How is Doc escaping all the blame?

[the TRUTH]

Haven't been able to post as much as in the past. But one thing that's really irking me is that people are blaming Sheed, Big Baby, Ray, KG's health, Pierce's health, House, and others for our struggles.

But very few people are saying anything about Doc. I realize you can't trade the coach in the middle of the season, and you can trade players. That being said, doesn't Doc deserve more heat?

How can the coach allow Sheed to take so many 3s, not rebound, and play so lethargic at times? How can a coach let his team give up so many double-digit second half leads? How can a coach sit there and watch his team get outscored 30-5 in a big regular season game and make no adjustments? How can a coach sit there while we repeatedly go 5 or 6 minutes of game time without getting one good shot?

We're all frustrated about the Celtics struggles lately. But with so many things not going well, how do you not look to the top? Further, whenever our team struggles, Doc seems to immediately know the answer when the media asks him in an interview (during or after the game). If the answer is so obvious to Doc, why not do anything to solve the problem right when he identifies it?

Thoughts?

[Donoghus]

I don't think he's been escaping all the blame at all.  Some people on here have been pretty critical of some aspects of Doc's coaching.   Whether its been rotations, game minute management, in-game adjustments,  whatever...  There's certainly been criticism. 

Ultimately, however, the NBA is a players' league and most of the criticism you see will lay at the feet of the players.  But Doc hasn't been immune.

[moiso]

I agree that Doc is far down on the blame list.  And you ask a good question because motivation has been a big problem.  Some other coaches always seem to be in the hot seat.  Even Mike Brown, who goes to the eastern finals every year.

[Redz]

Because he's not in uniform.

[Edgar]

Nahh..

I pretty much give half of the lost this year to Doc over the players
The players are digging their own tomb thats true too.
with stupid comments and interviews.
But doc will always always have the same flaws we all see in our losing teams.
Players are not covering those anymore

[Rondo_is_better]

the NBA is a players league.

[Chris]

Has he?  I have heard plenty of blame sent his way.

[sk7326]

Doc has been imperfect ... but really the players age, the inability of kids to take spots ... that's on the players.  If Doc was holding those guys back, don't you think the guy who runs the basketball operation would be forcing him to?

[2short]

I'd be harping on doc myself (as I have in past) but he is the perfect coach for THIS team.  If everyone can be healthy we need a coach who has vets respect.  If we didn't have all the injuries I be all for bringing in frank or someone to shake things up, for this year we need doc 

[Roy Hobbs]

Doc has done a poor job in getting his team motivated, and he plays certain players (i.e., Ray) into the ground, while he doesn't give others (i.e., Perk) enough minutes.  I hate (HATE) the four- and five-man substitutions.

That said, Doc also does a lot of good things.  I think a lot of times teams change coaches, and it doesn't solve a thing (like Detroit with Flip Saunders).

[Evantime34]

Doc is escaping blame for the same reason he escaped blame during the record setting losing streak before the big 3. He handles the media well. Writers think twice about writing a negative article about him because he is so accomodating to them.

Right now all the focus is on the trade deadline. If things go poorly regardless of if we make a move or not I wouldn't be shocked to see him fired. Tom Thibbedeau deserves a chance anyway.

[Fafnir]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/20100210doc_rivers_puts_celtics_on_alert_message_sent_for_last_pre-break_tilt/

Interesting article, we'll see if anything actually changes.

I think Doc is getting less of the blame because its hard to kill a Coach for not having a title quality team when their best player has suddenly declined from a top 5 NBA player to a top 30 player. (that's optimistic for KG too....)

[MBz]

Doc has done a poor job in getting his team motivated, and he plays certain players (i.e., Ray) into the ground, while he doesn't give others (i.e., Perk) enough minutes.  I hate (HATE) the four- and five-man substitutions.

That said, Doc also does a lot of good things.  I think a lot of times teams change coaches, and it doesn't solve a thing (like Detroit with Flip Saunders).

I have to agree with all of this.  I really hate his substitution patterns as well.  With all that being said though, I am not sure that Tom Thibodeau could do a better job right now and I don't think there will be anyone better available come the off season.  I think the players love Doc because he lets them do as they choose basically.  Instead of over coaching he is under coaching and letting the players play.  Until the players start having a gripe with him, I think you'll see him here for a while.

[Fafnir]

Lets not forget Thib's audition as head coach when he didn't sub anyone for the Hawks game....

[Jon]

Well, I think the whole overplaying Ray thing may be related to the backup PG position.  Having Ray out there, even if Eddie is handling the ball, allows Doc to have another competent ball-hanlder out there.  And I think teams are less likely to pressure House because of that, knowing it'll just be a waste of time since he'll pass it to Ray who will bring it up the court. 

What I really want to see happen (unless a legit backup PG is obtained) is to see Doc make more of an effort to let Marquis handle the ball when Rondo is out.  There hasn't been enough of that.