It's in the best interest of the Celtics if Doc retires..

[jayk009]

If Doc stays we will probably lose Tom Thibodeau. I'd rather allow Tom to become the head coach then keep Doc for one more season and most likely lose Tom Thibodeau when he is offered a head coaching job somewhere else.


What do you think?

[Bahku]

If Doc stays we will probably lose Tom Thibodeau. I'd rather allow Tom to become the head coach then keep Doc for one more season and most likely lose Tom Thibodeau when he is offered a head coaching job somewhere else.


What do you think?

I think the one time recently that Thibs got to be head coach, (when Doc was ejected), was a nightmare ... I mean the guy was completely out of his element and had no clue how to work the rotation or call plays ... so he basically did nothing.

Tom is a great defensive coach, and one that we're lucky to have, but like players like Eddie House who thrive from coming off the bench, I think Thibs is at his best as an assistant, and not as a Head Coach.

Sorry, it's an intriguing idea to toss around, (TP), but having Tom as HC would be nothing but a frightening experiment. Let's stay with what's tested and true, and not take any more gambles, if we can help it.

[nickagneta]

***Exhales deeply***

My boy Doc just gets so very little love on this board.

The players in interviews are praising Doc about keeping this team together and focused and believing in itself throughout the season. His defensive scheme is once again being bought into by the players and yielding championship like results. He is coaching better than maybe anyone in the NBA right now.

And yet people still are looking to replace him or put him out to pasture.

I would have thought that by now Celtics fans would be clamouring to have Danny resign Doc to a three year extension given his results, not trying to get him to retire.

[Hila]

Absolutely not.

Even if Doc were to leave, I would not want Thibodeau as head coach. He's fantastic as associate head and I would hate to lose him there, but better to not have him at all than to have him as head coach.

In general, I think it's a bad idea to put a first time head coach in charge of a veteran team with periodic chemistry issues. To exacerbate the first-time problem, Thibs never played in the NBA.  Most players to some extent and some players to a large extent will be thinking "he doesn't know what he's talking about, he hasn't played at this level." That sentiment is mitigated after a non-player coaches successfully for a while, but the time to build up that reputation is not on an aging contender. Thibs would be better off starting with a young, building team.

Don't forget that the one time he coached this year, he didn't make any substitutions. Not being able to adjust on the fly or react to an unexpected situation is a bad sign.

Finally, while groupthink is dangerous... I can't help but wonder why all the teams that have interviewed him in the past few years have chosen not to hire him despite the tons of credit he got for 08 championship.

If Doc decides to leave, I'd rather the Celtics brought in someone completely new (but experienced) to put in a different system and maybe move along the transition from the Pierce era to the Rondo era in the process.

[CoachBo]

***Exhales deeply***

My boy Doc just gets so very little love on this board.

The players in interviews are praising Doc about keeping this team together and focused and believing in itself throughout the season. His defensive scheme is once again being bought into by the players and yielding championship like results. He is coaching better than maybe anyone in the NBA right now.

And yet people still are looking to replace him or put him out to pasture.

I would have thought that by now Celtics fans would be clamouring to have Danny resign Doc to a three year extension given his results, not trying to get him to retire.

This.

I think that Doc Rivers is a big reason why the light suddenly went on for this team.

I also think that systems are much easier to duplicate than coaches.

[wdleehi]

No idea how Thib would be as a head coach.  He has never been the head coach. 



If Doc was to leave, he would have to be one of the candidates.

[moiso]

I want Doc to stay as long as possible or until the team tunes him out.  Doc has a great job in these playoffs, and a pretty good job his whole career.
Thib may be an excellent coach- it's wrong to judge him on one game.  Of course he was out of his element- head coaching has yet to be his element.  But it would be crazy to not want Doc- the proven championship level coach to stick around.

[footey]

Tom's great defensive guy, but not nearly the HC that Doc is.  Plus, I think these particular players know the rotations and schemes so well on defense, they would be fine without Tom. When we start to re-build is when we will miss him. Not sure he gets a job, however. He is like Jimmy Rogers: great assistant coach, don't think he would be a great HC.

[Donoghus]

Keep Doc until this current core runs its course.

The grass may not be greener with Thibs.  (See Joe Kerrigan)

[Roy Hobbs]

I think Doc with no Thibodeau is stronger than Thibodeau with no Doc. 

We know Doc is head coaching material, especially for a veteran team.  In Thibodeau's limited experience, he didn't exactly shine (although it's *way* too small a sample size.)  Additionally, we know that there's some loyalty toward Doc, with the players giving him a lot of credit for being a mediator of disputes; would TT be that effective?  Lastly, would our remaining assistants be comfortable working under Thibodeau?

[Rondo2287]

I think Doc is perfect with this group.  The players love, respect, and listen to him.  Its often tough to get a combination like that. 

For example its coming out now that the Pats didn't listen to Belichick last year for one reason or another.

I think as long as you have Pierce KG and Ray, you need a coach that they respect and will listen to.

[BballTim]

  Every year he interviews for head coaching positions, and every year he doesn't get the jobs. If it was clear to NBA GMs that he was going to be a better head coach than Doc he wouldn't be here.

[moiso]

I don't see how people can already have an opinion of Thib's coaching level.  That's like claiming to know a player's potential after watching the first game of that player's career.

[banty19]

Two words: Kevin McHale.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I think Thibs should get a shot at being a head coach, just not here, particularly at this time.

I love Doc, but I'm up for a new voice... though it would be kinda playing with fire. I'm not sure that even if a better coach was here that he would be doing a better job with this team, or getting the most out of this team.

I like JVG, he seems to have the personality and the know-how to properly coach this group in my opinion.