Rivers remains constant for changing Celtics

[j804]

Nice article and praises for Doc like I said before afterall whatever happens as far as changes, that's a constant for now at least it's great that we have Doc he is our leader. #iamaceltic

BOSTON —  When Doc Rivers shed tears following the Boston Celtics' season-ending loss to the Miami Heat, his players shared in his pain and suffering.

What he feels, they feel.

For NBA veterans such as Keyon Dooling who has played for a number of coaches throughout his career, the bond that forms so quickly between Rivers and his players is unusual.

But after spending a few months with Rivers on a daily basis, Dooling gets it.

"We love Doc," Dooling said. "He takes care of us. He's got it figured out. These young coaches who feel like they have to be Caesar on steroids, one of these dictators. It's such a waste of time and energy. Doc takes care of us. He respects us as men. He appreciates what we do. He demands a lot out of us, though. It's a healthy respect. He's figured it out. He's a flawless, coach. Straight up. I can't say that of any coach I've had. He's flawless from a coaching standpoint."

Having such reverence for Rivers is among the reasons why the Celtics fared so surprisingly well despite a season filled with heartaches and hardships.

Through all the turbulent times, Rivers never swayed from his belief in this team that they had so much more to give than anyone - outside of himself - believed was possible.

That's why he was willing to go to bat for this crew to stay together when the trading deadline came near, knowing C's president of basketball operations Danny Ainge was as open as he's ever been to making moving members of the Big Four.

"I kept telling him (Ainge), do what you think is best for the team. But if you don't think it's best for the long run, short run I want to stay with this group," Rivers said. "Make no short run moves involving them."

Ainge kept the group intact, to the relief of Rivers.

Throughout the season, players would speak about the positivity that Rivers was constantly filling them with, but at the same time not allowing them to wallow in self-pity when things didn't go their way or get too high or too low.

Rivers was the steady hand behind the wheel, constantly driving this team to be better than they were the day before.

And while Rivers has maintained how special a team this Celtics group was, he has often compared it to the 2003 Orlando Magic team he coached.

That group failed to make the playoffs, but their postseason fate wasn't decided until the last day of the season. And that team on paper at least, had no business being in the playoff race.

The key to that team's unexpected success?

Doc Rivers.

Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace was a member of that Orlando Magic team. He recalls one of Rivers' greatest traits being his ability to get those he coached, to elevate their play without realizing they're being nudged in that direction.

"Doc's a great coach," Wallace told CSNNE.com earlier this year. "He makes you believe sometimes when you don't want to. He has a way of seeing some things in you, in a team, that nobody else does. That's why he's such a great coach."

Said a Western Conference front-office official: "Doc didn't have to do anything this year special to be considered one of the best coaches in the game. But that team, all that they lost, to get all the way to the Conference finals and actually have a shot, a good shot at winning the series? Hands down, the best job he's done in Boston. Maybe the best job he's done ever."

Moments after the loss, Rivers acknowledged he couldn't yet fully appreciate all that the Celtics accomplished this season.

"I'm sure at some point I'll look back and say what a great run," Rivers said. "Right now, I'm just too competitive to see that."

And it is that competitive drive that you see in his players, a drive that allows a 26-year-old rookie center (Greg Stiemsma) from the D-League not only make the roster, but develop into one of the top first-year centers in the NBA this season. It infuses a player like Mickael Pietrus who was tossed aside by Phoenix, with the kind of confidence to be one of the Celtics' better on-the-ball-defenders.

"He (Rivers) took me under his shoulder and treated me like his son," Pietrus said. "That is why I was so grateful to the Boston Celtics this year."

But as much as players trust in Rivers, it is his trust in them that fuels the most storied franchise in the NBA.

Near the end of his post-game monologue on Saturday, Rajon Rondo came on to the podium to join Rivers.

Rondo sat there, attentively, as Rivers answered a couple more questions.

As Rivers' press conference came to a close, he applied a firm father-to-son-like grip on the back of Rondo's neck, and said, "I'm going to give it to this guy (Rondo). Like I said earlier, he's wonderful."

