Ainge says problem is lack of effort from the starters (Boston Globe)

[RAcker]

Ainge is right in this regard...we have half the team working their butts off and half playing like it's a pick-up game.

That mix breeds bad chemistry.

[amenhotep04]

Two interesting statements in the article:

Said coach Doc Rivers following Thursday’s game: "There’s nothing I can do about [double-digit leads]. Obviously, I’d like to improve it. We’d like to be better. But we’re not right now, and we’ve just got to keep working on it. I know what we need to do. But one night it’ll be the defense, one night it’ll be the offense."

Then Danny says: "We have to play with more focus and commitment. It’s effort. It’s there to start the game and it’s up to the players."

Maybe I'm just too old school, or just too old, but if there's no one to motivate the players through various means, then I don't quite understand the need for high paid coaches. Doc says there's nothing he can do about it, and Danny says it's up to the players. Sounds pretty pathetic to me. If they're not playing 100%, then sit them until their attitude and effort changes.

Well, in many ways Doc is a K.C. Jones style coach.  He's also not that much different than Phil Jackson.  He can draw up some plays, but his greatest strength is keeping a bunch of talented players on the same page.  Doc's done that. 

But he's not Bill Fitch or Pat Riley.  He's not going to ream out anyone. 

I'm not sure if the team needs the change, but it's just not in Doc. 

Granted, Doc is more like KC in demeanor, but KC had the guts to sit future Hall of Famers in the middle of games when they weren't playing well. I saw him do it in person several times. He didn't ream anyone. He just pulled them out of games and let them sit and watch. Then he'd put them back in later in the game. Most of the time they'd step it up.

It's not that difficult to do.

I don't want Doc fired, I just want him to do his job better.

[KungPoweChicken]

Two interesting statements in the article:

Said coach Doc Rivers following Thursday’s game: "There’s nothing I can do about [double-digit leads]. Obviously, I’d like to improve it. We’d like to be better. But we’re not right now, and we’ve just got to keep working on it. I know what we need to do. But one night it’ll be the defense, one night it’ll be the offense."

Then Danny says: "We have to play with more focus and commitment. It’s effort. It’s there to start the game and it’s up to the players."

Maybe I'm just too old school, or just too old, but if there's no one to motivate the players through various means, then I don't quite understand the need for high paid coaches. Doc says there's nothing he can do about it, and Danny says it's up to the players. Sounds pretty pathetic to me. If they're not playing 100%, then sit them until their attitude and effort changes.

Well, in many ways Doc is a K.C. Jones style coach.  He's also not that much different than Phil Jackson.  He can draw up some plays, but his greatest strength is keeping a bunch of talented players on the same page.  Doc's done that. 

But he's not Bill Fitch or Pat Riley.  He's not going to ream out anyone. 

I'm not sure if the team needs the change, but it's just not in Doc. 

Granted, Doc is more like KC in demeanor, but KC had the guts to sit future Hall of Famers in the middle of games when they weren't playing well. I saw him do it in person several times. He didn't ream anyone. He just pulled them out of games and let them sit and watch. Then he'd put them back in later in the game. Most of the time they'd step it up.

It's not that difficult to do.

I don't want Doc fired, I just want him to do his job better.

It will never happen. We'll all be pulling our hair out when Sheed goes into "bombs away mode" in crunch time playoff minutes.

[twinbree]

I think we've gone beyond lack of effort. It seems to me the problem is we've been trying to find one overarching theme to blame like age,injuries, effort, chemistry etc. to find an easy button fix when what they could have done was tackle the improvable flaws one by one to slowly chip away at the problem - reducing minutes, mixing up the rotations, working on fundamentals like boxing out, running the offensive sets smoothly, etc.

[winsomme]

So in today's globe:
 http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2010/02/27/ainge_blasts_celtics_cavalier_approach/

Ainge puts the blame of blown leads to the starters lack of effort, and I think he's right. He says it's not an age issue, it's an effort and focus issue. This fits with what McHale said a while back that the celtics were coasting until the playoffs, and he thought it was a good idea. My question is, do you think they are coasting, just being satisfied knowing they can easily get up by double digits on any team when they try, and if so, do you think this is a good idea? It seems that when they got back from the west coast with Pierce injured, they went back on autopilot. They played no defense against the Knicks, and put up half an effort against the cavs. I think it's good to keep the vets rested and healthy for the playoffs, but I'm worried about the team generating bad habits that would take a while to work out. I can see Doc's point, although a lot of people on here criticized his quote that there is nothing he can do, it may be very tough to keep the vets motivated enough in games that they know don't matter much. A moral victory against the cavs or magic in the regular season doesn't mean much come playoff time, and this team has made an effort to win on the road this season so they may not care much about home court. What do you guys think?

I don't agree about effort being the big problem....certainly not top 2.

This team has holes and they are being exploited even more so with KEY injuries.

I agree that this isn't an age issue. Maybe that is contributing to the possibility of injuries, but I don't think it is a fall-off in terms of ability.

This team needs an impact player at the back up SF/PF position. NateRob could still be a nive addition, but his skills were down the list of things this team needed to make a push down the stretch here. I would probably have put it 4th:

1. athletic SF/PF
2. shooter from the wing
3. depth at C
4. back up PG

I wish there was some other pick up to be had for this season and I'm disappointed Danny didn't get something more significant done by the trade deadline.

