Is Doc Rivers overrated as a coach? Big 3 or Doc River's magic

[Celtics#18]

Is Doc Rivers overrated as a coach? Big 3 or Doc River's magic

[ballin]

I have a feeling people are going to be emotional about this one but...

Doc actually wasn't a very good coach at all. Similar to Mark Jackson (who the GS players almost universally LOVED) he was backed by the players but doesn't actually help the team win.

I blame the fact we only got 1 title 100% on injuries, but it's still a little suspicious to see that a team with as much talent as those Big 3 Celtics only manage to get top-9 in offensive efficiency once (which was the year they got there).

Let's keep in mind that Doc Rivers also managed to win one more game after going to Clippers... following on the heels of Vinny-motherfreaking-Del Negro. If you can't significantly out-coach Del Negro WITH internal improvement from Blake Griffin and another year for your key players to jell... I'm sorry, you're not a great coach.

The only two things Doc is great at are 1) managing player egos 2) drawing plays out of timeouts.

Better than some (like the abysmal Vinny Del Negro) but not a difference maker (like Pop or Rick Carlisle).

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

OVER RATED. This has been discussed here ad nauseum in the past. 

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

I have a feeling people are going to be emotional about this one but...

Doc actually wasn't a very good coach at all. Similar to Mark Jackson (who the GS players almost universally LOVED) he was backed by the players but doesn't actually help the team win.

I blame the fact we only got 1 title 100% on injuries, but it's still a little suspicious to see that a team with as much talent as those Big 3 Celtics only manage to get top-9 in offensive efficiency once (which was the year they got there).

Let's keep in mind that Doc Rivers also managed to win one more game after going to Clippers... following on the heels of Vinny-motherfreaking-Del Negro. If you can't significantly out-coach Del Negro WITH internal improvement from Blake Griffin and another year for your key players to jell... I'm sorry, you're not a great coach.

The only two things Doc is great at are 1) managing player egos 2) drawing plays out of timeouts.

Better than some (like the abysmal Vinny Del Negro) but not a difference maker (like Pop or Rick Carlisle).

doc may have had an excuse for 2009 but not 2010. we had a double digit lead in the 4th. we blew it in LA in game 7. Terrible coaching.

[celts10]

I have a feeling people are going to be emotional about this one but...

Doc actually wasn't a very good coach at all. Similar to Mark Jackson (who the GS players almost universally LOVED) he was backed by the players but doesn't actually help the team win.

I blame the fact we only got 1 title 100% on injuries, but it's still a little suspicious to see that a team with as much talent as those Big 3 Celtics only manage to get top-9 in offensive efficiency once (which was the year they got there).

Let's keep in mind that Doc Rivers also managed to win one more game after going to Clippers... following on the heels of Vinny-motherfreaking-Del Negro. If you can't significantly out-coach Del Negro WITH internal improvement from Blake Griffin and another year for your key players to jell... I'm sorry, you're not a great coach.

The only two things Doc is great at are 1) managing player egos 2) drawing plays out of timeouts.

Better than some (like the abysmal Vinny Del Negro) but not a difference maker (like Pop or Rick Carlisle).

doc may have had an excuse for 2009 but not 2010. we had a double digit lead in the 4th. we blew it in LA in game 7. Terrible coaching.

I still think Doc should have won Coach of the Year in 2009. He deserved a lot of credit for keeping the guys together and getting the most he could out of the group after KG went down with his season ending knee injury.

[D.o.s.]

I have a feeling people are going to be emotional about this one but...

Doc actually wasn't a very good coach at all. Similar to Mark Jackson (who the GS players almost universally LOVED) he was backed by the players but doesn't actually help the team win.

I blame the fact we only got 1 title 100% on injuries, but it's still a little suspicious to see that a team with as much talent as those Big 3 Celtics only manage to get top-9 in offensive efficiency once (which was the year they got there).

Let's keep in mind that Doc Rivers also managed to win one more game after going to Clippers... following on the heels of Vinny-motherfreaking-Del Negro. If you can't significantly out-coach Del Negro WITH internal improvement from Blake Griffin and another year for your key players to jell... I'm sorry, you're not a great coach.

The only two things Doc is great at are 1) managing player egos 2) drawing plays out of timeouts.

Better than some (like the abysmal Vinny Del Negro) but not a difference maker (like Pop or Rick Carlisle).

