Jeremiah Rivers (Doc's son) goes OFF on Bill Simmons on Twitter

[paidthecost2betheboss]

The problem I have with defending Simmons is that he just doesn't know the real story.  No one does.

You guys are falling for much more skilled version of Felger. 

Doc surely wanted to coach KG, Pierce, Rondo, Green and Sully through another year of contention.  In the end he AGREED to come back and coach regardless of a blowup.  But the thing had gone too far.  Doc love KG to death.  His initial acceptance of the deal involved two more year of coaching KG and very likely Pierce in a contending situation. 

And when the deal fell apart he agreed to come back, but it was too late. 

No one knows for sure the signals Doc got from the brass.  The story is the Celtics didn't want to spend that much on a coach during a rebuild. 

I don't get the Doc crucifixion at all. 

Or the Simmons love.  Simmons will end in the dust heap of television losers.  Doc will come out strong and thriving....

Holy Crap man. Put the cup down.  Is this Jeremiah?

Did you see Wyc's presser or Danny's

You really think they were trying to cut Doc to save money and what exactly is "too late" unless it's a "leaked" story...whoops...that is actually a 2 year old event?

Your saying folks are going over board while diving in backwards yourself.

I admit not knowing the Doc story well.  But I also think no one can know all the ins and outs when relationships end.  I believe that in reality people get confused when it comes to making big decisions.  Unfortunately when standing before the media you can't just say, well, I'm confused as hell about what I want at the moment, so you end up looking like a fool instead.  I think Danny and Wyc respect the heck out of Doc, so that's good enough for me.  And I don't like the Doc has victimized the Celtics (or me as a Celtic blogger) by leaving.

I like J.Rivers defending his dad against Simmons.  Simmons will have a long career in sports media but not at events like the draft.  People tune into the draft for good times, beer and popcorn.  Not the same kind of meanness they faced at work all day.  His humor is too easy, but it's exhausting.  His producers will realize this.

So Simmons killed your beer buzz and your not happy?

I bolded that part cuz it's kinda important. I'm gonna go out on a limb and speculate that Bill Simmons knows more about what went on than you or I. And you should get the facts...so much as you can before just claiming one guy is right and the other will end up on the Journalistic dustbin or whatever it is you said.

[BCFootball45]

I enjoy when bandwagon fans start calling people quitters & traitors. Did Doc quit on the Celtics in the 2006-2007 season? Do you guys remember when fans were chanting for Doc to be fired? Doc didn't quit, Doc helped us out by getting compensation for him & moved on to a better situation. What can Celtics fans truly complain about?

I enjoyed Doc's time here (despite some very frustrating decisions about rotations etc.) & I am ready for the next coach. I don't begrudge the man, I just wish him well. There is generally NO loyalty in sports. Teams get rid of you when they don't need you & players/coaches should have the right to go to better situations when they want to (this was a mutual decision w/ Doc & Danny because he was under contract).

If you don't end up leaving like Ray Allen did last year (when a majority of Celtics fans/forumers called him Benedict Allen), then you get shipped off to a team like the  Memphis Grizzlies or in the case of KG & PP the Brooklyn Nets, when you are supposedly a Celtics Legend. Btw this legend had no input on what team he was going to. I hope the Nets can contend (worried about the bench) & win a championship because I love KG & The Truth. Like all of my favorite Celtics that have left willingly or unwillingly, I wish them luck & I'll root for them personally.

[Interceptor]

I like J.Rivers defending his dad against Simmons.  Simmons will have a long career in sports media but not at events like the draft.  People tune into the draft for good times, beer and popcorn.  Not the same kind of meanness they faced at work all day.  His humor is too easy, but it's exhausting.  His producers will realize this.

I liked Doc's kids defending him too, but only because it resulted in a Top 5 Takedown for 2013 from Simmons himself; that line about signing his son up for Twitter.

Personally I find the drafts generally unwatchable, but this one was entertaining with him there. Bill's reaction to the #1 pick was the best; you can't fake that kind of emotional investment. The other guys looked like empty suits by comparison, even Jalen (which was weird).

I hope he's on deck for 2014.

[paidthecost2betheboss]

I enjoy when bandwagon fans start calling people quitters & traitors. Did Doc quit on the Celtics in the 2006-2007 season? Do you guys remember when fans were chanting for Doc to be fired? Doc didn't quit, Doc helped us out by getting compensation for him & moved on to a better situation. What can Celtics fans truly complain about?

