Classic gamesmanship: Why the Celtics’ Doc Rivers slighted the Lakers

February 09 09

Yesterday, Doc Rivers went there.

On Sunday, before Boston played San Antonio in a nationally televised game, ABC’s cameras caught the likable sideline boss warning his players that they could meet the Spurs in the NBA Finals.

He could be right. The Celtics, as defending champions, hold the edge over LeBron James’ Cavaliers to win the Eastern Conference, while the Spurs’ defence and experience makes them a formidable playoff opponent.

This was no coincidence. There was another purpose. Rivers was likely slighting the Lakers.

Consider that Boston, Los Angeles, and most of the NBA have been anticipating a rematch of last season’s Final. That’s right. The green-and-white versus the purple-and-gold, part two.

Unlike last season, the tables might have turned. Foul or no foul on Ray Allen, the Lakers have momentum after Thursday’s overtime win against the Celtics and Sunday’s salary dump of Vladimir Radmanovic. Rivers’ comments were a reminder to Kobe and his supporting cast not to get overconfident.

All coaches use gamesmanship. Ironically, Rivers may have been taking a page out of Laker coach Phil Jackson’s book. Zen-Master Phil has made a career of winning NBA Titles, while simultaneously belittling and degrading opponents.

Some will say I’m overreacting. Perhaps. But the former point guard knew the cameras were on and he had to know his words would get a reaction.

Yes, Rivers went there. It was probably intentional. Whatever his motivation, the NBA’s best rivalry just got better.

Gamesmanship or motivation? What do you think of Rivers comments? Get at us in the comment box below and come back to HoopsVibe the Blog for more NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of Raps Fan.

14 Comments: Classic gamesmanship: Why the Celtics’ Doc Rivers slighted the (...)

Posted by
CelticsTillTheCasketDrops
on 02.17.2009

I hate the La La Land Fakers with a passion One they are the biggest cry babies in the history of the NBA they can’t deal with another team getting any calls cause they are so use to getting all the calls home and away needless to say that david stern is their biggest fan.How come the ref’s that called that bogus game against the celtics at home.were callin the lakers cav’s game on national television.Hmmm,,,explain that to me.The celtics won that game and they were robbed in the worse way.How come they took lebron’s triple double away is it cause they didn’t want lebron out shining kobe cryant some’em wrong with that protrait.what about the all star why did they already have the mvp reserved for kobe cryant and shaq before the game was over.Can’t you see people! this is rigged for the Lakers to win it all .they can’t earn it like the Big Celtics.Its givin to them. I just hope god is a celtics fan and he sees what kinda crooked stuff is going on with this b.s.league.We are the greatest franchise that ever touched this league lots of history and tradition Remember Fakers fanz we are still 9-2 in championships against this easter egg purple and gold team we won all our champioships from one city.17 by way of knock out Go Celtics prevail from what this league is trying to do to us and win like champs that you are. The officials will always favor the lakers in this league.I’d rather play in the ABA lol .

Posted by
CelticsTillTheCasketDrops
on 02.17.2009

It’s a whole lot more into detail What Doc says.Kobe Cryant and the Fakers are David Stern’s favorite team. This Team is the same team as last year mediocre but their is one thing that is keeping them afloat and that is what they give convicts whom snitch on eachtother in prison and thats called protective custody.Yes kobe gets whatever thats givin to him this league is becoming so predictive and political that i am getting so sick and tired of seeing the praise they give to kobe cyant and the lakers. They get all of the calls at home and away.Is David Stern forgetting who is the world champs the only team to win back to back eight times in a roll the only team to win 17 big ones by way of knockout.All from the same city.Come on now! I"d like to get some love to especialy when we play at home.The Lakers get all that and some It is so wrong the way they gave kobe and shaq the mvp in the all star game before the game was over when kg and paul pierce were puttin up numbers also this is so rigged yo .

Posted by
mclutch
on 02.12.2009

i’m a huge lakers fan...but no bynum, no title...they can’t do it w/out him..just cuz odom n pau showed some toughness in one game vs the celtics doesnt mean they can do it in the finals and win 4 games. sure, this time around they have a healthy ariza, but the celtics are still much bigger and tougher down low. if anything, they got weaker with the loss of turiaf. vujacic doesnt do crap...and this recent adam morrison deal? uh...has everyone forgotten the last mj 1st pick debacle that came the lakers way? kwame? still a bust. spurs are too old to beat the lakers. cavs have a chance to dethrone the celtics if they make a deal for a better 2 guard...rivers is right, trying to motivate his team, reminding them of their underdog mentality they had last year, many celtic disbelievers...and in the end, the c’s won it all. ppl shudnt take them lightly just cuz lbj n kobe are monsters on the court...the celtics have 3 undisputed monsters of their own. .

Posted by
dominic
on 02.11.2009

doc was simply downplaying the loss to lakers while reminding his team that the spurs are still dangerous. he wants the lakers to be overconfident just like last year. after LA beat boston at home they were acting like they just won the title, a seven game series will be alot different. .

Posted by

on 02.10.2009

laker fans don’t be too confident... it’s a long season, but nothing would satisfy us laker fans to take out the celts once and for all and shut their mouths, and be world champions ;p .

Posted by
Shaq
on 02.10.2009

All this is just talk, nobody knows what will happen. The Lakers are the deepest team and currently are the west champs, Spurs must go thru LA. I got to go wit LA this time. Is it too late for me to say I sorry & come baq? .

