CELTICS GREEN BLOG by and for boston celtics fans: The Stuff of Which Nightmares are Made

March 9, 2007

The article in today's Herald is the stuff of which nightmares are made. In it, Doc Doc Rivers reveals that a portion of their team practices are now devoted to preparation for the next year. Ok, that wasn't too bad until I got to this part:

The whole premise of him testing out ideas for next season obviously begs the question of whether he will be here.
“I’ve never worried about that,” Rivers said. “I think that was more from the outside. A couple of fans in a couple of paper bags; other than that, it’s been pretty good.”
In that next season is the last on his contract, Rivers has stated that he’ll talk to the Celtics about an extension this summer. While he didn’t state flat-out that he’d leave rather than stay on as a lame duck, it’s fair to believe he doesn’t want to be in that situation.

Most of the Celtics fandom has been holding onto hope that Doc will be dismissed after the season and now we read that he is planning to ask for an extension. Is it possible that Danny really is clueless and doesn't see that Doc just isn't getting it done? Doc is a good guy. He is great in interviews and the players all seem to like him. He has been good in developing our young players and keeping them on the straight and narrow. But he just isn't a good in game coach. His substitutions and game plans leave you scratching your head in wonder. The only way Doc could remain and make this team any better is if he had a good X and O coach on the bench next to him and he allowed that coach to call the shots in the games. Bird admitted he wasn't good at calling plays and wasn't all that good at X's and O's but he had Dick Harter and Rick Carlisle on the bench and allowed them to call the shots during the games and he came off as a brilliant head coach.

This is going to put more of a damper on this season than even the 18 game losing streak and all the injuries. The hope of replacing Doc after this season has been a sort of lifeline for most fans this season and to read that he not only is planning on coming back next season but also signing an extension is enough to give one nightmares. Is it possible that Doc's bad coaching and decisions were all orchestrated to get us a high pick this season and he really is a genius? I highly doubt it. Is Danny really that clueless as to the mistakes that Doc has made in games as to want to keep him? Again, I doubt it. I don't see Doc mentioning asking for an extension if he wasn't led to believe that all is well with his job, however.

Celtics fans need to buckle up and at least consider the possibility of at least another year of Doc and maybe more. But then again, Danny may come to his senses and say no to an extension and maybe Doc will walk and allow this team to get on with becoming a championship team again.

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