Finley talks about the difference between Pop and Doc

[Roy Hobbs]

When asked about the differences between his old team, the Spurs, and his new club, the Celtics, Michael Finley cited trash talking.

"A lot of talking - trash talking, I guess," Finley told the Boston Herald. "It's a lot more aggressiveness, a lot more of just letting the players go out and play, a lot less teaching than we had in San Antonio. But each team is different, each approach is different and I think the approach that Doc (Rivers) and the coaching staff takes with this team is suited for this team."

Link.

A lot of people have speculated that Doc isn't doing enough with this team to get it out of its slump, and this can be seen as confirmation of that.  Maybe the team *should* be self-motivated and self-taught at this point, but it's not.  I'd love to see Doc walking his team -- vets and younger guys alike -- through teaching drills.  It's obviously that the team has forgotten some of the fundamentals, including boxing out.

[wdleehi]

I honestly don't know where to go on this.


He says they need more practice, and the players all feel it is OK to publicly question it.



The team has to many cases of bad fundamentals. 

The team has to many cases of players not putting in the effort we have seen in the past.


The team still has rotational patterns that make no sense.  (like the all bench lineup at the beginning of the 4th when Lebron was on the bench and the Celtics needed to make a run)



This team is dysfunctional right now, and there seems to be no captain that wants to run it.   

[pearljammer10]

I dont like how the players openly questioned Doc's pry for more practice. It jsut doesnt make sense. They really think they dont need to practice? I yiyi.

I guess this throws it out there that Doc really isnt doing his job. He's lost his players here, he has to regain control of them.

And speaking of boxing out...What is up with this new football blocking, cross checking box out thing the Celts did today?? I mean, i couldnt understand what was going on. I also couldnt understand why the refs didnt call a foul on them everytime.

[PLamb]

Finley was with the Spurs and Pop through 4 training camps, 4 preseasons and 3 1/2 regular seasons and he's been with Doc for less than a week and four games and when a reporter askes him the difference between the coaches we are expected to take anything he says seriously?

He's been around Doc for a week, a time when the Celtics play 5 games in 8 days and we are supposed to take his view of Doc teaching versus Pop teaching seriously?

How many NBA coaches with veteran teams do any teaching during a week in which they play 5 games in 8 days?

I respect Finley and ultimately, he might be right, but seriously, how the hell does he know since he hasn't been here through a training camp, preseason or even a week during the season with some downtime.

[Change]

Doc might be the greatest person in the world. But being nice doesn't get the job done. Doc is trying to not step on anyone's toes. That approach worked when guys were accountable. That is not the case this season. Its time to restore order. The players were given a lot of leeway but nothing has changed. They still get out worked and out hustled every game. Mr. Nice-Guy gotta go. At some point, he has to confront these guys. And fix the problems.

[wdleehi]

Finley was with the Spurs and Pop through 4 training camps, 4 preseasons and 3 1/2 regular seasons and he's been with Doc for less than a week and four games and when a reporter askes him the difference between the coaches we are expected to take anything he says seriously?

He's been around Doc for a week, a time when the Celtics play 5 games in 8 days and we are supposed to take his view of Doc teaching versus Pop teaching seriously?

How many NBA coaches with veteran teams do any teaching during a week in which they play 5 games in 8 days?

I respect Finley and ultimately, he might be right, but seriously, how the hell does he know since he hasn't been here through a training camp, preseason or even a week during the season with some downtime.

He has a lot of experience. 


And honestly, who cares about how the Celtics were during training camp.  The concern now is what is going on now.  Finley has just spent a week in there. 

[PLamb]

Finley was with the Spurs and Pop through 4 training camps, 4 preseasons and 3 1/2 regular seasons and he's been with Doc for less than a week and four games and when a reporter askes him the difference between the coaches we are expected to take anything he says seriously?

He's been around Doc for a week, a time when the Celtics play 5 games in 8 days and we are supposed to take his view of Doc teaching versus Pop teaching seriously?

How many NBA coaches with veteran teams do any teaching during a week in which they play 5 games in 8 days?

I respect Finley and ultimately, he might be right, but seriously, how the hell does he know since he hasn't been here through a training camp, preseason or even a week during the season with some downtime.

He has a lot of experience. 


And honestly, who cares about how the Celtics were during training camp.  The concern now is what is going on now.  Finley has just spent a week in there. 

My point, which you are obviously missing, is that most coaches do the most teaching in training camp, preseason and practices during the regular season

He's been with the team during one of their busiest weeks

He probably doesn't have a good handle on what Doc is like when it comes to teaching or how Doc coaches on a game in and game out basis since it's the end of the year and communication with players regarding what a coach wants in the game gets easier and less necessary as the year goes along

So before reading a lot into Roy's underlined statement, maybe we should take what he says with a grain of salt given his limited exposure to Doc and the team

He could be 100% right but I'm not about to take what he says as etched in stone correct because he just isn't very familiar with the team or this coach as of yet

[wdleehi]

Finley was with the Spurs and Pop through 4 training camps, 4 preseasons and 3 1/2 regular seasons and he's been with Doc for less than a week and four games and when a reporter askes him the difference between the coaches we are expected to take anything he says seriously?

He's been around Doc for a week, a time when the Celtics play 5 games in 8 days and we are supposed to take his view of Doc teaching versus Pop teaching seriously?

How many NBA coaches with veteran teams do any teaching during a week in which they play 5 games in 8 days?

I respect Finley and ultimately, he might be right, but seriously, how the hell does he know since he hasn't been here through a training camp, preseason or even a week during the season with some downtime.

He has a lot of experience. 


