Eja117 posted a case for keeping Doc over on Celtics Green. He makes some good points and almost convinces me not to have nightmares about Doc's possible return. The one thing I would have to add is that Al's improvement is due to Clifford Ray's coaching and not Doc's. Doc would rather have centers stand on the 3 point line and doesn't have a clue how to coach bigs. But since we have Clifford Ray to guide him in that area, then he can get by with a pass. If Doc could bring in a good X and O assistant to help him with game management, similar to what Bird did as a coach, it may work out to keep him.

The team is playing phenomenal, but to be fair it's against the Sonics of the world, not the Suns or Spurs.
I kinda want Doc back next year and this is why.
First of all nobody on this planet could have ever led this team to a winning season much less playoffs with so many players hurt.
Also Doc's job this season was to develop our young players and teach them the game. Are they learning? Are the better? Let's review

Al - went from decent backup to one of the best bigs in the NBA

West - improved for the second year in a row. Has to be taken seriously at all times now. he's not just a pesky guy with hustle any more. People should stop saying he's not a true pg or he's better off at the two until people beat him out and until he stops outplaying so many true pgs in this league

Rondo- yes he improved.

Gomes - improved and settled into a nice supporting role. Got beat out but not cause he regressed, which is exactly what some of us wanted.

Scala- Not a young guy, but beleive it or not he improved. He couldn't help it with all those minutes and starts he was getting

Powe - say what you like but Doc did give him enough mins to show he could play here. Tons of coaches wouldn't have given a 2nd rounder the time of day

Perk - regressed but fought thru it. There was no way Doc could pull a miracle here. Despite pain he still gives worthwhile mins out there

TA - went from backup to star level briefly before getting hurt so Doc did his job here too

GG - went from completely lost to putting it together sometimes and being valuable at times at least. Doc did his job here too

Bassy- regressed, but it's not like Doc didn't give him enough opportunity. Plus last nite he looked like a real live NBA pg

Ray - Doc used him when he needed him and got good stuff out of him. A keeper at a minimum salary for at least another year

The other players had the following outcomes
Wally - needs to be traded. We don't need him and his injuries any more. We should try to give him to some team that could use him for a push into the finals like Miami or Detroit. Get a distant future 1rst rounder and hope it becomes valuable

PP - He's fine

Kandi - The contract was perfect and he even tends to look like a real live NBA center when he plays.

There. Proof positive Doc has done his job believe it or not.

And most important I think a coach change could absolutely cripple some of these young guys who need continuity like GG and Rondo and Al

The Celtics were behind by as many as 16 and played very little defense in the first half. The were down 9 at the half but came out in the 3rd quarter with a renewed committment to defense and were more aggressive offensively and pulled ahead with 2:19 left in the 3rd, never to look back.

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.

Last night in the waning moments of the Rockets' blow out of the Celtics, Tommy got really fired up about an SI article that downs the Celtics and Ainge. Here are Tommy's words as transcribed from the telecast:

Ainge has put together a nucleus of a team that could be very very productive for 6-7 year if they hold on to all these players. They are very you. There here hit with mulitple injuries to key players this year. The first 6 players on the roster were out for protracted periods of time. The young kids were thrown in and told to swim. They learnde their craft a little bit better and when Pierce came back they started to really show what they could do and mixed well. I think you can take shots at pople but this team righr now... I've said it several times but if I were going to coach again, this is the type of team I would like to coach. Not saying I want to coach but this is the type of team with young, ambitious, feisty players... and they are all character kids. They just don't give up. They're going to only get better all along ... like this kid right there, Leon Powe (who was at the time diving for a loose ball).

Ray sees a lot of hard work ahead for Jefferson, with the payoff hopefully to come next season. Ray also has a plan for the ankle problems that plagued Jefferson last season.
``There's a lot of things he can do to help with that," said Ray. ``The reason being is, he's bottom-heavy. He has thick legs. He's going to have to do a lot of things, like jump a lot of rope so he won't have ankle sprains.
``But he's got a very good upside. It's just a matter of him setting goals and wanting to be the best."

In an afternoon thriller, the Celtics get some revenge and beat the Timberwolves 124-117 in double overtime. There was no shortage of drama as the crowd booed Blount every time he touched the ball. Ricky had a much better reception. In a very classy move, he purchased tickets for his former Bucket Brigade fans so they could attend the game. I still like Ricky D in spite of everything. He gives it his all out there on the court and always looks like he is having fun.