So I'm sitting here after the game, and I'm really angry. I'm watching the "posts" go by, as usual, and contemplating the fact that so many people see so many different problems as the "key" to this loss: the officials, the coach, the lack of execution, Rondo's lack of energy, Ray's slump, Pierce's reliance on the outside shot, Perk's lack of effectivenes in the post, the overall lack of offense, and on and on ad nauseum. And I agree ... with pretty much all of it on some level, and as usual, it's not just one thing, but all the same elements involved in a win, just in reverse. OK ... bad game, it happens.
But understanding this doesn't help ... I'm still mad. The refs were not good tonight ... horrible really, and while you'd expect the Cavs to get the benefit of the calls in their house, you wouldn't expect it to be this unbalanced. Thirteen to twenty-five free-throw attempts, that's a pretty big discrepency, even for the home team. There were obvious traveling calls not made at the end of the game that could have made the difference, there were goal-tending calls not made that could have made the difference, and that charge call on Pierce was frankly the worst call I've seen all year. Let's face it, if this game had been called with even a modicum of fairness in the foul column, we would have won ... easily. OK ... the refs stunk ... it happens.
But even taking this into consideration makes me feel no better .... I'm still mad ... seething, really, and it has nothing to do with the refs, the team's poor play, or even the loss itself. While the question "Why am I still so angry?" is forming more solidly in my mind, the answer becomes clear. It's there, on my television screen, staring me in the face ... Doc. I spend the next five minutes or so trying with all my might to not throw my KRZR, my Logitech 870, or my bottle of Stewart's Orange Cream Soda through the screen. I know that may seem a bit drastic to some, but in the throws of paasion these kinds of thoughts can be very powerful, and difficult to resist, despite one's better judgement. OK ... I'm mad at Doc ... it happens.
But for some reason even this realization doesn't help ... I'm still seething, and Doc's face is no longer staring at me. Here's the thing: I've been sticking up for Doc for the most part this year. As some here know, I've questioned his decisions at times, but always done so objectively, encouraging discussion, but not bashing, or hating, or getting carried away about it. I've been giving him the benefit of the doubt all season long, because I think he's done a fair job overall, and well ... he's a likable guy, and I think he does the best he can ... for the most part. He's been given a big responsibility, and this is a very new team, with truly huge expectations, and that can't be easy. OK ... it's a tough job ... that's life.
Doesn't help ... not one bit ... rationalizing the rigors of the job makes me no less angry. It may be in part because I have tried so hard to be on his side, and he keeps letting me down. I don't think he coached this game that badly ... he leaned toward the rotation that we won with all year, and got Eddie off the bench, (finally), to bring his energy and spark into the game ... and it worked. But that's exactly what set this time-bomb off in me ... seeing Eddie come onto the floor, attacking the paint, influxing his energy and momentum, and nailing three-pointers like he'd never left, all after warming the wood for weeks. Why? Why now? Where the heck has he been, and why in the name of all that's green would you completely abandon a player who's been contributing so successfully all year?!? Because you have this odd affinity for veterans? Even though they're destroying the tempo and energy of the team? I don't get it.
The first thought in my mind is: I wonder what difference Eddie could have made before this, when we so desperately needed to sustain tempo and attack? But no, Doc likes Sammy ... period. He likes the experience he brings to the game and his ability to hit the "big shot" ... never mind that he only hits his shots in about one of every 4 or 5 games. Never mind that he pounds the ball and looks for his shot before even considering passing the ball. Never mind that he still is confused with the play-calling and totally disrupts the rhythm of the game. Doc likes him ... he's the number two option, and Doc has ignored one very important player in the mean time, a player who was a great help to getting us this amazing record. There's a good chance, especially in games like tonight's, that Eddie could very well have been the difference, and that the rotation we've gone to all year, might have meant a shorter series ... and more rest. It's really poor coaching to not recognize these things, and not put your team in the best position to win.
But the final thing that got to me about Doc tonight, was the post-game interview. Honestly, I think 90% of the people on this blog could tell you what Doc's going to say in the post-loss interview ... the same excuses, the same lackidaisical attitude, the same "don't worry about it, we're cool" statements, and the same absence of emotion. This is what puts the icing on it for me, because a coach should be emotional at times, especially after a loss like this. Now, I'm not naive' enough to think that he's going to show the same emotion, or say the same things to the press that he does in the locker-room to the team. But still, he needs to let the team see that he's not timid about expressing his disappointment to the public, and he needs to show the fans that he's angry and not so passive about these losses.
I mean, c'mon ... you're the COACH, Doc, and you should be upset! Show some emotion, for-crying-out-loud ... let the boys know that you're calling them out, that you're not just their "Buddy", but their LEADER and mentor! A lack of emotion very often translates into apathy, and if your team sees you always in control of that emotion, they begin to wonder just how much this really means deep-down. Get angry, man! Raise your voice once in a while in that post-game interview, and show that you really care about these guys, and that you're not ashamed to let them know when you're upset and disappointed. Let us, the fans, know that this kind of game gets to you, too, and that you recognize how poorly they performed, and aren't afraid to be more of a "coach" once in a while, and less of a "friend".
I know there will be plenty who will reply in disgust, wondering how in the world I can criticize Doc, but frankly, I've reached my saturation point, and I don't care any more. This season is not over, and I'm pretty confident we'll win on Sunday. I'll continue to support Doc for all our remaining games, and pray that he does a good job for our team. But for me, it's over ... my vote is in, whether we win it all or not. The last straw has been added to this camel's back ... the fat lady has sung, and good or bad, I've had it with Doc. It's not so much a couple of huge things, but many, many little things over the season, that have added up and boiled over ... and regardless if this puts a target on my back or not, it's finally very clear for me: when the season's over, I want a new coach ... period. Say I'm a traitor, say it's too early 'cuz the season's not over, say he's too nice a guy to let go ... you could be right on all points, but it makes no difference for me.
I'm tired of the head-scratching rotations, the highly questionable play-calling, the odd substitutions, the failure to make correct adjustments from game-to-game, the buddy-buddy attitude, and the lack of assertiveness and aggression. Sorry folks, I like Doc very much as a person, and I think he's done the best job he can ... but therein lies the rub: his best just isn't good enough, not on this level. I just can't bring myself to look the other way any more, or to keep giving him the benefit of the doubt. The Eddie House thing just made it so evident that he really doesn't know what he's doing half the time, and that his game-plans and rotations follow no linear progression, or no clear strategy, but are more of a coin-toss. We just can't afford to keep "shooting in the dark" with this guy. If we're ever going to grow into the dynasty franchise we hope to, it's going to have to be behind the leadership of someone who's a little more grounded, and who knows the meaning of "putting your team in the best position to win".
It's finally obvious to me that Doc really has no idea how to do just that, and that this "Emerald City" needs a breath of fresh air.
