Doc : "Maybe we need to think about [making changes]"

[Drucci]

In postgame last night, Doc said : "We’ve been reluctant to make changes with our rotations & stuff like that. Maybe we need to think about it."

Finally! With 19 games left, Doc finally realizes that there is a problem with his substitution patterns! There is still hope, my friends... except that Doc is well-known for claiming the need to do something but never doing it in reality. He also said in that postgame interview "I'm not a big believer in changes, I prefer consistency, I don't believe in change for change".

But this team clearly needs some changes in the rotation, especially when the starters are not getting it done. If you throw your 2nd unit in the game to come back from a 15 point deficit, it will be much harder for them to do their job and get the team back in the game ; if you throw some guys from the 2nd unit with the starters when the game momentum and lead is starting to dangerously lean for the other team, then you might be able to prevent them to getting a 15 point lead and you might get the lead back too.

I hope he finally starts to change his rotations. It's simple, really : instead of waiting for your usual time mark to make your substitutions, if you see that the starters are struggling or not playing with energy, then put some bench players in the game to give the team a boost and some offense! This is whas Nate was brought in for, not be replaced at a timemark without considering at all the way the game is going and the needs of the team ON the court.

Doc also needs to stop getting the guy with the hot hand off the court just because there is 5 minutes left in the quarter and that's the time where he makes his subsitutions for the sake of it.

Really, a lot of the blame (if not 95% of it) is on the starters, but Doc must change his rotations quickly.

[kw10]

Hurray! Play TA instead of Quissy and play Shel instead of BBD!

[thebirdman]

Can someone please translate the quote for me. I only see:
Doc : "Bla bla bla bla bla [bla bla]"

[OhioGreen]

One of Doc's biggest problems has always been making the wholesale 2nd team for 1st team substitution!

[feckless]

Hurray! Play TA instead of Quissy and play Shel instead of BBD!

TA still out of control and can't shoot, only 2 players with consistent hustle last night, i thought were Sheed & Quisy, i  like Quisy on the 2nd line.

Shelden and Glen are closer and should be game to game, quarter to quarter.

By changes I hope Doc is thinking Ray Havlicek for 6th man and maybe start Mike Finley!

[2short]

This is the thing to do but would make more sense mid season to send a message to guys who aren't performing.  At this point I'd almost bench the starters.  Don't play them at all for a whole game, this way you aren't placing blame anywhere specific.
nate
tony
daniels
davis
sheldon
sub scal  & finley
thats it, play them the whole game, no starters, no sheed
when I coached soccer if i wasn't happy with my teams performace, I'd play with a short team which would roast players, parents & fans but the message got across
the fans at the garden had every right to boo last night!

[PLamb]

Here's the problem with change and the reason why I have always supported Doc

Players play better and prepare themselves better when they have clearly defined roles and have clearly defined minutes

Doc has always been consistent in handling players in that manner

It's what maddens fans who want instant change and gratification of wins at the expense of personality and personal issues

Fans don't have to live, travel, practice and work with these guys, the coaches and management does

Constant change is chaos and players don't thrive in that

People don't thrive in that




Now back to Doc wanting to make changes

Does it matter if he does

The inconsistency in this club's performances run deep into the bench

What does it matter if he sits a starter and plays a bench player or mixes up his rotations or plays Sheldon instead of Baby and Tony instead of Quis

EVERYONE has been inconsistent and when bad has played AWFUL

EVERYONE!!!

Doc might change things up and make some posters here and fans in the stands happy but I'm not so sure that is going to make a difference

And if it doesn't make a difference, then there are some very serious personnel problems that Danny is going to need to address

[moiso]

Hurray! Play TA instead of Quissy and play Shel instead of BBD!

I'd definitely like to see Doc reward the high energy players, which is something he has not done.  And all year I've been thinking that Ray would be an awesome 6th man.  I think TA deserves more minutes based on his effort and energy, and on the days Perk or Wallace don't show up, I'd have no problem giving Shelden some minutes.  At least he'll put the effort in.
We're not going to win games by playing the guys who aren't trying.

[Roy Hobbs]

If Doc makes a change in the rotation, he shouldn't mess with Ray, who has been by far our most consistent player since the all-star break.

