Minor Things about the game

[FatjohnReturns]

Besides the defensive game plan (which was Tibideau's) Doc's coaching, I thought, wasn't good.  He did nothing to change the way we were playing during Clevelands run.  Calling a timeout and yelling isn't good enough.

  I don't necessarily agree with this. The team on the floor was more than capable of playing with more focus and executing their offense instead of trying to milk 20+ seconds off the clock each possession. If Doc can get them to stop the runs on their own then maybe the runs won't get so bad to begin with. The problem wasn't Doc having the wrong personnel on the floor or needing to make any kind of adjustments, it was a need for the team to be more aggressive on both ends of the floor.

He called two quick time outs and screamed at the team, which is pretty much all I can ask for the coach to do when his team is clearly playing the clock instead of the game.

Doc did a good job last night.

[ThaPreacher]

the best box out was when Dick Bavetta got between Perk and Varejao

That was a great box out!  And did you see the Mr. Magoo come out of his eyes!  Pure fire!

[2short]

It was doc's double timeout, I should have clarified that.  He called a timeout, players went back out and called another timeout very quickly.  This is the sort of thing, Pop, Jackson or Sloan would do and I was impressed because it helped the team focus and slowed down clevelands push.

[looseball]

Key to winning any championship is rebounding and defense. Those things sealed the deal last night.

Absolutely!

Varejao was the guy most of us feared before the series started.  I think he thrives against teams who don't box out well.  (Like us.)  But last night we did a good job keeping him away from the offensive glass, where he does most of his damage.  He only got one offensive rebound, not even under the basket, and he wasn't much of a factor. 

Our defense was great for three quarters. Keep it up for four and we win the series.
As far as defending Lebron, there isn't a lot you can do once he has his hands on the ball.  Maybe we could just try to deny him the ball as much as we can.  Have whoever covers him not bother to play any help defense on others, and stay between Lebron and the ball at all times.  Rotate the guys who are covering him.  If he brings it upcourt, himself, press him 'till he's over half-court, then lay back off him and clog the middle.  His outside shots, even his three-pointers, don't rev the crowd up like his thunderous dunks.

[chelsearules]

the best box out was when Dick Bavetta got between Perk and Varejao

the d by the refs this series has been phenomenal... don't forget the possession where they denied ray a good look at a 3

[nickagneta]

Besides the defensive game plan (which was Tibideau's) Doc's coaching, I thought, wasn't good.  He did nothing to change the way we were playing during Clevelands run.  Calling a timeout and yelling isn't good enough.

This is a pet peeve of mine. Exactly what proof do you have that the defensive game plan was Tom Thibodeau's and not Doc's?

This is the exact same defensive system that was run prior to the Big Three and Coach T coming here in 2007. Danny Ainge on WEEI dispelled the myth that this is Coach Thibodeau's defensive system saying it's Doc's system and that Thibodeau only helps to teach it.

Was it Coach Thibodeau's game plan in Game 1 too because Doc said last night what adjustment they made between Game 1 and Game 2 and he said none. He said in Game 2 they just executed their defensive system and played more aggressively than they did in Game 1.

There is video and audio proof of everything I just said. Where is the proof this was Thibodeau's defensive game plan. I haven't seen that mentioned or written anywhere. I think more people need start giving Doc Rivers his just due for the actual good coaching and good system his has instead of dumping it all on his assistant coaches and ripping him for every little minor thing they don't agree with.