Doc practice interview 4/22: Takes blame for bench's minutes and other notes

[bfrombleacher]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4704460/practice-film-dont-lie

The full interview is here (with video and highlights in text).

* DOC TAKES BLAME FOR BENCH: After a three-man bench of Jordan Crawford, Courtney Lee and Jason Terry was held to four points and zero field goals, Rivers took the blame for not putting them in better positions to succeed. "I hurt the bench more than the bench hurt themselves," he said. "I didn’t play them a lot. ... You know you’re going to shorten your bench a little bit. And even if you don’t shorten you bench, you’re going to shorten the minutes of the bench. That’s just the way the playoffs go. I would still rather play Kevin [Garnett] and Paul and Jeff and those guys. They are going to play, and the question is what minutes is too much for those guys? And that’s where we’re always trying to figure that out."

Like some on CB, I'm also obsessed with the role players. *But* like I've been saying a few times, Doc is flawed but the guy is a top tier coach (i.e. I'm not a hater and am actually okay with his decisions).

[NocturnalRebel]

Doc bashers are gonna love this one.

[Clench123]

It would've been a blowout had those guys played.  Our bench (if we can even call them that) haven't done mcuh to deserve more playing time.  Terry is atrocious (no need of sugarcoating it or blaming Doc for his shortcomings).  He needs less playing time, if any.  Courtney Lee is also a bit of a disappointment even though I'm still optimistic about him over Terry.  Wilcox has butter hands.  We would've had more turnovers had he played.  The only bench I want to see more of are Shav and Crawford.

So yea...maybe Doc should've played certain guys but one guy I'm definitely sure I want to see less of if at all is Jason Terry.  Dude is turning into JO...

[kgainez]

wait...what?
Doc Rivers admits his wrongs and he's still a top tier coach? Cuz he can't figure out rotations? Wow. Ok, then. I'll stand corrected!

[krook]

my question is did all the starter did there best?
lots of turnovers
then doc blame the bench?
he constructed the bench line-up

how in the world
this bench players of
crawford
terry
lee
green (stays at the game) 45 minutes
bass (move to center)

how in the hell is this a good bench line-up?

[SparzWizard]

Yeah I blame you too Doc, and I feel great about it.

Now win Game 2 or I'm going to keep blaming you for the loss. SMH.

[Atzar]

Our bench is awful.  It is what it is.  There are no right answers with that group.  The three best players all play SG, and all of them have proven to be unreliable over the last few weeks. 

Doc will have to steal minutes with Randolph at some point, just to try to avoid running KG and Green into the ground.  I don't have faith that KG can play 37 minutes for us consistently and effectively.