Ainge concerned with team mentality

[guava_wrench]

I read this earlier today and was going to post it because Ainge seems to be putting all the blame for the poor play of the team squarely on the attitude and shoulders of the players and absolves Doc and the coaching staff of all responsibility.

Saying the players don't have the focus of the coaches speaks volumes to me as to who he feels should own the responsibility for the recent lack of good play by the Celtics.

Listen up Celticsblog because if you think the fault here lies at the feet of the coaches, the man in charge, Danny Ainge doesn't agree with you.

“Our team can win right now without focusing on the little things, but that’s not going to last. (Coach Doc Rivers) is doing a good job, and the players want to win and do it. Are they willing to pay the price in practice? But I don’t think there’s much to it yet.”

To be honest, I think that´s just arguing semantics, and more about who you can make responsible, and not who really is responsible. I know you normally have to read between the lines with Danny, but I don´t think that´s the case here. They´re all in the same boat, wether it´s the coaches or the player´s fault.
Fact is, the coaches are not on the court.

Zach Lowe from celticshub had this to say:

But what does Danny mean by “the little things”? Boxing out? Deflecting passes? It’s hard to tell, and he doesn’t really elaborate. But Doc Rivers does, and he repeats something we’ve heard him say at least two other times so far this season: The C’s are playing undisciplined basketball, occasionally breaking plays on offense and disobeying orders on defense.

Per the same Herald story:

“But you can’t play the game in random, and that’s what we’re doing at times, on the defensive end, too. (Orlando’s) first nine points the other night were off of that, and I was like, ‘(Expletive), we just went through a walkthrough.’ We actually trapped Dwight Howard once, and we never trap Dwight Howard. It’s not like anyone is doing it to hurt your team. That’s just the IQ that’s been activated, but it’s not the time.”

This is obviously something that bears close, close monitoring. I try and pay close attention in games to find instances in which the C’s appear to break plays, but I’m sure I miss a bunch of examples.

So, if this is really a case of an cocky and over-confident team who lacks a few percentages to put them over the top, then you could make Doc responsible for this situation, but in the end, it really is up to the players to beat themselves and step up their game.

Can't hold the coach responsible for cocky, over-confident players. It's not as if Doc is the type who strokes egos either.

I expect overconfidence from Pierce and Rondo, but Pierce has been performing quite well. Perhaps the first few victories were too easy. Or perhaps Sheed brought a little of the Detroit overconfidence with him.

[wdleehi]

Saying the coach is not doing good is telling the players not to listen to the coach.  No one with a brain is going to do that.  Any issue Ainge may have with the coaches is going to be dealt with behind closed doors away from the players.  


Ainge is trying to lite a fire under some players rears while commenting to the coaches the weaknesses the players are showing.

[nickagneta]

Saying the coach is not doing good is telling the players not to listen to the coach.  No one with a brain is going to do that.  Any issue Ainge may have with the coaches is going to be dealt with behind closed doors away from the players.  


Ainge is trying to lite a fire under some players rears while commenting to the coaches the weaknesses the players are showing.

While I agree with this I have to say very seldom when a GM is unhappy with the way his team is playing does he go out of his way to say the coaching is good but the players haven't been.

Usually a GM will criticize both the players and coaches by saying stuff like "We aren't playing well and we as a whole team have to make the adjustments necessary to turn things around." Stuff like that that points the blame at everyone not specifically the players or the coach.

Here though, Ainge specifically went out of his way to say the players' focus wasn't nearly as good as the coaches. I think that is telling and that, if people want to read between the lines, is where people line reading between should start and end.

[wdleehi]

Saying the coach is not doing good is telling the players not to listen to the coach.  No one with a brain is going to do that.  Any issue Ainge may have with the coaches is going to be dealt with behind closed doors away from the players.  


Ainge is trying to lite a fire under some players rears while commenting to the coaches the weaknesses the players are showing.

While I agree with this I have to say very seldom when a GM is unhappy with the way his team is playing does he go out of his way to say the coaching is good but the players haven't been.

Usually a GM will criticize both the players and coaches by saying stuff like "We aren't playing well and we as a whole team have to make the adjustments necessary to turn things around." Stuff like that that points the blame at everyone not specifically the players or the coach.

Here though, Ainge specifically went out of his way to say the players' focus wasn't nearly as good as the coaches. I think that is telling and that, if people want to read between the lines, is where people line reading between should start and end.

I am not trying to read between the lines.  I have no clue whether or not Ainge is or isn't upset at what Doc has been doing.


What I am saying I would not expect to here anything but positive about the coach from the GM.

[nickagneta]

Saying the coach is not doing good is telling the players not to listen to the coach.  No one with a brain is going to do that.  Any issue Ainge may have with the coaches is going to be dealt with behind closed doors away from the players.  


Ainge is trying to lite a fire under some players rears while commenting to the coaches the weaknesses the players are showing.

