Doc Rivers brings up Miami Heat to players every day, wants Boston Celtics to hate them
The Boston Celtics have been marked for years by a playing style drenched in hatred, by elbows that strike opponents and four-letter words postmarked with animosity. In an era of friendships between opponents, the Celtics are competitive and mean. If they have friends wearing opposing colors, they do not show any love for them during the 48 minutes while scoreboard operators track made baskets.
Doc Rivers does not want the Celtics to remove their hatred or play with less of a competitive streak. Rather, he fuels their ice-cold mentality, especially with regards to the Miami Heat.
“I don’t care about the Lakers. When that trade first went down, my first thought was if we play the Lakers in the Finals, all’s good. I’d love that opportunity,” Rivers said recently during an interview with Bob Ryan. “My honest thought as a coach right now: I have my eye squarely on Miami. I come up to my players during the year — they’re in the facility now — I bring up Miami every single day to them. I want them to hate them. I want them to beat them. That has to be our focus.”
We tend to give Kevin Garnett a lot of credit for infusing the Celtics with his “beat them or mortally wound ourselves while trying to” mentality, but the Celtics are built in Rivers’ mold as much as Garnett’s.
(h/t Celtics Blog)
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Celtics Blog | Jay King | September 16, 2012
Best thing Doc has done, as Judas and his teammates should be HATED every moment of the season. Can’t wait till that first game with them. Go Cs…
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@James
I’m calm, and I agree that ultimately we’re just speculating here. And everyone knows Jeff Green underachieved in his time 2 years ago. He knows that more than anyone. He’s got a ton to prove to us fans (and those who have an awkwar affair with KP) and to his teammates. He’s a player that will breakout next year. My thing with Joseph is that he might be valuable, but to a team that’s built to win now (or at least that’s what the roster tells me) he’s not as valuable as a veteran rebounder who has sound defense. Remember, we solve our offensive woes this offseason, so K-Mart won’t need to average much. And to your RR point, you’re absolutely right. I have no response to that. Even though there are some players (Kendall Marshall, for instance) that you can tell will succeed on the pro level because of their bball IQ. You’ve seen more Joseph than I have, so you understand his game more than I do. I just see him as a 3rd stringer behind Pierce and Green. And taking into account each of the former’s situations, I just don’t see Joseph getting an opportunity to showcase his skills for 2-3 years. An all I’m saying is that a chance to add a piece that could prove to help us immediately is way more valuable than “what ifs” and “could be’s”. And Pierce was once regarded as a selfish player. Obviously that’s changed. If K-Mart came here he would buy into what Doc and Ainge are selling. If Rasheed could, anyone can.
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KJ is going to be third behind PP & JG, but I bet he’s pushing JG by mid-season as he is much more diversified at all phases of the game than JG is. I’d rather see BB, CW, Sullinger and KG, Collins and Fab man the post positions than bring in K-Mart who would be taking time from CW or Sullinger. I would rather build with what we’ve got than have to cut Xmas or KJ to bring in a player that is quickly seeing his skills diminish. Our problem the last few years is too many older players…to win ‘now’. We are so f’in deep so let’s roll this group out and then adjust at the trade deadline if need be. Go Cs…
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Not enough hate to go around. Fuck Miami. Our goal is to win a championship. Thats the focus. Forget that little traitor Judas and lets win that 18th banner.
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