Like a Role-ing Stone

[Alex Goldblatt]

Hmmm.. show you say.. I know, a lot of things routinely escape our poor
minds, but anyway.. If you missed his story with Orl, I can remind you here:

======================
"The 42-year old Rivers spent four plus seasons as the Head Coach of the
Orlando Magic. His first year at the helm in Orlando he led a team predicted
by most to finish near or at the bottom of the league that included four
starters who were not drafted. Rivers guided the team to a 41-41 record, and
for his efforts, Rivers was named the 1999-2000 NBA Coach-of-the-Year.

Despite having eight new players and the loss of six-time All-Star Grant
Hill to injury in 2000-01, Rivers led the Orlando Magic to a 43-39 (.524)
record, including a franchise record tying nine-game winning streak from and
posted a 24-17 (.585) record during the second half of the season, which led
to a berth in the 2001 NBA Playoffs.

During the 2001-02 campaign, Rivers helped the Magic improve on their
previous season, finishing with a 44-38 (.537) record and their second
straight playoff berth. Once again Rivers led the Magic to a strong second
half with a 24-17 (.585) record.

In 2002-03 Rivers and the Magic finished with a 42-40 (.512) record and
their third consecutive trip to the playoffs. Despite battling numerous
injuries and starting 21 different lineups, the Magic finished the second
half of the season with a strong playoff push, in typical Rivers fashion,
with a 22-19 (.537) record. "

=================================

Interesting part starts when you try to figure out why he was that
successful, and trying to compare this run to the OB-ball with players like
Waltah and such. Speaks volumes.

I can only ask you a simple question: do you know the average age of the C's
the last 3 seasons? Average age of the active roster?  Average age of the
Orl roster back then? Who was the youngest - and the only rookie - back
then? T'Mac rings the bell?.. :))
AG


On 9/25/07, Patrick.Ryan at westover.af.mil <Patrick.Ryan at westover.af.mil>
wrote:
>
> How's that old line go? Show me, don't tell me?
>
> One of the best ways to tell a good coach is the willingness to adapt as
> he learns, changes teams, personnel, etc. Pat Riley winning with
> Showtime and its complete basketball polar opposite the "Thug" Knick
> teams for example.
>
> It's more then just the roles too which Doc has performed poorly (and I
> don't buy the "he was forced to do that last year" apologist excuse
> either; he's done the same thing every year he's been here). Let's delve
> into this other example: his rote response to a bad loss? Give the guys
> a day off. The rote response to a back to back? Give em a day off.
>
> Not once in my memory do I recall seeing an article reciting Doc going
> the opposite direction after a big blowout - a double session, a rant n'
> rave, whatever. Like when you occasionally see in the paper a quote like
> from the NFL "He's PO'd at our level of play right now. We had a full
> pads session this morning and he ran us ragged." Or the NBA after losing
> on missed foul shots "I'm pretty tired. Wind sprints followed by free
> throws man, over and over again."
>
> Not from Doc - the ultimate players coach. He just gives em another day
> off.
>
> I'm not saying he needs to become Bobby Knight. I'm saying he needs to
> balance his approach. Use his captains to sense when a day off IS the
> right answer and when the opposite - a "call out" would be better.
> Alpha male athletes respond to challenging their manhood, not if used
> every time, but once in awhile it works wonders to remind them that they
> are not quite perfection personified.
>
> Doc handles people well. He really does. That's his strong suit, but to
> get this team to the next level he MUST, either himself or through
> assistants, improve his ability as a tactician and also as a non-game
> day manager to get this team where we all think they can go.
> ----------------
> Doc clearly stated that he will max out this opportunity to play the
> starters every time he can. - Alex
>
>
>
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