Of all the things Doc Rivers set out to accomplish this season, coaching the Eastern Conference in the All-Star game ranks low on the list. He’d be the first one to tell you that whatever success the Celtics have had in their first 48 games of the season is directly related to his team’s relative good health.
Rivers earned that nod with the Celtics 95-90 victory over the Kings Tuesday night (click here for a full recap) and it’s worth taking a moment to consider the job the coach has done.
He completely flipped his training camp plan at center once Jermaine O’Neal’s knee became a problem and integrated Shaquille O’Neal into the starting lineup. Rather than clog the lane and get in people’s way, Shaq has been an invaluable contributor and needed low-post presence.
For a coach who has a reputation for not being patient with young players he has provided an avenue for Luke Harangody and Semih Erden to contribute far beyond what was expected.
Consider also that top assistant and defensive mastermind Tom Thibodeau is now on the bench in Chicago. Rivers hired Lawrence Frank to fill both roles and the defense hasn’t skipped a beat. At some point the head coach deserves credit for smart hires and the confidence to let his coaches do their jobs.
Along the way he has further empowered Rajon Rondo to take over the offense, converted Glen Davis into a top Sixth Man candidate and adjusted on the fly to Rondo’s absence by installing Paul Pierce as a point forward.
In some ways coaching a veteran team is easy, especially these veterans. Rivers told reporters in Sacramento that he didn’t have to say anything to his team after a lackluster first half because his starters already did.
But in other ways it’s difficult. He’s cut back on practice time in an effort to keep them fresh and had to get creative even when the team does assemble at Waltham. He’s managed minutes even with the injuries to the supporting cast and he’s found a way to keep his team motivated, hungry and angry all at the same time.
Many things have had to go right for the Celtics to have the best record in the Eastern Conference and for Rivers to get the nod as head coach in the All-Star game, but don’t think they happened by accident.
Here are three points from a win that capped a very successful west coast swing:
AN ASSERTIVE RAJON RONDO IS A GREAT RAJON RONDO
There were several plays in the first half when Rajon Rondo could have passed up drives to the basket for assists. He had Kevin Garnett steaming down the lane for a possible alley-oop, for instance.
But Rondo, who had developed a predictable tendency to pass under similar circumstances elected to take the ball to the basket instead. Sometimes he got blocked. Other times he came up with crazy Rondo-esque finishes like the one where he went up off his wrong foot and squeezed in a layup on the left side with his right hand. Rondo plays.
As always, there’s a method at work. Rivers told reporters that he wanted Rondo to get to the free throw line 10 times a game, which would be a highly ambitious number, considering he’s only shot 64 free throws all season.
But on this trip Rondo has made it to the line more frequently. He had four free throws against Portland, six against Phoenix and three more against the Kings. In an entirely positive development, he made all three against Sacramento and finally raised his average over 50 percent.
For whatever reason, Rondo is not a good free throw shooter, which is completely unacceptable for a player of his skill level. Rivers knows – and Rondo does too – that opposing teams will foul him all day long in the playoffs and eventually he’ll have to start making them.
He may never be Ray Allen at the line, but there’s no reason he shouldn’t make his free throws at a 70 percent clip at least. That’s his challenge over the last 34 games and he’s off to a decent start.
TIME TO START KENDRICK PERKINS?
Shaquille O’Neal is either hurt or just not into it right now, but he is not giving the Celtics any kind of production as the starting center. Kendrick Perkins meanwhile is starting to find his rhythm just five games into his return from knee surgery.
It seems like it’s only a matter of time before Perkins rejoins the starting lineup and with an upcoming slate that features the Mavericks, Magic, Lakers and Heat in the next week and a half, the time may be right for the switch.
Perkins gave the Celtics 25 strong minutes against the Kings, scoring eight points to go with 10 rebounds. He was particularly solid in the second half when the Celtics made their move.
Before Perkins came back Rivers suggested that he would eventually move Perkins back into his familiar starter’s role at some point. That would relegate Shaq to the bench where his low-post game could be an asset for a second unit that is searching for some kind of consistency.
The move would be an adjustment, however, because Shaq has come off the bench exactly nine times in his entire career that has consisted of 1,206 games. It’s an open question as to how well his body would respond to such an assignment.
Still, it does seem inevitable and now that Perkins is giving the Celtics 25 minutes a night, the time seems right.
DON’T GIVE UP ON NATE
This hasn’t been the easiest season for Nate Robinson, who has yet to find any consistency in his shooting stroke. He struggled when pressed into a starting point guard role when Rondo was hurt and he doesn’t seem likely to fill that spot once Delonte West comes back from his broken wrist at the end of the month.
Robinson’s propensity for jacking up 3’s on the break hasn’t endeared him to the Celtics faithful who view such heaves as an affront to everything they know about the game. Even with all that, it would be unwise to give up on Robinson just yet.
He played well in the second half against the Kings and Rivers left him on the court to close it out. He made several smart decisions with the ball – driving to the basket for a layup and kicking it out to Allen for a 3 with the shot clock winding down. His all-out hustle showed that despite it all, he will always play hard whenever he’s on the floor.
It would be in Robinson’s best interest to put together some kind of consistent production while West is still inactive because Von Wafer has done enough to warrant a look backing up Ray Allen.
Still, there will come a time in the playoffs when they will need Robinson to provide a spark and some instant offense. He proved that he was capable in Game 6 of the conference finals when he helped lift them to a series-clinching win over the Magic. He can’t live off that game forever, but there’s still time for Robinson to put it all together and the Celtics will be a better team if he can.