the perfect coach

[winsomme]

The players seem to love Doc.  He keeps the locker room together and blends a bunch of unique, difficult personalities into an organized team.  That's hugely important.

At this stage, I think Doc is the right coach for this team.  He's still going to do stupid stuff with his rotations, and I still don't completely trust him with matchups, but I think the potential chemistry problems that could come with a less skilled locker room manager would be much more damaging than Doc's in-game decisions.

There are better coaches (Larry Brown, Jerry Sloan, Greg Popovich) but is there a better coach for this team as it stands right now (coming off a championship)?    I'm sure we could repeat under other coaches, but it wouldn't be worth the risk.

One thing Danny could do to help is get Sam Cassell far, far away from our roster.  Doc doesn't seem to be able to keep himself from putting Sam in there, so Danny should take away the temptation.

well, Sloan and Pop got killed in the matchup game by Phil.....so if matchups is a worry for you with Doc, i don't know how Pop or Sloan would make you any less worried at this point.

Body of work.  I'm not judging Pops or Sloan based upon one playoff series.

Seriously...  I say something good about Doc and you want to pick it apart, because I didn't fawn over him enough?

no, i just think in general the "matchups" critique of Doc is overstated. even great coaches lose match-up battles....

and on the body of work angle, can you really compare the teams that Doc has had versus those of Pop or Sloan? i mean, Pop had David Robinson and Tim Duncan in his first full season as a head coach and has never looked back.

[FLCeltsFan]

For this team, Doc is the right coach.  Just as KC Jones was the right coach for the '86 team. 

[winsomme]

the thing that people forget about those ORL teams is that they overachieved. that roster was very weak while he was there. their #2 guy was Grant Hill and he was basically injured the whole time.

he got Coach of the Year there because the team was supposed to be terrible. and that '03 team actually gave DET a better series than the more talented Larry Brown coached team.

he also came here taking over a franchise that was in "rebuilding" mode. Danny was overturning the roster top to bottom and the only player still here going in to this season from the team he took over in 03-04 was Pierce.

i think one of the big critiques of Doc started when we lost that series to IND in 04-05 , but going in to that season, Danny had a roster that was in a total state of flux and nobody had us winning the Atlantic....so again, the team was playing better than expected...

[winsomme]

this is the post season roster of that team that took DET to 7:

1   Tracy McGrady   
2   Drew Gooden -ROOKIE   
3   Darrell Armstrong
4   Gordan Giricek - ROOKIE   
5   Jacque Vaughn   
6   Andrew DeClercq   
7   Pat Garrity   
8   Chris Whitney      
9   Shawn Kemp      
10   Pat Burke      
11   Steven Hunter   
12   Jeryl Sasser

not to mention that he had a team built around McGrady who NO coach has yet to win a playoff series with....

[cdif911]

this is the post season roster of that team that took DET to 7:

1   Tracy McGrady   
2   Drew Gooden -ROOKIE   
3   Darrell Armstrong
4   Gordan Giricek - ROOKIE   
5   Jacque Vaughn   
6   Andrew DeClercq   
7   Pat Garrity   
8   Chris Whitney      
9   Shawn Kemp      
10   Pat Burke      
11   Steven Hunter   
12   Jeryl Sasser

not to mention that he had a team built around McGrady who NO coach has yet to win a playoff series with....

Wait you missed something with that roster

1   Tracy McGrady   
2   Drew Gooden -ROOKIE   
3   Darrell Armstrong
4   Gordan Giricek - ROOKIE   
5   Jacque Vaughn   
6   Andrew DeClercq   
7   Pat Garrity   
8   Chris Whitney      
9   Shawn Kemp - BLOATED      
10   Pat Burke      
11   Steven Hunter   
12   Jeryl Sasser

[wdleehi]

I would love the Celtics to add an assistant coach to run the offense (just like they did for defense).  Someone that can smooth the edges and allow Doc to concentrate more on his strengths. 

[winsomme]

I would love the Celtics to add an assistant coach to run the offense (just like they did for defense).  Someone that can smooth the edges and allow Doc to concentrate more on his strengths. 

i would argue that running the offense IS one of his strengths. i loved the motion offense we were running this year and hopefully with another year it will get better....you have to remember that this was the first year the majority of these guys played together.

that AND Rondo was only in his second season....don't you think he will get better too?

[nickagneta]

I would love the Celtics to add an assistant coach to run the offense (just like they did for defense).  Someone that can smooth the edges and allow Doc to concentrate more on his strengths. 

Basketball is nothing like football where you have offensive and defensive coordinators.

Coach Thibodeau coached, taught and practiced the defense but come game time that team was almost all Doc's. I also think that one of Doc's strengths were writing up plays out of TO's both offensively and defensively. This wasthe coaching staff's first year with this group and my guess is that most of the rotation will be returning. Another year of familiarity and further exposure to the offensive and defensive systems and I expect an even more fluent team.