And honestly, who cares about how the Celtics were during training camp.  The concern now is what is going on now.  Finley has just spent a week in there. 

My point, which you are obviously missing, is that most coaches do the most teaching in training camp, preseason and practices during the regular season

He's been with the team during one of their busiest weeks

He probably doesn't have a good handle on what Doc is like when it comes to teaching or how Doc coaches on a game in and game out basis since it's the end of the year and communication with players regarding what a coach wants in the game gets easier and less necessary as the year goes along

So before reading a lot into Roy's underlined statement, maybe we should take what he says with a grain of salt given his limited exposure to Doc and the team

He could be 100% right but I'm not about to take what he says as etched in stone correct because he just isn't very familiar with the team or this coach as of yet

I think after the length of time Finley has been in the league, he knows what the preseason is vs. one month to go in the season. 


I doubt he is comparing training camp Pop to end of the season Doc.

[PLamb]

Finley was with the Spurs and Pop through 4 training camps, 4 preseasons and 3 1/2 regular seasons and he's been with Doc for less than a week and four games and when a reporter askes him the difference between the coaches we are expected to take anything he says seriously?

He's been around Doc for a week, a time when the Celtics play 5 games in 8 days and we are supposed to take his view of Doc teaching versus Pop teaching seriously?

How many NBA coaches with veteran teams do any teaching during a week in which they play 5 games in 8 days?

I respect Finley and ultimately, he might be right, but seriously, how the hell does he know since he hasn't been here through a training camp, preseason or even a week during the season with some downtime.

He has a lot of experience. 


And honestly, who cares about how the Celtics were during training camp.  The concern now is what is going on now.  Finley has just spent a week in there. 

My point, which you are obviously missing, is that most coaches do the most teaching in training camp, preseason and practices during the regular season

He's been with the team during one of their busiest weeks

He probably doesn't have a good handle on what Doc is like when it comes to teaching or how Doc coaches on a game in and game out basis since it's the end of the year and communication with players regarding what a coach wants in the game gets easier and less necessary as the year goes along

So before reading a lot into Roy's underlined statement, maybe we should take what he says with a grain of salt given his limited exposure to Doc and the team

He could be 100% right but I'm not about to take what he says as etched in stone correct because he just isn't very familiar with the team or this coach as of yet

I think after the length of time Finley has been in the league, he knows what the preseason is vs. one month to go in the season. 


I doubt he is comparing training camp Pop to end of the season Doc.

Obviously you are right...as always

[slamtheking]

Finley was with the Spurs and Pop through 4 training camps, 4 preseasons and 3 1/2 regular seasons and he's been with Doc for less than a week and four games and when a reporter askes him the difference between the coaches we are expected to take anything he says seriously?

He's been around Doc for a week, a time when the Celtics play 5 games in 8 days and we are supposed to take his view of Doc teaching versus Pop teaching seriously?

How many NBA coaches with veteran teams do any teaching during a week in which they play 5 games in 8 days?

I respect Finley and ultimately, he might be right, but seriously, how the hell does he know since he hasn't been here through a training camp, preseason or even a week during the season with some downtime.

He has a lot of experience. 


And honestly, who cares about how the Celtics were during training camp.  The concern now is what is going on now.  Finley has just spent a week in there. 

My point, which you are obviously missing, is that most coaches do the most teaching in training camp, preseason and practices during the regular season

He's been with the team during one of their busiest weeks

He probably doesn't have a good handle on what Doc is like when it comes to teaching or how Doc coaches on a game in and game out basis since it's the end of the year and communication with players regarding what a coach wants in the game gets easier and less necessary as the year goes along

So before reading a lot into Roy's underlined statement, maybe we should take what he says with a grain of salt given his limited exposure to Doc and the team

He could be 100% right but I'm not about to take what he says as etched in stone correct because he just isn't very familiar with the team or this coach as of yet

I think after the length of time Finley has been in the league, he knows what the preseason is vs. one month to go in the season. 


I doubt he is comparing training camp Pop to end of the season Doc.

Obviously you are right...as always

You both have a point ---  it's not a 1-sided answer.

Finley hasn't been here long enough to be an expert on Doc's coaching style however he has been around a long time and doesn't require an entire camp and season to start sizing up a coach's style.

[FatjohnReturns]

Finley was with the Spurs and Pop through 4 training camps, 4 preseasons and 3 1/2 regular seasons and he's been with Doc for less than a week and four games and when a reporter askes him the difference between the coaches we are expected to take anything he says seriously?


He's been around Doc for a week, a time when the Celtics play 5 games in 8 days and we are supposed to take his view of Doc teaching versus Pop teaching seriously?

How many NBA coaches with veteran teams do any teaching during a week in which they play 5 games in 8 days?

I respect Finley and ultimately, he might be right, but seriously, how the hell does he know since he hasn't been here through a training camp, preseason or even a week during the season with some downtime.

He has a lot of experience. 


And honestly, who cares about how the Celtics were during training camp.  The concern now is what is going on now.  Finley has just spent a week in there. 

My point, which you are obviously missing, is that most coaches do the most teaching in training camp, preseason and practices during the regular season

He's been with the team during one of their busiest weeks

He probably doesn't have a good handle on what Doc is like when it comes to teaching or how Doc coaches on a game in and game out basis since it's the end of the year and communication with players regarding what a coach wants in the game gets easier and less necessary as the year goes along

So before reading a lot into Roy's underlined statement, maybe we should take what he says with a grain of salt given his limited exposure to Doc and the team

He could be 100% right but I'm not about to take what he says as etched in stone correct because he just isn't very familiar with the team or this coach as of yet

 

Good assesment by Finley.