12.11.2017

Doc Rivers Named Coach of the Month

12/5/2007

WALTHAM - Doc Rivers led his first practice yesterday since being named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for November. Even he had to marvel at how much better he's coaching this season than last season, when the only difference has been an overhaul in personnel featuring two additional All-Stars, one of them a first-ballot lock for Springfield.

"We haven't changed much," Rivers said. "It's different personnel."

He was more concerned with the practice, the team's first in eight days. And even the last practice had not been as productive as Rivers had hoped because of injuries to Ray Allen and Tony Allen, and Gabe Pruitt's unavailability.

"We needed this practice," Rivers said. "We need a couple more. The month of November was almost a month of no practice. We were slipping. You could see it.

"I don't think we've improved over the last week and a half. We have to get back to climbing the ladder instead of just staying pat. If we do that, people are going to catch us and pass us."

Rivers said he doesn't like the way the Celtics have stopped running. He has concerns about their pick-and-roll defense. He even went Belichickian about tonight's opponent, the 76ers, who may be the worst team in the East.

"Philly is playing extremely hard," he said. "They've been in almost every game. They scare me because of how hard they play, and if we don't come in and play with great focus and match their intensity, it could be a tough time."

No comments: