Didn't we see this last year?

[The Eye of the Q is upon you!]

There are no more excuses.

“It’s like I told the young guys -- next year we’re not going to be talking about young guys anymore,” Doc Rivers said shortly after signing a one-year contract extension Thursday. “That’s over with. The bottom line is that now it’s my job to improve this team.”

So there is no room for delusional thinking, either. By Rivers’ admission, it’s provin’ time. The gaggle of injuries that stripped the Celtics [team stats] to the bone last season will presumably even out next fall.

Everyone is talking big, about the playoffs, Rivers included.

His one-year extension gives management the option of making an almost clean break -- with $5 million due Rivers in 2008-09 -- if these lofty designs fail.

But Rivers is banking on the kind of year recently turned in by the NBA’s latest Coach of the Year, Toronto’s Sam Mitchell. (NEW Jersey's Lawrence Frank)

The Raptors, thanks to a roster makeover, made a 20-win turnaround last season while winning the Atlantic Division with a 47-35 record. (NEW)

Rivers and his bosses envision this kind of jump by their 24-58 (revised from 33-49) team for next season. Then Rivers, like the soon-to-be free agent Mitchell, would have marketability. But for now Rivers is an imperfect coach with much to prove. The injuries contributed to his expanded shelf life, but as Rivers admitted, that’s over with.

Added from last years article:

Ownership made a great move (They DID??) by limiting the extension to one year, with options for another season attached.

It’s all on the coach.


I swear I read the same thing last year, I know I did. Will Danny panick if we get stiffed Tuesday?

[eja117]

We say no excuses but if we get the fifth pick and then all our players get hurt again I really don't expect them to be much better. I really would just expect players to be better when they actually play.

To be fair, last year's team wasn't even the Celtics. It was the half Celtics/half NBDL fill ins. It was like a long protracted NBA camp with new faces every week.

[Roadrunner]

quinielabox said:

There are no more excuses.

“It’s like I told the young guys -- next year we’re not going to be talking about young guys anymore,” Doc Rivers said shortly after signing a one-year contract extension Thursday. “That’s over with. The bottom line is that now it’s my job to improve this team.”

So there is no room for delusional thinking, either. By Rivers’ admission, it’s provin’ time. The gaggle of injuries that stripped the Celtics [team stats] to the bone last season will presumably even out next fall.

Everyone is talking big, about the playoffs, Rivers included.

His one-year extension gives management the option of making an almost clean break -- with $5 million due Rivers in 2008-09 -- if these lofty designs fail.

But Rivers is banking on the kind of year recently turned in by the NBA’s latest Coach of the Year, Toronto’s Sam Mitchell. (NEW Jersey's Lawrence Frank)

The Raptors, thanks to a roster makeover, made a 20-win turnaround last season while winning the Atlantic Division with a 47-35 record. (NEW)

Rivers and his bosses envision this kind of jump by their 24-58 (revised from 33-49) team for next season. Then Rivers, like the soon-to-be free agent Mitchell, would have marketability. But for now Rivers is an imperfect coach with much to prove. The injuries contributed to his expanded shelf life, but as Rivers admitted, that’s over with.

Added from last years article:

Ownership made a great move (They DID??) by limiting the extension to one year, with options for another season attached.

It’s all on the coach.


I swear I read the same thing last year, I know I did. Will Danny panick if we get stiffed Tuesday?

If the Celtics pick no later than #2, defcon 4 will happen w/ the Celtics.