Doc Rivers..

[HarlemHeat37]

I need to show him some love..

I disrespected him as a coach for a while, giving most of the credit of Boston's resurgence to KG..but I have to give Rivers credit..they've been a top defensive team, even without Garnett..of course KG sets the tone, but Rivers has Allen and Pierce playing D, and the other acquisitions on the team have been playing great team D..

I would have thought they would be competing with Cleveland, Orlando, Toronto, and whoever either way with a Pierce+Allen combination..but their D sets them apart from many teams, and keeps them competing with every team, every game..

I have to say he's going to deserve his COTY at the end of the season..I hate everyone on the Celtics outside of KG, but I definitely respect their team, and admit they are the best right now..hope to see them in the finals..

[JellosJigglin]

Well, we all know who on the Celtics coaching staff really deserves the credit for their defense. And it ain't Doc.

[basketball royalty]

Doc deserves some love for having the team motivated to play night in and night out even when missing KG. He never really had a shot with the way the team was made up before. However, my vote for COTY would go to Nate McMillan.

[HarlemHeat37]

obviously Thibodeau deserves love too, but Doc Rivers gets a bad rap from most fans, so he deserves a lot of credit..

[The Rondo Show]

Doc deserves some love for having the team motivated to play night in and night out even when missing KG. He never really had a shot with the way the team was made up before.

This is a very good point and probably a better one than the defense point, since Thibodeau is the one most responsible for their D on their coaching staff. It's really amazing how prepared Doc has had the Celtics.

They have not been blown out once all year; their biggest loss was by 12 points to Charlotte in what was a close game the entire way and only got out of hand due to fouling/shots by J-Rich in the final minute and a half.

I'd give Byron Scott the COTY award, personally, but Doc is doing a nice job and showing that he's nowhere near as bad as a coach as he's taken heat for in the past. The NBA is a players league and he just didn't have the players to win games consistently.

[NetsForce]

Interesting... I still don't even consider Doc Rivers to be in the upper half of good coaches in the league.

*Cue hater comments.

[sarah42]

Interesting... I still don't even consider Doc Rivers to be in the upper half of good coaches in the league.

*Cue hater comments.

you hate everything to do with the celtics. if somehow jason kidd gets traded there, you'll hate him too.


doc was given the coach of the year before with orlando if i'm not mistaken. he's a good coach.

he just didn't have smart players last year, this year he has, but he's also, I think, a really good motivator. he doesn't tear down players. a bit of a player's coach. he kinda reminds me of Sam Mitchell - but you know - with actual plays called and tact. i love smitch anyway though!

i think its race between doc, byron scott of the hornets and portland's coach.

if portland doesn't make the playoffs, he should be given the award.

the executive of the year goes to danny ainge hands down! i think it was given the day KG was traded.

[NetsForce]

In your opinion where does Doc Rivers rank among coaches in the NBA? Give me a complete list.

Rivers is great at relating to his players and keeping players happy (T-Mac was an exception), but have you seen his play calling in crunch time?

[kookie_819]

Interesting... I still don't even consider Doc Rivers to be in the upper half of good coaches in the league.

*Cue hater comments.

He's not great, but he's not Isiah Thomas, either. I'll easily take him over guys like Larry K, Sam Mitchell, etc.

[suckfish]

Thibodeau is awesome.

Big Baby played some outstanding defense on Tim Duncan today, Thibodeau was on the sideline crouched down into a defensive stance yelling instructions to Davis as Duncan posted up in front of the Celtics bench, he was really getting into the game.

It seems as if Thibodeau is a huge part behind this teams success, he deserves an awful lot of credit for whatever it is Boston achieve this year.

[sarah42]

i think he's a smart coach in letting tom coach the team defensively, but also having an input - to give away reins to an assistant coach like that is risky - but it paid off.

he hasn't won a championship obviously, but i think he's one of the best out there in getting the best out of players. past the big 3 - there are a lot of young guys, and i think he's helped rondo, perkins and tony allen become better, confident players.

there is only so much a coach can do without talent, but even if you have talent, you still have to make it work so everyone gels and is happy. he has accomplished that, and i think he's pretty good out of timeouts.

whether they make shot is on the players' hands, but i think he's better than most out of timeouts.

i'm a hornets fan, and bryon is the same way in getting the most out of players (except JR Smith!) - but i think he's horrible after timeouts! horrible!

[iamworthy]

Doc deserves some love for having the team motivated to play night in and night out even when missing KG. He never really had a shot with the way the team was made up before. However, my vote for COTY would go to Nate McMillan.

IMO COTY is Byron Scott.

[sarah42]

i think byron just wants his team to be healthy and be a top 5 seed. its possible, but if they all get hurt like last year, i think he'll lose all his hair and have his arms permanently crossed.....oh wait.

[TMACFORMVP]

Yeah, defense has been amazing, even without KG, and everybody's playing hard and getting some nice wins at home against teams like SA and Dallas.