Doc's Decision Irks Paul Pierce

by Jeff Clark on Jan 30, 2012 7:50 AM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

The Celtics pulled away in the 3rd quarter and were up by 11 points with 4:25 to go, so Doc let the bench play a little longer. He was probably thinking the subs could handle it with the cushion that they had and it would be good to get the old guys some rest.

The lead had shrunk to 8 when Doc put Pierce and other starters back on the court. You know what happened next.

That didn't sit too well with Pierce.

Asked if the result would have been different if he'd checked back in sooner, Pierce said, "I wish I was a fortune teller. I don't think this would have been the outcome, though."

Asked if he was disappointed by Rivers' decision, he said, "No comment," but also said, "Maybe I should play a little more."

I only bring this up because it sticks out as being unusual in this locker room. You hardly ever hear about a guy publicly criticizing another individual on this team, never mind the Captain of the team calling out the coach. Especially when everyone knows that the Big 3 need to be preserved if possible and giving the bench some crunch time opportunities would be good for their development.

However, to be fair, Pierce back tracked a bit from his comment later.

Pierce later said, "It's not his job to explain that. The coaches make their decisions. But at the time we had a pretty good lead, so I could understand it."

Garnett went a step further.

Twitter / @scott_souza:

Kevin Garnett on Paul Pierce questioning minutes: "I trust Doc in any decision he makes. As players, it's our job to finish the game off."

I have to second that. The team had this game won and didn't execute down the stretch. Blame Doc for his rotations, blame the refs for bad calls, blame karma if you like. But the team just didn't get stops or hit shots during that 12 - 0 run. Plain and simple.

celtics - Anatomy of a Celtics collapse - WEEI | Paul Flannery

The Celtics couldn’t score. They couldn’t stop Irving from penetrating at will on the pick and roll, and when the rookie did miss, which wasn’t often, Varejao was there to clean up the mess. “Defensively, I thought we were solid throughout the game, but in that fourth quarter on the ball in pick and rolls we reverted where we didn’t take the ball out of Kyrie’s hands,” Allen said. “At least make him see more pressure and make him play under duress. He got to his spots and made the plays he needed to make for his team and I don’t think at any time we recognized that.”

Frustrated by loss, Pierce vents - Boston Celtics Blog - ESPN Boston

Added Kevin Garnett, the undisputed king of NBA food analogies, "I could put all types of sprinkles on top of this cupcake -- it hurt."

Yup.

I'm glad the players felt the pain of this loss. Maybe that will help them stay focused against teams like the Cavs in the coming weeks. Otherwise they might let teams like the Cavs pass them in the standings.

I'll get more into this later, but don't forget - the early part of this season is the easy part. We've got some epic road trips coming up in the 2nd half so it isn't going to get any easier from here on out.

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KG is the man

“I trust Doc in any decision he makes. As players, it’s our job to finish the game off.”

by isum on Jan 30, 2012 6:23 AM EST reply actions

One thing is for sure....

the next game at Cleveland, I’m guessing, is gonna be nasty!

by japsuki on Jan 30, 2012 6:29 AM EST reply actions

Well, I wish I were a betting man

Because I am as sure as I have ever been about any game — that the Celtics are going to win in Cleveland on Tuesday.

Wait… come to think of it, I AM a betting man, just not on sports. First time for everything I guess…..

Seriously, you can bet the farm on Tuesday’s W.

by JR99 on Jan 30, 2012 6:35 AM EST reply actions

You would think that

but AS A BETTING MAN, I can tell you that you’d be surprised how many times the whole bounce back games lose.

"I’m going to probably fade to black,’’ he said. "To be honest, I’m not a showman guy. I’m going to fade to black. I don’t know what I will do. I’m an idealist. I have a high drive and I’m very determined. Fade to black, man, like evaporate.’’

by TheBigFive on Jan 30, 2012 7:07 AM EST up reply actions

And as a FORMER betting man.......

I agree with the cautionary advice from TheBigFive……for me the most recent remembered example was when the Pats lost a game this year (I forget against whom) and then were scheduled to play the Giants……if I were still betting, I would’ve bet the farm that the Pats would’ve bounced back in a big way and beaten them….we all know how that turned out.

That being said, I agree with JR99: I think the Cs annihilate the Cavs next game.

by csfansince60s on Jan 30, 2012 8:21 AM EST up reply actions

It was a won ballgame.

The team simply relaxed and were not expecting Cleveland to make a final push. That’s what happens when you let your guard down and underestimate a mediocre ballclub to make a last ditch run.

by LarryBird33 on Jan 30, 2012 7:04 AM EST reply actions

Oh please

the way the starters finished the game.. they should really be ashamed of themselves.

