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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > June > 16 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USRivers’ 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
Comments
By Connie Lingous
June 16, 2008 9:47 PM | Link to this
Hahaha; hey Schultz, the Hawks’ loss in 1988 to the Celtics was in the 2nd round, not the conference finals.
Get a clue, Bro - you’re working for a major newspaper. I hope you don’t make this correction in time for the morning editions! LOL!!
By JSS
June 17, 2008 5:34 AM | Link to this
I’m on the floor LMAO!!!
I didn’t even have to point out that you’re a NO TALENT HACK!!!
Where are all of those Jeff Schultz apologist hiding at today?
Here’s a note to Angela Tuck, it is time for you to do your job!
By The Bear
June 17, 2008 7:09 AM | Link to this
Yet another example of the poor work submitted by Jeff. Even Terence does a better job of fact checking. Jeff should stick to writing about subjects he actually knows something about: bass fishing, redneck mating rituals, tractor pulls, dog breeding, etc. Jeff is the worst writer at the AJC—and that is saying something considering this is a second rate paper in a second rate town. Even Cytnhia Tucker presents more credible facts than Jeff. Maybe she could write the next column. I saw a homeless guy with a sing that read “Help Me” this morning. I did not realize that it was Jeff begging for help writing this column.
By The Bear
June 17, 2008 7:09 AM | Link to this
Yet another example of the poor work submitted by Jeff. Even Terence does a better job of fact checking. Jeff should stick to writing about subjects he actually knows something about: bass fishing, redneck mating rituals, tractor pulls, dog breeding, etc. Jeff is the worst writer at the AJC—and that is saying something considering this is a second rate paper in a second rate town. Even Cytnhia Tucker presents more credible facts than Jeff. Maybe she could write the next column. I saw a homeless guy with a sign that read “Help Me” this morning. I did not realize that it was Jeff begging for help writing this column.
By jonbee
June 17, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
Jeff, Good column; captures the gist of the man that Doc Rivers is and of the special bond between teammates even after all these years. There is not much that equals the friendship created when a team gels. Even in a loss, and the Celtics were close to unbeatable in those days, at least in the Eastern Conference, the Hawks were a team, and a memorable one. And Doc was the “straw that stirred that drink.” Thanks for the insight - it was well written and captured the essence of the feelings of those men and teammates.
By Darrell T
June 17, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
Gosh I sure do wish Atlanta was a win away from the NBA Finals in ‘88!
By Hugh G. Rection
June 17, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
Wake up Schultz - the Hawks were not in the conference finals - in 1988, or ever.
Hellooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!
By Jeff Schultz
June 17, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
All — the typo “finals” instead of “semifinals” had been fixed last night before print editions but not online until now. My apologies. Subconsciously, maybe I was just trying to get ‘Nique closer to winning a ring. …. Jonbee, thanks. Doc was a class guy as a player and he still is. JS
By Bob M
June 17, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this
Great article, Jeff. That game in’88 is still one of the best ever. Doc Rivers is a class act.
By FRANK
June 17, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
Im glad we traded him for the plastic man.
By Jeff Schultz
June 17, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
Bob, Thanks. Frank, ah yes, the Plastic Man. For those who want to revisit history: The Hawks traded Doc after the 1990-91 season to the Clippers for the ninth pick in the draft, which turned out to be Stacey Augmon. For those who want to judge: Augmon played his first five NBA seasons in Atlanta before being dealt to Detroit. Averaged about 13 and 5. Doc played only five more seasons (Clips, Knicks, Spurs). His minutes (28 to 15.8) and points (10.9 to 4) dropped from his season in L.A. to his last one in San Antonio.
By ray
June 18, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
Yeeesh. Thanks to Casey, Sekou’s blog is locked down….
By Casey
June 19, 2008 1:19 AM | Link to this
Mr. Bacon Man is that you? I told you not to hate your enemies. You better listen up to what Rev. Casey is saying!
If this game ain’t for ya then just quit! I thought I smelled fried bacon on this blog!
The Only Great Rev. Casey. No verses needed.
Holla!