Do clever titles do anything? Besides mildly amuse me? Let me know, because most times after I write one I feel so dumb for doing it that I wished I hadn't, just like the one titling this piece.
I now it's NFL time but I need to get some NBA off my chest before I forget about it. Doc Rivers was recently extended (within the last week I believe) to the tune of 5.5 million per for 3 years. My first reaction was spitting fire at my computer screen and drafting a letter of non-support to the Boston Celtics for making this terrible decision. After cooling off for a few days I have come to realize that it was a fucking horrible decision and I shouldn't have shredded that letter. For all the Doc lovers out there (are there any?) allow me to explain.
I understand the Boston Celtics won the NBA title last year, and I also understand that Doc Rivers was the coach of that Celtics team. The one thing I'm failing to understand is why does Doc Rivers get rewarded for this past season when all other have been a miserable failure. 66-16 is a tremendous record, how many wins did Doc have? How many late game plays did he craft to help the cause? How many of KG's buckets did Rivers draw up? What magical system did he implement that no other coach has the understanding of? What development and strides has he made in the world of coaching? Who models their offense after the Celtics? I know some of the questions are not quite answerable, or coherent for that matter, but I think your getting my point. If you aren't I will attempt to catch you up.
Doc Rivers is a career .500 coach, in fact his record with the Celtics is 168-160, with that dream season, without it he's 40 games under .500, stellar. In fact, he was fired from his last coaching stint because he could never manufacture better than a .500 or so season, terrific. Let us break that down into some easier math terms:
Doc Rivers = .500 Coach
Doc Rivers + 3 NBA All-Stars in prime = 66-16
Shouldn't coaches be rewarded for taking a team with lower expectations, who in turn rise above and overcome, to make that team better with brillant sideline guidance? I'm not quite sure anymore but after Doc loses his All-Stars I'm willing to bet you'll agree.
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