Rick Carlisle when they are trying to make the playoffs because he can get a team to overachieve. But that it is it because they hold the reigns so tight they can never be better than an overachiever, they never get to be the team who is just kicking everyones ass.

When looking back on it now Doc was developing as much as he was trying to develop the kids on his roster. He has been preparing for this team and this moment, to be K. C. Jones, and damn it he does a pretty damn good job of it. The players get the credit when we win, it is his fault for using the wrong pg for 3 mins in the 2nd quarter when we lose, and he is smooth and funny with the media.

And he is 4 wins away from everyone in this town loving him forever.

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:24 am
by Cyclical
I very rarely bump an old post up to the first page but c'mon, this guy deserves some more love. Just a handful of replies? You don't coach a team to 66 wins, best D in the league and a game away from the Larry O'Brien trophy without being good. If you're still one of these guys who think we win inspte of him rather than because of him you haven't been paying attention.

I've just finished re-watching the 2nd half and there's no doubt that today he outcoached a HOFamer. His substitutions in the 2nd half were a thing of beauty and he had Phil playing catch-up. Not an easy task with a hobbled Rondo and Perk out of comission. Letting Posey rest for the last 2+minutes of the 3rd inserting TA, then the first 6 minutes of the 4th with Powe and PJ; recognizing he should leave Ray in for 48; using House and Posey in just the right way; commanding the team not to shoot jumpers in the last 2:30 minutes; staying cool under pressure; etc., etc. Brilliant job Doc. The players were all giving him props after the game. So should we.

- - - - - - - -
Just Found. Hollinger praises Doc's job:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2 ... ers-080613

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 11:42 am
by DieselCeltic
I guess it's time to give some respect to Doc. I feel like he out-coached Phil in many occasions.

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:10 pm
by Athanacropolis
I've loved Doc from the beginning, so I don't need to try and appreciate him any more than I do.

But what the hell! Great thread! I'm with you Cyclical!

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:22 pm
by MyInsatiableOne
Athanacropolis wrote:I've loved Doc from the beginning, so I don't need to try and appreciate him any more than I do.

But what the hell! Great thread! I'm with you Cyclical!


Same here, been a Doc fan from day 1. Coached a HELL of a game last night and a hell of a series. We're one Sasha aberration game and a few missed Paul/KG shots from sweeping. Let's close this out sunday!!