I'm wondering if he's thinking of starting Rasheed.  I don't think I'd like that a whole lot, but Perk has definitely been in a bit of a funk.  Still, I think a change would deepen things, rather than improve them.

[moiso]

If Doc makes a change in the rotation, he shouldn't mess with Ray, who has been by far our most consistent player since the all-star break.

I'm wondering if he's thinking of starting Rasheed.  I don't think I'd like that a whole lot, but Perk has definitely been in a bit of a funk.  Still, I think a change would deepen things, rather than improve them.

Sheed played well last night, but I can't see how giving more minutes to our most lethargic player is going to give us a spark.  I hope this doesn't happen.

[FatjohnReturns]

Here's the problem with change and the reason why I have always supported Doc

Players play better and prepare themselves better when they have clearly defined roles and have clearly defined minutes

Doc has always been consistent in handling players in that manner

It's what maddens fans who want instant change and gratification of wins at the expense of personality and personal issues

Fans don't have to live, travel, practice and work with these guys, the coaches and management does

Constant change is chaos and players don't thrive in that

People don't thrive in that




Now back to Doc wanting to make changes

Does it matter if he does

The inconsistency in this club's performances run deep into the bench

What does it matter if he sits a starter and plays a bench player or mixes up his rotations or plays Sheldon instead of Baby and Tony instead of Quis

EVERYONE has been inconsistent and when bad has played AWFUL

EVERYONE!!!

Doc might change things up and make some posters here and fans in the stands happy but I'm not so sure that is going to make a difference

And if it doesn't make a difference, then there are some very serious personnel problems that Danny is going to need to address

The inconsistency is a result of bad coaching. There is no excuse for our offense being so anemic with as many weapons as we have.

"Players play better and prepare themselves better when they have clearly defined roles"

This is 100% correct. We do not have clearly defined roles we have clearly defined rotations.

[moiso]

Doc NEVER makes changes so this is probably just a motivational ploy to motivate guys such as Perk.

[wdleehi]

Does this mean he will activate Scali instead of Williams? 

[BudweiserCeltic]

If Doc makes a change in the rotation, he shouldn't mess with Ray, who has been by far our most consistent player since the all-star break.

I'm wondering if he's thinking of starting Rasheed.  I don't think I'd like that a whole lot, but Perk has definitely been in a bit of a funk.  Still, I think a change would deepen things, rather than improve them.

I would love to see Sheed starting over Perk. I think he's game is better suited to play with our starters and it'll give more room for Pierce, Rondo and KG to operate (room they clearly need). Plus, having KG alongside him will help him with his decreasing lateral movement.

I also think we'll see decreased playing time for Baby. And the change I'm dreading the most, is more Scal (unless he's back playing PF at least at something that resembles what he did for us last year).

But ultimately I don't think we'll see much of a change, though Williams got in fairly early yesterday.

[PLamb]

If Doc makes a change in the rotation, he shouldn't mess with Ray, who has been by far our most consistent player since the all-star break.

I'm wondering if he's thinking of starting Rasheed.  I don't think I'd like that a whole lot, but Perk has definitely been in a bit of a funk.  Still, I think a change would deepen things, rather than improve them.

This is what I think  and I also think that there is no clear cut solutions on the bench for long term change

No solid youth player to install, no consistent vet with a chip on his shoulder that hasn't gotten his chance, no clear cut better player than what is currently being used

Rondo change to -> Nate - not smart
Ray change -> Quis or Tony - again dumb idea
Paul change -> Quis or Finley - can't, Pierce needs his time on the court to get his game in gear
KG change -> Baby or Scal or Sheldon - very funny
Perk change -> Sheed - is Sheed really going to help our rebounding and inside scoring and defense
Finley change -> Tony - is there really that much of a difference here one is all defense and the other all offense
Baby change -> Sheldon - these players are pretty close in overall production, do we really get a net positive making this change

And it goes on

What physical change is going to result in a net positive that will turn things around

The change that has to happen is mental and it is in the minds of those playing the game

Change the focus, effort, attitude and this team turns things around

Change just players without the change in the mental aspects and everything stays the same and probably gets worse