I enjoyed Doc's time here (despite some very frustrating decisions about rotations etc.) & I am ready for the next coach. I don't begrudge the man, I just wish him well. There is generally NO loyalty in sports. Teams get rid of you when they don't need you & players/coaches should have the right to go to better situations when they want to (this was a mutual decision w/ Doc & Danny because he was under contract).

If you don't end up leaving like Ray Allen did last year (when a majority of Celtics fans/forumers called him Benedict Allen), then you get shipped off to a team like the  Memphis Grizzlies or in the case of KG & PP the Brooklyn Nets, when you are supposedly a Celtics Legend. Btw this legend had no input on what team he was going to. I hope the Nets can contend (worried about the bench) & win a championship because I love KG & The Truth. Like all of my favorite Celtics that have left willingly or unwillingly, I wish them luck & I'll root for them personally.

Via
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/40780/when-tankers-tell-the-truth

2006-07 Boston Celtics
In 2007, with Greg Oden and Kevin Durant as the big lottery prizes, several teams were openly questioned about apparent tanking, including the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies, the three teams that ended up with the best chance of drafting Oden or Durant.

In one notorious game late in the season, the Celtics, playing at home, led the woeful Bobcats 69-51 late in the third quarter -- and managed to lose the game by eight points, enhancing their draft positioning. Of course, Celtics coach Doc Rivers denied tanking charges. As Steve Bulpett reported in the Boston Herald: “Rivers insisted there was nothing sinister about leaving Paul Pierce (game-high 23 points) on the bench for the fourth quarter and letting the quintet of Sebastian Telfair, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Allan Ray and Leon Powe stay on the parquet as the lead -- still at 10 with nine minutes left in the game -- disappeared.”

In the final week of the season, the Celtics and Bucks, both maneuvering for the best possible draft position, played each other and gave DNPs to high scorers Paul Pierce, Al Jefferson, Wally Szczerbiak, Michael Redd and Mo Williams.

After the game, the Associated Press reported:
Ryan Gomes had 13 through three quarters, but watched from the bench in the fourth as Boston clinched the worst record in the Eastern Conference and second worst in the league.

"I probably (would have played), but since we were in the hunt for a high draft pick, of course things are different," Gomes said. "I understand that. Hopefully things get better. Now that we clinched at least having the second-most balls in the lottery, the last three games we'll see what happens. We'll see if we can go out and finish some games."

Doc didn't quit on us in 2006-7? The whole team quit at the coaches and Managements instructions.  I'm not on any bandwagon but your making up your own reality here. Memphis? They piledrove the Clips I think and had a better record than the Celtics. He wasn't being sent to the Pelicans.

[rondoallaturca]

I'm going to agree with Bill on this one. Now, I won't go as far to say that Doc flat out quit on the team, but Doc has flip-flopped on his story every single time he's made a media appearance, and for all the Rivers' family talk of knowing the truth before making any judgments, maybe they should just come out and say the truth rather than saying that Doc wanted to stay, Doc wanted to leave, Doc would've came back but preferred LA, Doc might do broadcasting, Doc might just take time off to spend with his family, etc...

[Smitty77]

The Celtics did NOT QUIT on Doc during that 18-game losing streak BCFootball45!!

Smitty77

[Eja117]

I'm completely with Bill for a couple reasons. One is that he has something Jeremiah doesn't. It's called talent. Another reason is that Jeremiah shouldn't talk to Bill about loyalty. Bill has it to the Celtics. He always had it and always will. Jeremiah has it to his dad. Doc quit.is Jeremiah saying doc was run out of town? Doc isn't here now because he didn't want to be. That's quitting. There might be good reasons to quit but it's still quitting

[SAMnMAX]

Suck my duck Doc Rivers. The diva drama that you tortured the Celtics organization with for two month has costed us vital opportunities to hire good coaches. Not to mention, your defection is the reason KG waived his no trade clause and is no longer with us. You screwed the Celtics organization more than Ray Judas Allen ever hoped to, and yet you still have the nerve to play saint that loves Boston and wishes us only the best. But non of that matters now, does it? It is true what they say. When the ship starts to sink, the rats are the ones to leave first.

[Finkelskyhook]

Wiley,

He signed a FIVE YEAR contract that STILL had THREE years left on it.  Doc COMMITTED to that 5-year deal to be OUR coach.  He QUIT!!! 

EVERYONE, including Doc and Jeremiah, etc. knew that KG and PP would not be playing for the C's for the duration of that contract.

Why did he sign and AGREE TO the five-year contract?  Your argument about this year falls apart quickly with ALL the information.

Smitty77

My question, Smitty....Is why would you want Rivers around for a rebuild anyway? 

