Doc Rivers appreciation thread

[Birdbrain]

Okay, gotta ask. Given what the players who have played under Doc say about him, given he has won a Coach of the Year Award and an NBA Championship already, if the Celtics win it all this year and Doc were never to coach another game ever again, is he Hall of Fame worthy as a coach?

2 Championships and a Coach of the Year Award while coming in 2nd for that award another year in just an 11 year career. Coach of the team that had the single greatest turnaround in NBA history. Coach that(thinking ahead here) out coached and beat Phil Jackson twice in the Finals.

Food for thought.

It's amazing that it's even debatable.  Just think about where the C's were 3 short years ago.  

I'm of the opinion that Doc will come back but if he was to retire I think it would be hard to keep him out of the HOF.  How many multi championship coaches aren't in the HOF?

[nickagneta]

Yeah, I think Doc is running just a bit short of being a HOFer as a coach right now but clearly, he's not that far off if he wins it this year and especially if he beats Phil Jackson.

Now if the C's were to come out with another 60 win year next year and another Championship while developing the kid they chose at 19 into something special, ala Rondo(yeah I know, lots and lots of ifs in that statement) to bridge the gap to another contending group, then I think he's a sure fire HOFer.

[pengaloo]

Great thread. I think one of the biggest factors in our success to date is Doc's emphasis on playing together as a team. He's orchestrated a way to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts. It's inspiring. Not sure how to explain it, but it seems like a different kind of ubuntu. This team also relies on mental toughness, and what better role model than Doc. Seems like he had an unwavering belief in this team that kept everybody going through the tough times.

A lot of the credit goes to the players themselves of course. But Doc trusting TA with huge assignments and minutes, motivating Nate, letting Rasheed slouch through the regular season - the bench has come up big for us and the coaching is a big reason why. And Ray, Paul, and KG are also looking very good. Having fewer practices and managing minutes during the regular season is paying off.

The only thing I wish Doc did differently this postseason was how he handled Rondo's minutes. The kid is spectacular and seems like a mix of energizer bunny and slinky, but he's ultimately human - he can get tired and battered too. Lately, his defense seems to have taken a nosedive and he dallies around the perimeter more often than he attacks in the paint. I gotta give Doc a lot of credit for Rondo's development though.

[Roy Hobbs]

Yeah, I think Doc is running just a bit short of being a HOFer as a coach right now but clearly, he's not that far off if he wins it this year and especially if he beats Phil Jackson.

Now if the C's were to come out with another 60 win year next year and another Championship while developing the kid they chose at 19 into something special, ala Rondo(yeah I know, lots and lots of ifs in that statement) to bridge the gap to another contending group, then I think he's a sure fire HOFer.

If we win this year and next year too, I think Doc is clearly in.

I'm not sure what the criteria is to get in as a contributor, but Doc has definitely been a big-time contributor to the NBA.  He's been an above-average player, an above-average coach, and an above-average broadcaster. 

[reggie35]

Co-sign.

When the Celtics lost 18 in a row in 2007, I thought Doc had to go, but he stuck with it and it paid off.

I think he gets his ring this year and then takes a mini-retirement to watch his son play ball.