Let's get to the real story here

[rasta1]

Doc doesn't want to go through a tank year/rebuilding phase because it will hurt his overall coaching record, screwing up any potential of him entering the hall of fame

those crappy years in boston did him in, he's recovered from that a bit. Now that a championship is under his belt as well as a COY from way back when, he figures to keep his W-L record up so that he can enter the hall

[NocturnalRebel]

Riiiight. Doc is more worried about his overall coaching record. Got you

[LarBrd33]

I actually agree with you.  It's kind of like why Pat Riley stepped down the first time around in Miami... why coach a team that can't compete?

The reason Doc is on the fence is because he's not sure if next year is going to be a full-blown tank year where the team tries to lose.  He went through that in 2007... we were TRYING to lose in 2007.  Doc's one of the best coaches in the league... why go through that?  Maybe he'll step down and consider coming back if we land Wiggins or put together a collection of talent that can compete... but more likely he'll step down and then get a job offer from a team that's already in the running.

[KG Living Legend]

 From Doc's perspective there has never been a better time for him to cash in, and cherry pick any team he wants. Say what you want but he's a smart business man.

[LarBrd33]

 From Doc's perspective there has never been a better time for him to cash in, and cherry pick any team he wants. Say what you want but he's a smart business man.

He's a player's coach.  He's proven to be fantastic at managing stars.  He's also fantastic at developing young talent.  But the rare ability to manage stars is a commodity in this league... it's the basis for Phil Jackson's entire career.   There's no sense in Doc coaching a down-in-the-dumps tanking Celtic team with no stars and no elite prospects.  If he leaves, some team with star power and a need for a quality coach to get them to play together will hire Doc.

Like for example... if the Hawks were able to sign Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, Doc would be a great coach for them.

[D.o.s.]

Right. Stealing from ball don't lie:

If Rivers really is hedging, then this is probably the result of Ainge not completely knowing what he wants to do with Pierce and Garnett, and considering the gravity of such a pair of moves or non-moves involving Pierce and KG, we can’t blame him. The Celtics don’t want another version of what happened to the team toward the end of the Larry Bird era in Boston. Moves made on the fly to shore up the team’s core either failed miserably (trading Ainge for Ed Pinckney and Joe Kleine, botched negotiations with Brian Shaw) or ended tragically (dealing Gerald Henderson for Len Bias, building around the late Reggie Lewis) while Bird and McHale were retired without the Celtics receiving compensation for their absence.

We can criticize Rivers for telling the media that he’d be “willing to” stick around for a rebuilding process before hedging, or we can take into account Doc’s patience in Ainge’s rebuilding process prior to the Big Three era. The man has already had to coach Ricky Davis.

[Afam]

Right. Stealing from ball don't lie:

If Rivers really is hedging, then this is probably the result of Ainge not completely knowing what he wants to do with Pierce and Garnett, and considering the gravity of such a pair of moves or non-moves involving Pierce and KG, we can’t blame him. The Celtics don’t want another version of what happened to the team toward the end of the Larry Bird era in Boston. Moves made on the fly to shore up the team’s core either failed miserably (trading Ainge for Ed Pinckney and Joe Kleine, botched negotiations with Brian Shaw) or ended tragically (dealing Gerald Henderson for Len Bias, building around the late Reggie Lewis) while Bird and McHale were retired without the Celtics receiving compensation for their absence.

We can criticize Rivers for telling the media that he’d be “willing to” stick around for a rebuilding process before hedging, or we can take into account Doc’s patience in Ainge’s rebuilding process prior to the Big Three era. The man has already had to coach Ricky Davis.

Cry me a river. I have no sympathy for doc whatsoever.

[clover]

Doc doesn't want to go through a tank year/rebuilding phase because it will hurt his overall coaching record, screwing up any potential of him entering the hall of fame

those crappy years in boston did him in, he's recovered from that a bit. Now that a championship is under his belt as well as a COY from way back when, he figures to keep his W-L record up so that he can enter the hall

I could believe that.

[ozman]

 From Doc's perspective there has never been a better time for him to cash in, and cherry pick any team he wants. Say what you want but he's a smart business man.

He's a player's coach.  He's proven to be fantastic at managing stars.  He's also fantastic at developing young talent.  But the rare ability to manage stars is a commodity in this league... it's the basis for Phil Jackson's entire career.   There's no sense in Doc coaching a down-in-the-dumps tanking Celtic team with no stars and no elite prospects.  If he leaves, some team with star power and a need for a quality coach to get them to play together will hire Doc.

Like for example... if the Hawks were able to sign Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, Doc would be a great coach for them.

or even coach the clippers, Memphis, i mean any team that feels they can compete would take doc over any other coach available.

I just don't understand why he signed a 5 year extension last year(5 years?i could be wrong..), that's committing to the rebuilding process no matter how you look at it..I'm sure he could have negotiated a 1 year deal.

if he cant fully commit,then fine, leave. Celtics deserve a coach who is fully committed.

[nickagneta]

Want the real story? here's the real story. There is not one person at this site who knows what is going on in Doc's mind or why he would or would not return for more time coaching here.

No one knows whether he will or won't return.
No one knows whether he will take a job in broadcasting or not.
No one knows whether he will go coach somewhere else or not.

Its pure speculation.

Me. I'm going to wait until I hear for sure whether he is returning or not and if he isn't, there will be a press conference, and we can all hear his reasons why and then believe him or call him a liar.

[wdleehi]

We should rename this "My guess at the real story here"

[Chief]

My guess is that it's all about KG. If he stays, Doc stays. And I don't blame him there. Pop claims he is stepping down when Duncan retires. You follow your big men. Unless you have Jordan or Lebron.

[thirstyboots18]

The man has been living away from his family seven to eight months a year for 8 years.  No one knows what his personal situation is now.  His decision may or may not hinge on more than just KG's decision.  At any rate, it is his decision, not the sports press' (whose evedroppings and assumptions often end up in quotation marks).

If I were his wife living a four hour flight away, and the fans were blaming him, and the team was talking about tanking, I would be advising him to give it up and come home.  I would be saying...if there is no longer any joy in it, don't do it.  And that is my opinion.

[CelticG1]

Who knows what Doc is thinking but I think it would be pretty naive to believe that this would be a "family" decision much like Rays decision to go to the Heat was "family" related.

Yup I dont know for sure either way but it doesn't exactly add up to me

[Celtics18]

The man has been living away from his family seven to eight months a year for 8 years.  No one knows what his personal situation is now.  His decision may or may not hinge on more than just KG's decision.  At any rate, it is his decision, not the sports press' (whose evedroppings and assumptions often end up in quotation marks).

If I were his wife living a four hour flight away, and the fans were blaming him, and the team was talking about tanking, I would be advising him to give it up and come home.  I would be saying...if there is no longer any joy in it, don't do it.  And that is my opinion.

And, it's an opinion that I, for one, can appreciate.