Believe me, I still don't miss OB, but Doc has been losing me the last couple of games. Last night in particular. Somebody has to let him know that he doesn't always have to remove the bench as soon as possible. Last night, the starters came out flat in the first half. Once the bench came in, they took over the game. The bench outplayed the starters at every single position. But like clockwork, there was Rivers, bringing the starters back in to close out the half. Nobody on the floor needed to be subed for. None of them were tired. But, for some reason, Doc put the starters back in. What happened? The momentum went back to Chicago, as they somehow managed to not just erase the lead created by the bench, but end the half up by 10. It was so obvious that the bench was better suited to be playing in that game last night, but sure enough, here comes the starters back to open up the 2nd half. I knew the game was over once I saw that. Just because the starters are, in general, more reliable doesn't mean that they are required to accumulate more minutes than the bench guys in every single game, especially in all 5 games in a single week. Take a guy like Marcus Banks, for instance. Marcus came in and played about 7 minutes in the first half. He played excellent in that time period, with 8 points and 4 assists. He looked the way we have all wanted him to look since he was drafted. He was finding open men, and balancing that with his own offense. Why anybody would sit him down when Doc did puzzles me. It could have been a game that turned him around and got him started on the right foot. Why bench him for the 36 year old playing in his 5th game in 7 days, who isn't even a part of the team's future plans, and on top of that, for no reason other than to get the "starters" back on the court?
this is what I been saying all along. Doc Rivers might be a good motivator but he's like kind of the DUMBEST :bonk: in-game coach EVER!!! Everytime the second unit is floundering and he should be at least putting Pierce back in, everyones screaming "JUST PUT'M BACK IN DOOOCK!!!" he just NEEEEDS Walters weak, gangly carcass out there on the perimeter for some reason or he wants to get a look at Marcus Banks with Payton in at the same time :bonk: THen theres times where the starters are looking flat, baffled and corpse-like and the kids come in and play like its the finals or something but he just HAS to put ALL the starters (including Mark "GODDAMNNNNNnn-I'm-useless" Blount and Raef "counting-the-days-til-that-knee-implodes" Lafreanz" as well as again, Walters weak, gangly carcass)!!
Apparently the starters were convinced they could turn things around against the Bulls. But Doc thought the second unit was better suited to make the run. Damned if you do, damned if you don't... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Celtics captain didn't take it well, either. Instead of following Payton's route, Pierce sounded like a wounded child when he said, ``I guess I didn't play no defense, if that's what he said. I guess we have to outscore everybody, or sit me down, I don't know.'' .......Blount acknowledged his shortcomings, saying his play has been, ``in and out.'' But much like Pierce, LaFrentz got testy when he said, ``How many minutes did we play? It was one game. We haven't rebounded well all year. You can crunch numbers any way you want. The bottom line is wins and losses, and 19 losses isn't good enough.'' </div> link Tonight's game against Orlando will be very interesting. Last game against them was probably the best the Celtics have played all year. With some turmoil in the locker room it will be interesting how the starters respond.