[billysan]

So in today's globe:
 http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2010/02/27/ainge_blasts_celtics_cavalier_approach/

Ainge puts the blame of blown leads to the starters lack of effort, and I think he's right. He says it's not an age issue, it's an effort and focus issue. This fits with what McHale said a while back that the celtics were coasting until the playoffs, and he thought it was a good idea. My question is, do you think they are coasting, just being satisfied knowing they can easily get up by double digits on any team when they try, and if so, do you think this is a good idea? It seems that when they got back from the west coast with Pierce injured, they went back on autopilot. They played no defense against the Knicks, and put up half an effort against the cavs. I think it's good to keep the vets rested and healthy for the playoffs, but I'm worried about the team generating bad habits that would take a while to work out. I can see Doc's point, although a lot of people on here criticized his quote that there is nothing he can do, it may be very tough to keep the vets motivated enough in games that they know don't matter much. A moral victory against the cavs or magic in the regular season doesn't mean much come playoff time, and this team has made an effort to win on the road this season so they may not care much about home court. What do you guys think?

I don't agree about effort being the big problem....certainly not top 2.

This team has holes and they are being exploited even more so with KEY injuries.

I agree that this isn't an age issue. Maybe that is contributing to the possibility of injuries, but I don't think it is a fall-off in terms of ability.

This team needs an impact player at the back up SF/PF position. NateRob could still be a nive addition, but his skills were down the list of things this team needed to make a push down the stretch here. I would probably have put it 4th:

1. athletic SF/PF
2. shooter from the wing
3. depth at C
4. back up PG

I wish there was some other pick up to be had for this season and I'm disappointed Danny didn't get something more significant done by the trade deadline.

I think that we need(ed) an infusion of motivation and talented bench depth. Doc needs to provide the mid season motivation. Danny should have provided the Talent/Depth. My priorities were first at the wing/guard and length/athleticism at the big man slots.

It's not too late for the motivation, but adding an impact level player is going to be difficult when we have only the waiver wire or D league FA.

[ScoobyDoo]

I also think Doc should take a diffeent approach. I would rather play Scal by himself vs the entire Nets roster for 48 minutes and lose by 300 points than watch some of the effort I've seen in different games. I would be much more satisfied because I would at least know that Scal tried really hard rather than watching these guys mail it in on a lot of nights. Watching THAT is intolerable.

I also think Doc could make some very simple 101 basketball COACHING DECISIONS that would great affect our chances.

1. After you have traded for Nate Robinson to back up your point guard. PLAY ROBINSON BEHIND YOUR POINT GUARD!! Play Rondo for 35-38 and play Nate behind him. Very simple

2. Since you now have Rondo and Nate....

3. YOU DON['T NEED TO PLAY RONDO AT THE OFF GUARD DOC OR FOR 48 MINUTES DOC!!

4. That would be why, EVEN IF PIERCE IS OUT, DOC, you can play Ray for 36 at off, backed by Tony for 12 and then, play Marquis at the SF for 36 and either Tony of Scal(if needed) for 12 backing up Marquis.

5. NO NEED TO PLAY RONDO AT THE OFF GUARD AND FOR 48 MINUTES, MORON!!!!!!!!!!

6. And when Sheed ro baby arent' getting it done, MAYBE CONSIDER PLAYIGN SHELDEN FOR 1-2 MINUTES IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS, MORON!!!!!!!!!!!

I actually really like Doc as a personality and players coach, but his rotations and lack of ability to adjust on the fly are downright horrific.

Yank, yank, yank em if they aren't getting it done, and that applies if I'm coaching, Russell, Bird, Magic, Jordan, KG, Pierce and Ray.

IN FACT, IT APPLIES MORE. GUYS OF THAT ELVEL DON'T GET ANY SLACK. tHEY'RE TOO GOOD TO EVER MAIL IT IN AND THEY MAKE TO MUCH MONEY TO BE BABIED.           

[PLamb]

The problem isn't Doc and the players readily admit as such:

Per Paul Pierce:

“It’s like you have the answers to the test and you still fail,” Pierce said during a visit to play the Wizards. “It’s just like that. We know the answers.”

Per Kevin Garnett if asked if this is on the players:

“I think so,” he said. “That’s what it is. Doc gives us direction, and guys have to go out there and follow the plan and execute. That’s all it is. I’m not going to sit up here and give a whole bunch of excuses. That’s not my style. You know, you lose, you lose. They kicked our (butt) tonight, period. Point blank.

Players have to do more, including myself. We’ve all got to dig deep and see what we’re made of as a team. Seriously.”

Per Rasheed Wallace:

“Oh, definitely it’s in this room. . . . We’re the ones out there on the floor. Doc can only do but so much. So we can’t sit up there and say, ‘Oh, it’s Doc’s fault that we lost or Doc’s not doing this or Doc’s not doing that.’ Doc’s not out there on the floor. It’s the five guys that are out there.”

Per Kendrick Perkins:

“I don’t know how many wake-up calls we need,” Kendrick Perkins [stats] said. “We’ve had a few this year. We’ll see how we bounce back against Detroit (on Tuesday). We’ve got a few days to think about these last two losses.”

All quotes via bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics