How long until Doc starts taking some blame?

[screwedupmaniac]

I've been amazed as of late: we're losing games, and I haven't seen a single negative thread with Doc Rivers in the title! 

We've been consistently heaping blame upon Rondo's pinky, the Senior Citizen Three, Danny "Let's-Make-A-Deal" Ainge, and the departure of the best Celtic of all time, Kendrick Perkins. How on God's green Earth has Doc Rivers managed to stay under the radar and not draw any heat for the lack of cohesiveness on this team? I am NOT a Doc hater; as a matter of fact, I love the man and what he's done for this organization.

However, is it possible that Doc has bought into the media's hype a tad too much as to how important rest is for the starters? Our problem as of late is not old legs, injured pinky fingers, or white centers: it is lack of practice, and it shows on the court. Erratic passes, poor team communication, and plays not being run to perfection are some of our most recent woes. This is not Danny's fault, and it is not something that Kendrick Perkins' angelic presence could fix either. Sharpness, communication, and execution are things that only practice can fix.

This is a do or die season, and if we don't get on the same page as a team ASAP, a first round exit is something that is unbearably conceivable. Let us practice in the name of Celtics basketball, obsessive compulsive Ray Allen, and most importantly, Banner 18. As Comcast New England keeps telling us: "It's all about 18."

[Drucci]

I agree that Doc deserves part of the blame. For a lack of practices first (although I can't really disagree with preserving the starters' legs...) but mostly for not using Jeff Green properly.

I mean it's one thing to figure out how to utilize him at his best and Doc said he would take some time but you don't have to think about it for 3 weeks to realize that putting Green on the block and letting him go to work is a good plan. I think Doc should tell his guys to look for Green in the 2nd unit instead of spoon-feeding Big Baby of shots and touches, we would be much better.

[Finkelskyhook]

Simple answer to the thread question.  Never.

Remember pre-Garnett/Allen?  Even when the core of the team had 3 years under Rivers and they were losing (in those rare games that Rivers was trying to win in that 3rd year)...The team was young.  They don't play defense.  (May have had something to do with the fact that they had no defensive system).  Blah blah blah.

But it was never Rivers' fault.  

It still isn't.

To Rivers' credit, he defers much of the credit when things are going well.

[pearljammer10]

I dont really see how Doc can take blame for this one... Rondo's playing crappy, the second unit cant figure things out, Green should be playing more and getting more touches than Big Baby, I dunno. I put the blame on Danny here. You don't blow a team up mid season when they are in first place and are the front runners of the East.

[angryguy77]

I agree that Doc deserves part of the blame. For a lack of practices first (although I can't really disagree with preserving the starters' legs...) but mostly for not using Jeff Green properly.

I mean it's one thing to figure out how to utilize him at his best and Doc said he would take some time but you don't have to think about it for 3 weeks to realize that putting Green on the block and letting him go to work is a good plan. I think Doc should tell his guys to look for Green in the 2nd unit instead of spoon-feeding Big Baby of shots and touches, we would be much better.

That about sums it up. Get Green involved and tell Baby to stop being an idiot with the ball.
I really have no use for him anymore.

[Change]

As the head coach Doc should get some of the blame. But you can't blame Doc when his star players take plays off. You can't Blame Doc for the injuries. You can't blame Doc for Celtics getting outworked on the glass. You can't Blame Doc for the trade at season end.

[Marcus13]

what is he supposed to do?  Half of his bench has been depleted a majority of the season.  He played who he had available

[Surferdad]

It seems too easy to say "lack of practice" as if the coach is the only variable.  There are also travel schedules, rest days and a host of otehr factors.  Doc was on a radio interview this afternoon and was say this little 3 day break finally gives him the chance to run a full practice with rest in between.  Sure, this example only applies to road trips, but my point is that it's not necessarily as simple as more practice.

[screwedupmaniac]

Simple answer to the thread question.  Never.

