FanPost

late game situations...


i've been a fan of doc's coaching since he was in orlando.. i've always thought coaches win with veterans. in almost every sport. so when he first came to boston i thought he would have to work for wins. then they made trades and the rest is history i dont need to go over. but watching this season i've become a bigger fan of docs. his treatment of players has been perfect. i'de like to see some of avery bradley every game even if its for 2 min, play him vs the bench players and press to cause problems. but other than that. his late game play calling has to be the best in the league.. his understand of his players is also top 3. you can tell he has played or been around the league for years, he was well coached and understand how to draw up plays. 

he always seems to get the player into a sweet spot with a chance to win it. ray has hit game winners after missing most of his shots all game. kg's hit one with a lob from the leading assist maker in the league. davis has even made big shots down the stretch of games. pierce over the years has been great at the late game situations..

but watching the final 20 seconds of the knicks game says it all.. i sat next to a knick fan the entire game.. at half time i said the celtics will still win because the knicks arent used to this atmosphere, this pressure. they havent learned how to win vs contenders. they dont have that 'late game know how' 

doc drew a play that put his captain in his sweet spot...the play makes a big guard him creating a miss match, knowing that amare would have to play off of pierce. allowing him to get a shot off.  he said to use as much of the clock as possible. and it was executed to perfection by pierce and the rest of the players on the court..  

than you look at the knicks play.. 0.4 seconds left. the knicks have lead almost the entire game. the celtics are the 'old' team. they are injury filled, playing with only 3 bigs to try to slow amare down. and instead of getting amare something gong towards the hoop. like rondo did in miami last year. the coach draws up a 3 point shot for his center! after pierce makes his i looked at the knicks fan and asked what he would do, he with out hesitation said a lob play to amare, coming off a screen putting a smaller guard to cover him. so in his eyes its a combo of the kg lob in philly and rondos in miami. after amares shot was called no good he sat there and said "why?" why draw a play for your center to shoot a 3. when his best shot is something towards the rim. if the knicks get the lob basket, they go into OT with the crowd amped up, with an injured rondo and the fact that they lead for 46 out of 48 min in this game. why not try to drag it out for 5 more min and make the celtics run and work.

thanks to doc for understanding x's and o's. for putting his players in a spot that they will have success. for out coaching the other coach on a regular bassis. he out coached phil jackson 3 years ago. he drew a plan up last year that would create question the second half of the season but would allow them to be fresh for the playoffs.  for getting all these egos to gell as a team.  

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