Doc the GM seems to be hamstringing Doc the coach a bit. And Rivers is more than just his tenure with the C's -- he's done a lot more with a marginal squad than, say, Brad Stevens has --  but you're right: he does seem to coach to the way he thinks is best to play basketball, regardless of the roster he's presented with.

[slightly biased bias fan]

Id say it was 50% big three, 20% Doc and 30% Thibodeau.

I remember the players saying Thibs was the guy who invented the defensive scheme that made them so dominant.

[SparzWizard]

Doc's a good-people's coach, but certainly not a guy who can effectively draw X's and O's. And I hated him for having doghouses. Ugh.

Tom Thibs should be given more credit esp for his defensive strategies. And the fact that we had a Big 3 and a starting 5 who never lost a playoff series when they were all healthy.

We got lucky in 2012 that Chicago lost Derrick Rose for the season. The Hawks and 76ers gave the Celtics a grinding challenge, but mostly in part due to the Big 3's growing effort. Rondo suddenly became inhuman in the Heat series. It was intense. So, Big 3 and Rondo were a big part to that long run.

The following year we'd get bounced by the NYK in 6 games. Everyone left afterwards. Clearly overrated.

[255 Rings]

Doc was and still is overrated. The fact that you could only muster one title from such a powerhouse team like the Celtics were years ago is inexcusable. He was the main culprit for the meltdown against the Lakers in game 7. He seemed so defeated after LA was taking strolls to the FT line. He never adjusted, not even when we went on a little run to try and salvage that game. Sure, KG was hurt and he pretty much slammed our hopes to repeat in 2009, but in 2010 and 2012, when we went to the Finals and ECF, he could have done so much more. He never utilized players efficiently (ex. Courtney Lee, Jason Terry). Look at the circus he's created in LA with the Clippers and how he's unable to have that team over the top. He has freaking CP3 AND BLAKE GRIFFIN and they're struggling?! I know the West is tough but they shouldn't be struggling like that at all. I'm happier with Stevens IMO. He's making scrubs into solid players, and mind you he's done it after lord knows how many roster shuffles.

[Celtics#18]

Doc was and still is overrated. The fact that you could only muster one title from such a powerhouse team like the Celtics were years ago is inexcusable. He was the main culprit for the meltdown against the Lakers in game 7. He seemed so defeated after LA was taking strolls to the FT line. He never adjusted, not even when we went on a little run to try and salvage that game. Sure, KG was hurt and he pretty much slammed our hopes to repeat in 2009, but in 2010 and 2012, when we went to the Finals and ECF, he could have done so much more. He never utilized players efficiently (ex. Courtney Lee, Jason Terry). Look at the circus he's created in LA with the Clippers and how he's unable to have that team over the top. He has freaking CP3 AND BLAKE GRIFFIN and they're struggling?! I know the West is tough but they shouldn't be struggling like that at all. I'm happier with Stevens IMO. He's making scrubs into solid players, and mind you he's done it after lord knows how many roster shuffles.

Totally Agree

[iadera]

Good coach, but won't develope much in the future. He is what he is.

[rickyfan3.0...]

I think Doc is a good coach. I don't think he was very good, but kind of got better along the way. He was never a great X and O's coach (ran the same play out of a timeout for 5 years, and ran the same PP Iso at the end of games for 8 years), but was always great at controlling the locker room... which in this SAD league is actually more important.

[Celtics18]

Doc Rivers is a great coach.  Yes, he had a lot of talent on our squad that won a title in '08 and subsequently made it to two more conference finals and one more NBA finals, but there where a lot of question marks when the team was built regarding whether or not this team could jell and be successful.

He got everyone to buy in, accept their roles, and perform their roles at top levels.  That's no easy feat.  In my book, Doc Rivers' tenure with the Celtics is vastly underrated. 

[Celtics18]

Doc Rivers is a great coach.  Yes, he had a lot of talent on our squad that won a title in '08 and subsequently made it to two more conference finals and one more NBA finals, but there were a lot of question marks when the team was built regarding whether or not this team could jell and be successful.

He got everyone to buy in, accept their roles, and perform their roles at top levels.  That's no easy feat.  In my book, Doc Rivers' tenure with the Celtics is vastly underrated.

[thirstyboots18]

No.  If anything, he is underrated in Boston by some  Celtics fans.