So is Doc a good or bad coach?

[Chief]

You people complaining about Doc's weak points will be the first screaming to have him back when he is gone and we are in the midst of chaos with some other coach.

 

[nickagneta]

But when everyone is healthy, Doc will go back to the one lineup that has not shown a whole lot of success.

The lineup, for the most part, that won a championship, went to seven games in the Finals another year, been to the playoffs four straight years and has won 242 regular season games over the last 4.3 years.

[Chief]

But when everyone is healthy, Doc will go back to the one lineup that has not shown a whole lot of success.

The lineup, for the most part, that won a championship, went to seven games in the Finals another year, been to the playoffs four straight years and has won 242 regular season games over the last 4.3 years.

The difference is that I called Doc out, not people on this blog.

[nickagneta]

But when everyone is healthy, Doc will go back to the one lineup that has not shown a whole lot of success.

The lineup, for the most part, that won a championship, went to seven games in the Finals another year, been to the playoffs four straight years and has won 242 regular season games over the last 4.3 years.

The difference is that I called Doc out, not people on this blog.

Since when is stating the fact that people are complaining about Doc, calling someone out?

Not everyone likes Doc as a coach. I get that. But stating that people are complaining  about Doc's weak points isn't even close to calling people out. It was just a statement of fact of what was happening. You need to get thicker skin my friend.

[Chief]

But when everyone is healthy, Doc will go back to the one lineup that has not shown a whole lot of success.

The lineup, for the most part, that won a championship, went to seven games in the Finals another year, been to the playoffs four straight years and has won 242 regular season games over the last 4.3 years.

The difference is that I called Doc out, not people on this blog.

Since when is stating the fact that people are complaining about Doc, calling someone out?

Not everyone likes Doc as a coach. I get that. But stating that people are complaining  about Doc's weak points isn't even close to calling people out. It was just a statement of fact of what was happening. You need to get thicker skin my friend.

Semantics.

[Fafnir]

Stop it with the saracstic eye rolling back and forth, get back on topic.

[Bankshot]

The fewer players the better Doc does.  If he had Ray and Rondo, no matter how bad they were playing (IF they were playing bad that game) he would continue to play them rather than play who would produce or trying some other player.

Sorry, I still can't get over game 7 against the Lakers when Doc wouldn't play Tony no matter how horrible Ray was playing (and even after getting Kudos for holding Kobe to 22% shooting when he defended him) or not play Nate even though the team had trouble scoring, even though Nate won a playoff game for him, and even Nate was acquired for his scoring.  That still burns me up!

 

I get what you're saying, but you have to go home with the girl you brought to the dance (or whatever the saying is). Those guys got him there, and everyone would be calling for his head if we lost G7 with Nate and TA on the floor in crunch time. I can live with losing knowing that we put out the best players we had available, even if they were running on fumes.

Yes, but Nate and Tony helped them get there too.  Wouldn't get to game 7 without Tony's defense on Kobe and without Nate and Baby winning a playoff game for them.

[guava_wrench]

The fewer players the better Doc does.  If he had Ray and Rondo, no matter how bad they were playing (IF they were playing bad that game) he would continue to play them rather than play who would produce or trying some other player.

Sorry, I still can't get over game 7 against the Lakers when Doc wouldn't play Tony no matter how horrible Ray was playing (and even after getting Kudos for holding Kobe to 22% shooting when he defended him) or not play Nate even though the team had trouble scoring, even though Nate won a playoff game for him, and even Nate was acquired for his scoring.  That still burns me up!

 

The fewer players, the less chances for armchair QBs to talk about alternate realities.

[RyNye]

Doc is one of the best "player" coaches (i.e. motivational, or whatever you want to call it in the game), and arguably the best X's and O's coach in the game. I don't know the stats for this year, but I know for the last two years the Celtics led the league in scoring on plays out of time-outs. His ability to quickly run off a good play is brilliant.

Is he perfect? No. He could be better at managing minutes. Sometimes his preference for veterans can be frustrating. But hey, how many coaches are there that give rookies a lot of playing time? Very few, especially on perennial contenders.

[jacksmedulaoblongata]

My opinion of Doc hasn't changed and I don't see that it will because he doesn't seem to change.  Great motivator, average in game management.

[edwardjkasche]

The proper question in regards to Doc may be: Could anyone else coach this team as effectively?

In my opinion, Doc is the only coach for the Big 3 era.  For better or worse, and admittedly we've seen a lot more 'better'.

My two biggest critiques of Doc are that he plays his starters too many minutes/ignores his younger guys and that his offense can be so predicated on perfection (ball movement, screens) that one small defensive wrinkle can make it stagnant.

However, could anyone else coach this team as effectively?

Doc's positive attributes are that he has the ears of his veterans and his youngsters (no small feat with the personalities he's had to coach), he never gives up and constantly inspires his team to 'keep grinding', he utilizes his players' strengths and attempts to hide their weaknesses (perfect example is Allen on offense and defense), and perhaps most importantly his players trust him and his system.  Gaining the trust of his players is one of the toughest things for a coach to do.

Not many coaches in the league have as many positive attributes. 

And, I don't think there is another coach out there that could have coached Rondo, Pierce, Garnett, Big Baby, House, Nate, Sheed, Shaq, and others over the course of a few seasons.  Doc has handled quite a few personalities.  He helped mold Pierce into the all-around great player that he is.  He obviously shaped Rondo's career to date.  He constantly pushes Garnett to be more aggressive offensively.  He corralled the nutcases that are Big Baby, House, Nate, Sheed, and Shaq; utilizing their strengths while (mostly) hiding their weaknesses.  Doc has managed to do a lot of good with what could have been a self-destructive locker room. 

That is his greatest feat, in my opinion.

[LeoMoreno]

If we came up short in ORL last night I know everyone would be screaming; why are you playing Pierce and KG so many minutes when this game is out of reach and especially since we have to trave and have a game the next night.  That's exactly what happened in the MIA game.  We came up short, but within one possession. 

So Doc left his troops in last night and they were able to pull it off.  Am I going to hear any complaints about mismanaging minutes?  I guess one thing we know for certain is Doc coaches every game to win.

Left who in? What troops? Everyone played some significant minutes.

Each and every one player on our bench has an important task, and they seem to be able to step up and accomplish it. Even JJJ, whose task is to learn how to become KG's clone.

[OttawaCeltic]

 

Stop it with the saracstic eye rolling back and forth, get back on topic.

[banty19]

Doc is great at managing and leading people. Maybe the best in the NBA. Players respect him and want to play for him.

I think he's pretty mediocre at strategy/subs/gameplanning. That's why him and Tibs were such a great match.

Overall, think he's an above-average to good coach, since it's always easy to get assistants to help with strategy. This doesn't apply to all players, but strategy is easier than managing a bunch of rich, immature, diva players that all want the spotlight. Doc seems to be great at this.

[Neurotic Guy]

Love him. 

Everyone has faults -- but overall, I love him as coach for the C's.  Thrilled he is under contract for 5 years. 

He is a draw in a way that no other NBA coach is, and he is a great manager of human beings.  If you demand perfection, then you'll be able to say he sucks at times.  If you see coaches as imperfect, then he's as good as it gets.