And so Rivers, clearly fighting off his emotions, walked off the stage and into an offseason of change for the Celtics.

But the one steadying force that's guiding it all - Rivers - will be back.

And if you're not sure as to why, here's a clue - He's a Celtic.

http://ow.ly/buczK

[Snakehead]

TP.  I'm so happy with Doc Rivers.  The guy is just amazing and I already was a huge fan but after this run, there's just no one I would rather have as a coach.

[blink]

The moment that was referenced with Rondo postgame had me pretty choked up.  You can tell that Doc is very proud of the team, and Rondo specifically. 

I think anyone who wants a different coach than Doc hasn't watched enough of our games, or listened to enough interviews with players and coaches around the league to really understand how special he is.

When I see all the nit-picking that we do on the board about him and his decisions on rotations and playing time, it kind of makes me sick.  I mean we are fans, he is with those guys every day and knows WAY more about how to make adjustments than any of us.  If you aren't with the team all the time, in practices and walk throughs, you can't really get a sense of all that goes into it.

I hope Doc stays for a a LONG time.  He is a special coach and we are extremely lucky to have him.

[Bahku]

disagree

thumbs down

[LarBrd33]

I had a rant earlier about why bringing back KG (and Ray if possible) is so key in continuing Celtic tradition.  Doc is another one I don't want to see leave.  I love that everyone who plays on this team (while Doc is coach) gets the sense that they are part of a family... not just a collection of players getting paid to play basketball.  Doc is as key to that as any of our vet players.

[ACF]

disagree

http://www.peninsulaismightier.com/

Goodbye.

[j804]

Did somebody delete that guys post? lol

Agree with all said about Doc when doesn't he nail it he's down to earth and as real as it gets

[ACF]

Did somebody delete that guys post? lol

There's been a lot of weird posts recently and all of them contain just one word, like "disagree", "beautiful", "fine" or such. Different names for posters but they all contain just one word.

The bots are taking over  

[celtics2]

It musta been awful in that locker room crying, huggin and lovin. General Patton would have slapped them in the puss and said you suck. Ya don't even know how to act like a man in defeat. The Heat are still waiting for KG and Rondo his new sidekick to man up and shake hands. But the Celts are in a Wake mode. Where do I send the Flowers and Card. This is what one gets with a Player's Coach. My Mother in Law could have worked in our Paint Zone and been successful against the Celts. We should hire some Airport Security, they know how to molest.

Oh these Modern Days are so wimpy. A Detroit locker room years ago would be re-decorated in splinters. Now it's long embraces. As Doc remains constant what the hell that means, be ready for more of the same. Patton and Knute Rockney would have them running laps after that last ballet.

[clover]

I had a rant earlier about why bringing back KG (and Ray if possible) is so key in continuing Celtic tradition.  Doc is another one I don't want to see leave.  I love that everyone who plays on this team (while Doc is coach) gets the sense that they are part of a family... not just a collection of players getting paid to play basketball.  Doc is as key to that as any of our vet players.

Agreed--and Danny and Wyc also get credit for not only having Doc as coach, but also by backing him up with the right actions at the organizational level.

[Snakehead]

It musta been awful in that locker room crying, huggin and lovin. General Patton would have slapped them in the puss and said you suck. Ya don't even know how to act like a man in defeat. The Heat are still waiting for KG and Rondo his new sidekick to man up and shake hands. But the Celts are in a Wake mode. Where do I send the Flowers and Card. This is what one gets with a Player's Coach. My Mother in Law could have worked in our Paint Zone and been successful against the Celts. We should hire some Airport Security, they know how to molest.

Oh these Modern Days are so wimpy. A Detroit locker room years ago would be re-decorated in splinters. Now it's long embraces. As Doc remains constant what the hell that means, be ready for more of the same. Patton and Knute Rockney would have them running laps after that last ballet.

You must have no idea what it's like to compete as part of a group and really care.

Sad post must be a troll really. Nothing to criticize Doc Rivers for, just an amazing coach and leader.  If more of the same means the best defensive team in the NBA (with one capable big mind you) and a shot to win every year, BRING IT ON.