The lackadaisical effort they showed in the 4th quarter was just irritating.

Simply put, irritating ballgame.

by TheBigFive on Jan 30, 2012 7:05 AM EST reply actions

Not Doc's fault

3+ minutes is a ton of time in NBA games. Instead of protecting the 8-point lead, the starters should have been able to extend that lead after all the rest they had. They relaxed too early and mentally they thought the game was over when it was not.

by getthat18now on Jan 30, 2012 7:30 AM EST reply actions

Cavs-related thought....

I’m hoping that there is a chance to get Semih again from the Cavs in exchange for either a draft pick OR even Johnson. Semih’s not being used in the Cavs anyway so I’m pretty sure it’s not that difficult to get him back…

I know a lot of you in here love the rookie Johnson but let’s face it, we’re pretty alright in the forward slot already & we need a back up center. Semih knows the C’s system already and he had lots of quality minutes last season so yeah, not much “adjustment” needed.

by japsuki on Jan 30, 2012 7:53 AM EST reply actions

Everyone's been glad to see Pierce turn back the hands of time these last few games.

But it looks like he reached just a little too far back, to his years of immaturity, last night.

Neither Doc nor his teammates need to hear that kind of stuff.

by clover on Jan 30, 2012 8:49 AM EST reply actions

I agree...

Pierce should of held in check his emotions post game, better then he did.

If he had a problem with the way he was utilized with Doc he should of just went to him in private to discuss it rather then kinda show him up with his public comments to the press.

by fordescort on Jan 30, 2012 9:33 AM EST up reply actions

He did control his emotions

Very well. He even ended by saying it was kinda understandable.

In the end, I think Pierce handled it perfectly. He didn’t outright diss Doc, but he let everyone know that he was very, very upset by what happened. That should light a fire under the whole team. Besides, Doc is not perfect, and when he screws up somebody needs to say so.

by JR99 on Jan 30, 2012 7:11 PM EST up reply actions

The bench player the Cavs even in the fourth...

… it was the starters who coughed up an 8 point lead in under 4 minutes.

Maybe the bench guys should be complaining that they were taken out too soon. ;-)

All the negativity in this town sucks. It sucks, and it stinks, and it sucks. - Rick Pitino

by Roy_Hobbs on Jan 30, 2012 9:14 AM EST reply actions

Doc blew this game and he should own up to it.

I don’t always agree with Pierce but in this instance he is 100% right. Doc gave this game away with his substitutions. He insulted the Cavs by playing his bench when he only had a 7-9 point lead. His timing was bad all night. He played pierce too many minutes in the first half and then had to rest him when he should have been on the floor. He didn’t play Pietrus enough and he should have left Moore and perhaps sasha in the game down the stetch . We needed Moore’s offense down the stretch. DOc also failed to double team irving on the last play which was dumb IMO and he played KG on jamison instead of varajao which I think was also a mistake. Bass gives up 4-5 inches to varajao. that was not a good matchup for us and I think Pietrus or Bass on Jamison would have worked much better

by Red2 on Jan 30, 2012 9:28 AM EST reply actions

I am with Doc on this one...

I think he made the right move to sit and rest the vets with the lead the C’s had in the 4th.

With the season compact and so many back to back games Doc needs to pick and choose the best time to rest the vets and Pierce to keep them as fresh as possible for the long run and last night was exactly one of those times to do so.

Even though it maybe negatively effected the outcome of the game, I think Docs plan to rest the vets and Pierce is best for the C’s long term interests especially considering the the age of the vets and the very tough NBA schedule the C’s face the rest of the season.

by fordescort on Jan 30, 2012 9:30 AM EST reply actions

Agreed, I thought the consensus was to limit

the minutes of the vets and give playing time to the bench; however, as long as we make the playoffs, the C’s are what , #7 in the East? Must get solid center to even compete with the Miami’s this year.

by gocanes1 on Jan 30, 2012 12:53 PM EST up reply actions

PP was SO disgusted what I think everyone should take from this is that this isn't the first time PP has rolled his eyes at Docs rotations

indeed that interview makes me think PP thinks Doc may be an idiot with his rotations. PP has trained himself quite well to not stir the pot but this one was just too crazy. Steemer, Moore, and Sasha were in! Its not like Wilcox, Pietrus and Daniels were in, Doc had 2 3rd string guys in.

by wahz on Jan 30, 2012 9:56 AM EST reply actions

Let me be clear that I suspect that if Wilcox and Pietrus were in, pp doesn't look like this in his postgame interview

After watching soem level of insanity for years now, the Steemer, Sasha combo proved too much for PP to be able to overlook

by wahz on Jan 30, 2012 9:59 AM EST up reply actions

Its also looked to me like PP wasn't running the offense at the end. PP had played well again apart from the turnovers

by wahz on Jan 30, 2012 10:02 AM EST up reply actions

When Stiemsma came in

Instead of KG down the stretch I have to admit I thought it was way too early for garbage time, KG should have been going in. I believe in Doc fully but let’s face it — the substitutions were made passively in the fourth quarter last night. We need to close games.