Posted by
Unbiased
on 02.10.2009

Firstly,Not being a Spur, Laker or Celtic fan I believe my opinion will be unbiased as some are because they support one of these teams. But you do have to look at the probabilities.Firstly, Spurs have no-one on their entire roster that can limit Kobe’s output. The Lakers can contain Spurs players with superior quickness and being deeper. Spurs only just got over the Lakers at home, Lakers blew the Spurs away in their other meeting. Lakers were shorthanded without Vujacic to limit Manu’s output, when he came back in the 2nd game Ariza and Vujacic kept him in check. Secondly, Doc is just trying to put pressure on the Lakers because he sees his team under a mountain of it from the Cavs and the Lakers with little pressure out of the West so he has to create some sort of mental pressure on the Lakers so they take their minds off his Celtics. Problem is Lakers didn’t know what to expect against the Celts last year and they do now so Doc has literally got nothing up his sleeve so he’s trying to create something. Not a smart move though because it shows he truly has a fear of the Lakers and that he’d prefer to play the Spurs. .

Posted by
ALakersFan
on 02.10.2009

Oh yea Marian since u say that were gonna double tim duncan and let the shooters spot up for easy 3’s...that wont happen because we didnt double duncan the 2 times we played them this season...there was no reason to he had average games...pau gasol has a history of holding duncan under his average and so does bynum...and bynum is too much of a problem for the spurs...and our bench is way too fast for the spurs...our bench can do it all...and we limited the spurs points in the paint...we didnt let tony parker in the paint and we made him a jump shooter...and by doing so he wasnt a factor... .

Posted by
ALakersFan
on 02.10.2009

MARIAN u sound retarted...do u remember what the lakers did to the spurs last year...do u remember what the lakers did to the spurs this year...just cause u have roger mason and matt bonner means nothing...the lakers will once again put the spurs out of the playoffs...were simply to good for the spurs...and we will have andrew bynum bacc this season...i know u remember what he did against tim duncan..(the greatest pf of all time) he held him to an average game...oh yea...and ginobli wont show up again .

Posted by
Lakers
on 02.10.2009

Marian is a dumb-ass, the Lakers won the series last year, so it is the Spurs who must go through the Lakers not the other way around. LA has the best record in the league so they are the team to beat. I think Rivers is just pissed they lost to the Lakers and he got fined for being an idiot. Celtics are terrible losers, and when it comes to the playoffs, losing is what they will be doing. .

Posted by
Bill
on 02.10.2009

I agree with Marian. .

Posted by

on 02.9.2009

Lakers suck. Go Spurs. Doc is right. .

Posted by
hahaha she said spurs!
on 02.9.2009

LOL! I LIKE TO TYPE IN CAPS BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE WILL BELIEVE ME IF I DON’T SHOW HOW MUCH I BELIEVE IN WHAT I’M SAYING. Listen "MARIAN"!!! beat u in 5 last yr. If a healthy bynum comes back it’ll definitely be a sweep. Sorry to burst your bubble. You need to re-evaluate your teams depth. That’s what the spurs are lacking these days. It’s cool that you’re die hard but get realistic. If spurs don’t shore up their bench with some moves before the trade deadline they have no chance. .

Posted by
MARIAN
on 02.9.2009

IT WAS NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. NOTHING TO DIMINISH THE LAKERS FOR THE SAKE OF THEM "NOT GETTING OVERCONFIDENT". RIVERS SPEAKS THE TRUTH. DOESN’T TAKE A BRAIN SURGEON. WHEN PEOPLE SAY, "HEY, THE SPURS HAVE GOT TO GET THRU THE LAKERS FIRST," I SAY, "YEAH RIGHT, IT’S THE LAKERS THAT AREN’T GOING ANYWHERE TILL ’THEY’ GET THROUGH OUR SPURS" . . . I THINK EVEN MARC STEIN SAID THIS AT THE BEGINNINIG OF THE SEASON, WHEN THE SPURS HAD NOT YET SURGED. I CALLED THE FOLLOWING AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SEASON: SPURS/CELTS IN FINALS. SPURS IN SEVEN.REMEMBER ME WHEN . . . (AND P.S., I CALLED THE SPURS/CAVS FINALS WITH THE SPURS WINNING . . . WHEN IT WAS A HUNDRED TO ONE . . . WHEN EVERYONE WAS SAYING MAVS/PISTONS IN 2007, I CALLED THE TRUTH. IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN . . . WHETHER OR NOT IT WERE AN ODD YEAR. IT’S THE SPURS. OUR SECOND STRING IS NEARLY AS STRONG AS OUR BIG THREE. AND OUR BIG THREE NOW MAY AS WELL BE THE BIG FIVE . . . WITH MASON AND BONNER BEING TWO OF THE TOP THREE SHOOTERS IN THE LEAGUE. LET TIMMY DRAW IN THE DEFENSE, AND LET THE THREE POINT SHOOTERS DO THEIR THING WHEN THAT HAPPENS. I PRAY ALL PLAYERS ON ALL TEAMS STAY HEALTHY, AND I BELIEVE SPURS WILL RAISE UP NUMBER FIVE TROPHY THIS YEAR. AGAIN, REMEMBER WHEN . . . .

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Classic gamesmanship: Why the Celtics’ Doc Rivers slighted the Lakers

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