Remember pre-Garnett/Allen?  Even when the core of the team had 3 years under Rivers and they were losing (in those rare games that Rivers was trying to win in that 3rd year)...The team was young.  They don't play defense.  (May have had something to do with the fact that they had no defensive system).  Blah blah blah.

But it was never Rivers' fault.  

It still isn't.

To Rivers' credit, he defers much of the credit when things are going well.

Oh, I remember the pre-Big Three era...I remember all too well. I remember every game of the 18 game losing streak...I remember Doc screaming at Gerald after screwing up yet another defensive assignment...I remember Pierce faking injuries in the name of "lottery" and being this close to demanding a trade...I remember Tony Allen's knee...I remember Big Al's knee...I remember all of these things far too well.

I also remember the paper bags that fans wore over their heads...I remember the "Fire Doc" threads on this website...I remember the "Fire Doc" chants flooding the Garden. It's amazing how quickly we forget those days and the negativity that those days were shrouded in.

Let me reiterate: I am a HUGE Doc Rivers fan. I would never place the blame completely upon his shoulders. There is only so much he can do. All I am saying is that one of the few things he can do is to get this team back to brutal and severe practices that will forge team chemistry. We've got what, two, three weeks left in the regular season? It's time to bust some tail behind the scenes and get on the same page as a team.

[screwedupmaniac]

It seems too easy to say "lack of practice" as if the coach is the only variable.  There are also travel schedules, rest days and a host of otehr factors.  Doc was on a radio interview this afternoon and was say this little 3 day break finally gives him the chance to run a full practice with rest in between.  Sure, this example only applies to road trips, but my point is that it's not necessarily as simple as more practice.

Oh, I understand that it's not the only variable...we've had a terrible stretch of nonstop games (5 games in 7 nights). I'm just saying it is completely on Doc to figure out how to use Jeff Green, get Ray more open shots than what he's been getting as of late, and to run intense playoff-calibur practices that will sharpen this team and get them playing as a team again. Doc has proven himself to be the ultimate motivator, so I'm not too concerned. However, playoffs are coming up quick, and it's crunch time, so we need to improve our quality of play, and quick.

[greenpride32]

Simple answer to the thread question.  Never.

Remember pre-Garnett/Allen?  Even when the core of the team had 3 years under Rivers and they were losing (in those rare games that Rivers was trying to win in that 3rd year)...The team was young.  They don't play defense.  (May have had something to do with the fact that they had no defensive system).  Blah blah blah.

But it was never Rivers' fault.  

It still isn't.

To Rivers' credit, he defers much of the credit when things are going well.

Hrm... were you actually even a Celtics fan then?  Rivers was on the hot seat and speculation was he was about to be fired.  I'm sure he would have been had the KG trade not happened, or if he failed to win that first year.

[greenpride32]

The C's had TUE off because they just played back to backs on the road.  They will practice WED.  I haven't kept up with every practice situation throughout the season but this is pretty standard practice with any NBA team. 

Anyways coaches are overrated.  The game is won and lost on the floor with the players.  The most important aspect of coaching is that the players respect the coach.  The guys on our team already know how to play the game.

[BballTim]

  I blamed Doc when we lost the game where Baby took a three in the last 20 seconds, saying that Green shout have been in the game for him if they needed a three.

[nickagneta]

Doc deserves some blame as does everyone n this team straight up to the front office IF the C's don't win the title but that has not happened yet. I seem to remember last year people on this site being equally critical of Doc and the team and lo and behold they were a hurt Perkins being out and bad officiating in game 7 away from banner 18.

First, how does anyone here know just how rigorous and tough Doc's practices are that he is having? Second, since we have sooooo many new players on the bench and most practices pit starters versus bench players, how do we know just how well the new guys are going to pick up the system and how fast if they are playing against the starters? Third, how does anyone here have a pulse on what whether the players need more rest or more practice this late in a season when they are yet another year older and more familiar with each others games(the players that will get playoff time that is).

Right now, get Shaq healthy and Rondo playing better and let's see where we go from there.

[SHAQATTACK]

That bum Danny Ainge laid this egg., not Doc.