While I agree with this I have to say very seldom when a GM is unhappy with the way his team is playing does he go out of his way to say the coaching is good but the players haven't been.

Usually a GM will criticize both the players and coaches by saying stuff like "We aren't playing well and we as a whole team have to make the adjustments necessary to turn things around." Stuff like that that points the blame at everyone not specifically the players or the coach.

Here though, Ainge specifically went out of his way to say the players' focus wasn't nearly as good as the coaches. I think that is telling and that, if people want to read between the lines, is where people line reading between should start and end.

I am not trying to read between the lines.  I have no clue whether or not Ainge is or isn't upset at what Doc has been doing.


What I am saying I would not expect to here anything but positive about the coach from the GM.

I would. What I am trying to say is that GMs that are trying to be critical of coaches as well as players would not go out of their way to say the fault lies specifically with the players.

They would be all inclusive, ambiguous about who they were saying had to do things differently or do things better. That's not the case here so for that reason I think it's reasonable to assume that he is happy with Doc and disappointed with the players.

But I do agree, if Danny was unhappy with Doc, I don't think you would ever hear him, or any other GM for that matter, criticize their coach publicly. They would handle that internally.

[More Banners]

Danny seems to think these players can keep the intensity up for the full game, when they seem to have been pacing themselves.  Maybe they can.  If so, I'd certainly pay to see it.  If they're going to milk it and save their energy for the playoffs, I'll save my ticket money for now.

But if they pick it up and then end up wearing out in 4th quarters, 2nd half of back-to-backs, or late in the season/road trips/playoffs, who will take responsibility then?

And is Doc not capable of lighting a fire himelf if the players don't have it themselves?  Does Danny need to play the role of fire-lighter?  Or is he trying to quiet rumors of signings or trades by saying that all the pieces are there?  Are all of the above true?

I think the return of Baby will give energy to the front line.  Nobody's coming to help the wings, but Quisy should get more than 20 mpg, IMHO.  Hopefully, those two on the floor resting 2/3 of the elders will be a more juiced lineup.  I'd like to see the Rondo/Daniels/Ray Allen/Baby/Perk lineup for energy, though Sheed would probably play with that group.

[Casperian]

Or perhaps Sheed brought a little of the Detroit overconfidence with him.

Meh, I wrote a fairly long response, but my computer crashed.

Short answer: Maybe this is not as crazy as it sounds.

EDIT: Although it´s clear that there has to be more than one reason for their recent performances, imo.

[twinbree]

I hope this means the team is going to figure out the causes of their lethargic starts and their inconsistent and sloppy play and how to resolve these problems. Honestly I thought this was a major problem most of last season that should have been addressed earlier but better late than never.

[Drucci]

Cool to hear some criticism from Danny... especially since he was on Dennis & Callahan not earlier than last week if I recall correctly, and refused to say that the Celtics were playing poorly.

Definitely agree with was he thinks. However, I'd rather see the Celtics play poorly during the season but still winning "enough" to guarantee our seeds than peaking too soon, playing too much during the regular season for homecourt and getting tired for the playoffs like last year.

[scoop]

If I had to pick a single factor for Boston's poor play recently it would be Garnett not being in form.

The best player in the team is playing as the 3rd best and only because Rondo has been under-performing and Ray Allen's shot has been off.

[LB3533]

Why can't we rebound?

Why are the Heat constantly getting to the cup?

If Rondo doesn't take over in those last few minutes, we would have probably given up another layup or dunk.

[RJ87]

The only thing that I worry about is Doc's coaching. If this team is healthy I think they can make a great run at the title. The only problem will be if Doc wears out the older players before the post season.

Some people will just constantly worry I guess.  The Big 3 are all playing a career low in minutes thus far.  Doc is eminently aware of the need to have them fresh and healthy for the playoffs.  You think bloggers have this insight but not the actual paid coach of the team whose investment in winning is far more than the fandom?

TP.
Doc is trying to get minutes down to keep the older guys fresh, so far he's done well to keep minutes down. But with minutes its a balancing act, you want guys to be rested, but you want to keep them game ready.

People complain about Doc's coaching all the time, but I definitely think he get's the job done and can turn things around before it's too late. Management must agree, why else wouldn't you fire a coach after losing 24 games straight? And you can say the Big Three made the championship season happen, but it takes a solid coach to make the pieces fit right.

[wiley]

I think Danny was right on target and I think most if not all of the players would agree....

[Chris]

I like it when Danny speaks his mind like this.  I liked it when he said what many of us were thinking about Rondo, and I liked it when he was blunt about Doc, saying that he had nothing to work with.

If the players can't handle it, they are not mentally tough enough anyways.  Danny is smart enough with his words to make sure he does not really throw anyone under the bus...but he also does not hold too many punches.  I think it is good for the team, and I think he is absolutely right about this team.  They do not have a champions mentality right now, and unless they change that, the season is not going to end how they want it to.

[hpantazo]

I think he speaks the truth and it's time for the players to step up, they have looked like they are on summer vacation up until now.