I am no fan of Rivers...But after seeing his gross ineptitude and embarassing handling of the "rebuild" prior to Thibs, Garnett, and Allen....Especially the absolute defensive cluelessness.....

Rivers and Ainge did us a giant favor here....Rivers by leaving and Ainge by getting a first rounder.

[snowball]

I agree with Rivers, not Simmons. Danny is giving
him nothing to work with. The guys he came back for
are all gone. He doesn't get along with Rondo either.
Danny is the one making these moves, and although the
media is 99.9% behind Danny on a complete blowup
I am not.

[paidthecost2betheboss]

Wiley,

He signed a FIVE YEAR contract that STILL had THREE years left on it.  Doc COMMITTED to that 5-year deal to be OUR coach.  He QUIT!!! 

EVERYONE, including Doc and Jeremiah, etc. knew that KG and PP would not be playing for the C's for the duration of that contract.

Why did he sign and AGREE TO the five-year contract?  Your argument about this year falls apart quickly with ALL the information.

Smitty77

My question, Smitty....Is why would you want Rivers around for a rebuild anyway? 

I am no fan of Rivers...But after seeing his gross ineptitude and embarassing handling of the "rebuild" prior to Thibs, Garnett, and Allen....Especially the absolute defensive cluelessness.....

Rivers and Ainge did us a giant favor here....Rivers by leaving and Ainge by getting a first rounder.

It did turn out for the better but folks debating and parsing words or using semantics to try and defend a guy that frankly probably...no definitely doesn't give a crap what they think is in itself a topic separate from the end result topic.

That waaay too long a period while doc was buying the gas to burn his own bridges had a ton of bad side effects. If Danny hadn't walked and scheduled a presser we might be saying "hey ...at least we got a 2nd rd pick". Doc stuck it to the Celts way harder than Ray Allen ever did. Ray said very little for a long bit then slowly confirmed the rumors that had circulated about being dangled,Rondo, his usage etc. Turns out what most folks were saying on here was completely accurate though they were homers and throwing waaay too much vitriol. Doc? Doc is saying a lot...too much and it doesn't match with other stuff he says and this is over a short period of time that began right after Danny talked and Wyc talked...not too kindly I might add.

Doc is a piece of work.

Now let me put on my tinfoil hat

**puts on and actives homer switch**

If Doc is as close to K.G. as folks say. Would it be possible that he spoke with Doc about the No trade (actually a misnomer cuz it's a "I pick my spot" clause not a NO trade)

We don't have a coach right now
Our best asset based on his terrific Playoff run...what was he grabbing for Boards? like 60 in 4 games or something?..That asset ...Danny's hands were tied. That's convenient for at least 2 people who are not named Danny.
Before Ray went to Memphis...it was...well it died. Who has fingerprints on that?

People say we have 9 1st round picks in the next 5 years. Well....we might have 8 and a so called premiere coach if he had held up his contract which didn't include control over players though it seems on closer inspection he kinda did...and it really hurt us

[Kuberski33]

Given the choice between Simmons and Bilas and a bunch of ultra serious draftniks droning on and on about 'upside' and 'wingspans'....give me Simmons.  Sports is about entertainment and opinions and believe it or not controversy.

[Eja117]

I agree with Rivers, not Simmons. Danny is giving
him nothing to work with. The guys he came back for
are all gone. He doesn't get along with Rondo either.
Danny is the one making these moves, and although the
media is 99.9% behind Danny on a complete blowup
I am not.

yeah but Simmons doesn't get 7 million a year to do his job and I don't think Danny does either. For 7 million a year cry me a Rivers, then shut up and do your Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.ned job

[wiley]

Wasn't there a supposed hand shake agreement when Rivers signed his last contract that he might not stick around for a rebuild?  If that's the case, I don't think anyone can call it quitting.  I'd just call it planning.  And the Celtics set it up to maximize his departure.  I don't see real enmity between Doc and the Celtics.  Maybe some mild irritation or mildly hurt feelings over this or that, but that's to be expected in heavy negotiations.

Given the mutuality that seems apparent, I don't think the "quitter" label holds any water. 

He left.  That's it.

Isn't Jerry Sloan a bigger quitter than Doc? 

People move on for all kinds of reasons.  It's normal.

Too much drama here on the blog imo.

[Interceptor]

Wasn't there a supposed hand shake agreement when Rivers signed his last contract that he might not stick around for a rebuild?  If that's the case, I don't think anyone can call it quitting.  I'd just call it planning.

I'd call it quitting, and I'm "anyone". The only difference is the timing.