I mean what are we “preserving guys” for if we don’t even have a good enough record to make the playoffs? Lets get some wins.

by p-peazy on Jan 30, 2012 10:49 AM EST reply actions

I also noticed PP seemed miffed about the last two plays that were called.

He walked away from the huddle both times looking like “this ain’t gonna work”

I think I am with RED2 on this, Doc rode PP too much in the first half, and then benched at just the wrong point.

I think there is more going on between Doc and PP than just this one incident…no proof whatsoever…just my hunch

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Jan 30, 2012 10:53 AM EST reply actions

yep his eyes got wide and he was was roling them in the huddle too.

Normally Id think this was good in the sense that PP is so upset we lost but ist pretty clear PP thinks he knows how to run the offense and he thinks Doc makes a lot of odd choices.

Well one more reason it will be good when Rondo comes back

by wahz on Jan 30, 2012 11:15 AM EST up reply actions

Its wierd...

and I am not sure if any body caught a glimpse of it but…

After the final play where Pierce did not hit the jumper, as the players walked off the court and Doc was giving them all a handshake to sort of pep them up and show them he appreciated there effort even though they did lose the game, I saw Pierce go by Doc and not really acknowledge him and he had a real look of disgust on his face….and I thought that was odd.

At the time I thought Pierce was simply disgusted at the outcome of the game, but apparently now as we learned he probably was probably disgusted at Doc at the time also.

by fordescort on Jan 30, 2012 12:13 PM EST up reply actions

'not too worried about it

PP was frustrated. Hates to lose. I doubt seriously that this is anything more than that.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Jan 30, 2012 11:09 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions

You mean there is no chance...

of seeing a nice juicy soap opera type rift between Doc and Pierce…lol

by fordescort on Jan 30, 2012 12:14 PM EST up reply actions

Only if the media and fans want one.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Jan 30, 2012 12:38 PM EST up reply actions

+1

This is just creative tension. It just shows that the team really wants to win

by vgarcia890 on Jan 30, 2012 7:22 PM EST up reply actions

this was the first game where I thought we really missed rondo

until now Pierce has carried the load as the playmaker and done a good job. But tongiht with 7 turnovers. Pierce wasn’t able to do that.How many points did we score off of transition tonight? not many . It seemed that we were walking the ball up the court all night.

by Red2 on Jan 30, 2012 11:40 AM EST reply actions

theyre a family

Doc and Paul have been through fights. If theyre in one now, theyll work it out.

by ianboyextreme on Jan 30, 2012 1:25 PM EST reply actions

Its the end of the world man!!

We started off our winning streak against Washington, and then the post-LeBron Cavaliers destroyed us!! Ahhh let’s blow this team up!!! Ahhh!

by SparzWizard on Jan 30, 2012 4:02 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

So they go what?...2 of 12 from the floor and it's Doc's fault?

Gota hit a shot once in a while right?

by tstorey1 on Jan 30, 2012 4:57 PM EST reply actions

At least they didn't sit the entire fourth quarter...

…like Popovich did with his starters…against the Mavericks too. I had no problem with what Doc did. He sees the big picture which is the playoffs and preserving the old guys legs for the long haul and developing the bench players. Pierce only sees this game because he’s a competitor and wants to win them all. I’ll take a loss to the Cavs in the regular season now for more rest for the big 3 anyday.I hope Doc doesn’t cave and starts playing them more minutes because of this loss.

by yakyakyak on Jan 30, 2012 7:18 PM EST reply actions

Even the Celtics fans undermine the importance of Rondo on this team

Hi everybody. Newbie here. I’ve been a Celtics fan for ten years and I love this team with all my heart and soul. I guess it’s safe to say I bleed green.

Even though I’m new here, I’ve been around here for a while reading fan’s comments and their reactions. People’s been complaining about how Doc doesn’t play the rooks and how our recent success has been because he was forced to play the rooks. It’s like he listened last night and it bite us in the ass.

May be we didn’t need Rondo for those four great games but he’s still the best player on this team and in my opinion the best pure point guard in the league. I personally can’t wait for him to be back because it’s a thing of joy just watching Rondo play. The guy is entertaining. Go Celtics!

by Clench on Jan 30, 2012 10:13 PM EST reply actions