I expect all that whether Coach T comes back or not and I expect that if no one is added to the staff. Coach T gets a lot of well earned credit but way too much so. It wasn't his system, just a system he knew how to teach. He taught it and assisted during games but the defense, the offense and everything in between is Doc's on gameday.

[wdleehi]

I would love the Celtics to add an assistant coach to run the offense (just like they did for defense).  Someone that can smooth the edges and allow Doc to concentrate more on his strengths. 

Basketball is nothing like football where you have offensive and defensive coordinators.

Coach Thibodeau coached, taught and practiced the defense but come game time that team was almost all Doc's. I also think that one of Doc's strengths were writing up plays out of TO's both offensively and defensively. This wasthe coaching staff's first year with this group and my guess is that most of the rotation will be returning. Another year of familiarity and further exposure to the offensive and defensive systems and I expect an even more fluent team.

I expect all that whether Coach T comes back or not and I expect that if no one is added to the staff. Coach T gets a lot of well earned credit but way too much so. It wasn't his system, just a system he knew how to teach. He taught it and assisted during games but the defense, the offense and everything in between is Doc's on gameday.

Whether or not his was just "Doc's defense with better players" or not, it worked.  Tom Thibodeau had this team more effective running the defense.



What would be the problem if they did the same thing on offense?   

[winsomme]

I would love the Celtics to add an assistant coach to run the offense (just like they did for defense).  Someone that can smooth the edges and allow Doc to concentrate more on his strengths. 

Basketball is nothing like football where you have offensive and defensive coordinators.

Coach Thibodeau coached, taught and practiced the defense but come game time that team was almost all Doc's. I also think that one of Doc's strengths were writing up plays out of TO's both offensively and defensively. This wasthe coaching staff's first year with this group and my guess is that most of the rotation will be returning. Another year of familiarity and further exposure to the offensive and defensive systems and I expect an even more fluent team.

I expect all that whether Coach T comes back or not and I expect that if no one is added to the staff. Coach T gets a lot of well earned credit but way too much so. It wasn't his system, just a system he knew how to teach. He taught it and assisted during games but the defense, the offense and everything in between is Doc's on gameday.

Whether or not his was just "Doc's defense with better players" or not, it worked.  Tom Thibodeau had this team more effective running the defense.



What would be the problem if they did the same thing on offense?   

where's the need? i mean, what exactly do you want this new coach to do?

it's not like they don't have assistant coaches that help run practices....

[wdleehi]

I would love the Celtics to add an assistant coach to run the offense (just like they did for defense).  Someone that can smooth the edges and allow Doc to concentrate more on his strengths. 

Basketball is nothing like football where you have offensive and defensive coordinators.

Coach Thibodeau coached, taught and practiced the defense but come game time that team was almost all Doc's. I also think that one of Doc's strengths were writing up plays out of TO's both offensively and defensively. This wasthe coaching staff's first year with this group and my guess is that most of the rotation will be returning. Another year of familiarity and further exposure to the offensive and defensive systems and I expect an even more fluent team.

I expect all that whether Coach T comes back or not and I expect that if no one is added to the staff. Coach T gets a lot of well earned credit but way too much so. It wasn't his system, just a system he knew how to teach. He taught it and assisted during games but the defense, the offense and everything in between is Doc's on gameday.

Whether or not his was just "Doc's defense with better players" or not, it worked.  Tom Thibodeau had this team more effective running the defense.



What would be the problem if they did the same thing on offense?   

where's the need? i mean, what exactly do you want this new coach to do?

it's not like they don't have assistant coaches that help run practices....

Be in charge of the offense like Thibodeau is in charge of the defense.  See if someone with a more limited view and responsibility can increase the efficiency of the offense. 


If it works well for the defense, why not do the same thing for the offense?

[Amonkey]

I think we should keep Doc because he has earned the job by winning a championship.  However, I hope those of you that are defending Doc because he's a better coach or whatever wont be blasting him when we start losing games (which hopefully wont happen).

[winsomme]

I would love the Celtics to add an assistant coach to run the offense (just like they did for defense).  Someone that can smooth the edges and allow Doc to concentrate more on his strengths. 

Basketball is nothing like football where you have offensive and defensive coordinators.

Coach Thibodeau coached, taught and practiced the defense but come game time that team was almost all Doc's. I also think that one of Doc's strengths were writing up plays out of TO's both offensively and defensively. This wasthe coaching staff's first year with this group and my guess is that most of the rotation will be returning. Another year of familiarity and further exposure to the offensive and defensive systems and I expect an even more fluent team.

I expect all that whether Coach T comes back or not and I expect that if no one is added to the staff. Coach T gets a lot of well earned credit but way too much so. It wasn't his system, just a system he knew how to teach. He taught it and assisted during games but the defense, the offense and everything in between is Doc's on gameday.

Whether or not his was just "Doc's defense with better players" or not, it worked.  Tom Thibodeau had this team more effective running the defense.



What would be the problem if they did the same thing on offense?   

where's the need? i mean, what exactly do you want this new coach to do?

it's not like they don't have assistant coaches that help run practices....

