"You know what I told Nate at halftime?" Rivers began. "I said, ‘Nate, just a notice for you....

"You know what I told Nate at halftime?" Rivers began. "I said, ‘Nate, just a notice for you. You’re the starting point guard now, and I’m going to give you a lot of instruction. It’s not criticism.’ You know, and Nate tends to – he gets coaching at times, he hangs his head, and it was at a point in the second quarter I couldn’t even give him a play because he thought I was going to tell him, ‘Nate, you suck’ or something."

Doc Rivers after Hawks game, via Green Street

over 1 year ago Tom Bellinger 16 comments 0 recs |

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all this stuff that came out of NY about Nate being difficult was completely made up nonsense

he was a great teammate at the U Washington basketball team and football team no one ever said one bad word about him. He grew up in this area and you heard nothing but glowing praise about what kind of kid he was. And his coach here Romar runs an up tempo offense. He needs Doc. As the years go by and if he sticks he will even win over Master Po…maybe:>)

He is a good kid he is just more like an enthusiastic exciteable 13 year old than some folks might want. Doc will be good for him. Nate is Shaq in Nates body is what it is.

by wahz on Dec 17, 2010 6:03 PM EST reply actions

I like the way my father put it:

“Nate’s like the little brother who wants to be accepted by his big brother’s friends.”

Over the Monster -- SB Nation's Resident Red Sox Site
USG

by Ben Buchanan on Dec 17, 2010 6:10 PM EST reply actions

I couldn’t even give him a play because he thought I was going to tell him, ‘Nate, you suck’ or something."

LOL….Why would he think that??

Nate must’ve talked to Marcus Banks, Gerald Green, Mark Blount, Ricky Davis, Sebastian Telfair, Orien Greene, etc etc etc etc.

by Finkelskyhook on Dec 17, 2010 6:31 PM EST reply actions

Yes, he probably was going to hear some criticism.

But if hangs in there, Nate will be greatly rewarded by getting the chance to become a far better point guard. After all, there’s only a limited need for shooting guards that are under six feet.

by no kidding on Dec 17, 2010 7:31 PM EST up reply actions

yeah, except all of those guys DID suck.

by theBird on Dec 17, 2010 7:31 PM EST up reply actions

+1

hindsight is 20/20, I criticized doc to for riding those players and yanking around their minutes (ricky D and blount excluded), particularly banks who I was a big fan of.

but looking back now its pretty clear none of those guys were capable of performing to the level doc wanted.

"Take it to the hoop, there's a dance involved." - DJ Tommy

by WillyBeamin on Dec 18, 2010 1:22 PM EST up reply actions

whose opinions no one should value

by Silverlock on Dec 17, 2010 9:15 PM EST up reply actions

Doc is 100% right

It’s very evident in Nate’s body language. He doesn’t want to let his teammates down and he knows how much is expected of him on this team compared to the Knicks, he definitely gets down on himself when he makes mistakes. He’s improving at PG though for sure, it just seems like his outside shooting hasn’t been nearly as consistent this year as last.

by Josh88 on Dec 17, 2010 6:42 PM EST reply actions

What we have here...is a failure to communicate

by Title 18 on Dec 17, 2010 7:03 PM EST reply actions

Or, from Nate's perspective, too much communication.

by clover on Dec 17, 2010 7:18 PM EST up reply actions

Communication

What we have here is an honest coach who tells a new player he will be on him, but it is to be taken as teaching, not criticism. Nate has had a rough time in the league and has gotten himself a bad rep. Now he’s in the best place he can be. I think he’s smart enough to listen to Doc and Doc knows when to back off. Nate is playing real basketball for the first time in his NBA career. It has hurt his shooting and he makes mistakes, but by the end of the year he should be a major piece that the C’s need to win 18. He’s now surrounded by a coach who’s biggest asset is communication and by players who will support him if Nate meets them half way. To me he has done more than meet them half way. Rondo’s injury can be a blessing in disguise. The more Nate plays, the better he will understand what it means to play for this Celtic team.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn

by TrueGreen on Dec 17, 2010 9:51 PM EST up reply actions