Where did Jeff go?
He’s moved to a new location. Check him out on the new blogging platform and let him know what you think.
Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > June > 16
Monday, June 16, 2008
Rivers’ role can’t be overlooked
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Twenty years ago, Doc Rivers wasn’t closing in on a championship. Instead, he was sitting on the Hawks’ bench, disconsolate, head in hands, eyes looking down. It was Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals - a night remembered for things far more grand than Rivers’ sixth foul.
“Nobody remembers that Doc fouled out toward the end of that game,” Dominique Wilkins said Monday. “He took it hard. He was emotional. He looked like he was ready to cry. I went over to him and told him, ‘Don’t worry. I got it from here.’ And then the great shootout began.”
The shootout, one of those remember-when moments for the NBA, saw Wilkins score 47 points but fail to will the Hawks into the Eastern Conference finals. Atlanta lost to Boston 118-116, Larry Bird scoring 20 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter. But something was lost that night.
“Doc had 16 points and 18 assists in that game,” Wilkins said. “Bird and I had such a great shootout, people didn’t see that Doc orchestrated that run for us. Nobody talks about that.”
We won’t see Rivers rubbing his eyes tonight, unless there’s champagne in them. The Celtics, with a 3-2 series lead over the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, can close out a championship, this time with Rivers on their bench, this time in a suit.
It would punctuate a remarkable turnaround for the ex-Hawk, who a year ago seemed like the official “Kick Me” sign for Boston sports fans. The Celtics had gone 59-107 in consecutive seasons.
Fans were split: Half wanted Rivers fired. The other half wanted him shot out of a cannon.
“I’m proud of him,” said Wilkins, who spoke to his former teammate last week. “I’m sure he’s going to win a title, because there’s no way L.A. can beat them two times in Boston. I think it’s ending in Game 6.”
The NBA is known as a players’ league. It follows that Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce will be central in the afterglow, should Boston win tonight.
Something is wrong with that.
Before this postseason began, Rivers had never won a playoff series as a coach. Phil Jackson had won nine championships. But in this series, Rivers has outcoached him. It’s not even close. He has gotten more out of his players. The Celtics’ stars have sacrificed their individual games. They have been the more physical team. They have played harder and smarter for longer periods. All of that stems from coaching.
“It is a players’ league to a certain extent, but you have to have great coaching to have any success,” Wilkins said. “A lot of coaches have been given talent and couldn’t win. Doc got those guys to buy into something. He created something.”
The Celtics won 66 games during the regular season. They were stretched to seven games by the Hawks. But there’s a tendency to talk more about those three losses than how the Boston players reacted when they had to win. Those must-win games weren’t close. Does the coach get any credit for that?
The Celtics are older. But they have looked better as the long grind of these playoffs has gone on. Allen looked spent in round one. He might be the Finals MVP. Does the coach get any credit for that?
“Doc was a coach even when he was a player,” Wilkins said. “When he saw something he didn’t like, he wasn’t afraid to get in your face. I’m sure he’s the same way now.”
Twenty years ago, Wilkins tried to calm Rivers. Tonight, nobody will try to calm him.
“First time in the finals - I know Doc, his emotions are through the roof right now,” Wilkins said.
No consoling necessary this time. Twenty years later, nobody should overlook Rivers’ role.
Permalink | Comments (13) | Post your comment | Categories: Hawks/NBA