Be in charge of the offense like Thibodeau is in charge of the defense.  See if someone with a more limited view and responsibility can increase the efficiency of the offense. 


If it works well for the defense, why not do the same thing for the offense?

i agree with the poster that mentioned your model being the NFL model. i can't think of one team in the NBA where the head coach isn't  the main man in terms of at least  managing the offense or the defense....and Doc's main strength is on offense, so i don't see why we would give that responsibility to someone else.

it's not like the NFL where the head coaches just don't have the time to implement the schemes.

an NBA coach has plenty of time in that regard, and Doc did a great job with the offense.....and it's not like running the offense is keeping him from other duties.....

and if you look at a lot of the playoff losses, some of the key problems were with second-chance points and transition defense.....but i wouldn't want to bring in another Asst Coach to work on those things. i want TT to work on them. just like i want Doc to work on the offensive problems....or efficiency...

[wdleehi]

I would love the Celtics to add an assistant coach to run the offense (just like they did for defense).  Someone that can smooth the edges and allow Doc to concentrate more on his strengths. 

Basketball is nothing like football where you have offensive and defensive coordinators.

Coach Thibodeau coached, taught and practiced the defense but come game time that team was almost all Doc's. I also think that one of Doc's strengths were writing up plays out of TO's both offensively and defensively. This wasthe coaching staff's first year with this group and my guess is that most of the rotation will be returning. Another year of familiarity and further exposure to the offensive and defensive systems and I expect an even more fluent team.

I expect all that whether Coach T comes back or not and I expect that if no one is added to the staff. Coach T gets a lot of well earned credit but way too much so. It wasn't his system, just a system he knew how to teach. He taught it and assisted during games but the defense, the offense and everything in between is Doc's on gameday.

Whether or not his was just "Doc's defense with better players" or not, it worked.  Tom Thibodeau had this team more effective running the defense.



What would be the problem if they did the same thing on offense?   

where's the need? i mean, what exactly do you want this new coach to do?

it's not like they don't have assistant coaches that help run practices....

Be in charge of the offense like Thibodeau is in charge of the defense.  See if someone with a more limited view and responsibility can increase the efficiency of the offense. 


If it works well for the defense, why not do the same thing for the offense?

i agree with the poster that mentioned your model being the NFL model. i can't think of one team in the NBA where the head coach isn't  the main man in terms of at least  managing the offense or the defense....and Doc's main strength is on offense, so i don't see why we would give that responsibility to someone else.

it's not like the NFL where the head coaches just don't have the time to implement the schemes.

an NBA coach has plenty of time in that regard, and Doc did a great job with the offense.....and it's not like running the offense is keeping him from other duties.....

and if you look at a lot of the playoff losses, some of the key problems were with second-chance points and transition defense.....but i wouldn't want to bring in another Asst Coach on those things. i want TT to work on them. just like i want Doc to work on the offensive problems....

When Larry Bird was coach, he let his assistants run the offense and defense. 


But who really cares what other teams are doing.  Doc gives the reigns of the offense over to another coach.  He can worry about the big picture and the players. 

[nickagneta]

I would love the Celtics to add an assistant coach to run the offense (just like they did for defense).  Someone that can smooth the edges and allow Doc to concentrate more on his strengths. 

Basketball is nothing like football where you have offensive and defensive coordinators.

Coach Thibodeau coached, taught and practiced the defense but come game time that team was almost all Doc's. I also think that one of Doc's strengths were writing up plays out of TO's both offensively and defensively. This wasthe coaching staff's first year with this group and my guess is that most of the rotation will be returning. Another year of familiarity and further exposure to the offensive and defensive systems and I expect an even more fluent team.

I expect all that whether Coach T comes back or not and I expect that if no one is added to the staff. Coach T gets a lot of well earned credit but way too much so. It wasn't his system, just a system he knew how to teach. He taught it and assisted during games but the defense, the offense and everything in between is Doc's on gameday.

Whether or not his was just "Doc's defense with better players" or not, it worked.  Tom Thibodeau had this team more effective running the defense.



What would be the problem if they did the same thing on offense?   

where's the need? i mean, what exactly do you want this new coach to do?

it's not like they don't have assistant coaches that help run practices....

Be in charge of the offense like Thibodeau is in charge of the defense.  See if someone with a more limited view and responsibility can increase the efficiency of the offense. 


If it works well for the defense, why not do the same thing for the offense?

Tell me exactly how you know it worked for the defense. How do you know it worked better because Thibodeau was there? The entire team turned over the year before Coach T got here and Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers have both admitted publically that Thibodeau assisted but was in no way solely responsible for the defensive end of this team. The new players and attitude of those players could have been the reason for the defensive turnaround and was in many ways.

Where do you get the idea that Doc turned over the entire defensive responsibility of this club over to Thibodeau when the GM and Head Coach publically say otherwise? Why does this team need another coach to come in and tell an NBA championship winning coach how to better run his offense? Exactly who is more qualified to coach these players better than the guy that has already coached them to a world championship?

I think the entire idea is silly.