As DP wrote about earlier Doc has signed a 5 year deal with the Celtics, which was shocking. He was on WEEI today, and I found some of the things he was talking about very interesting.
On Big Baby's poor play..
"I thought it was more in between his ears than his play. I thought the whole contract thing affected his play. I thought he had the wrong focus at times because of that. I think when you stray away from just being a team player and being the role that you're given, I think you struggle. I think all players do. And I thought Baby did that.
"I thought scoring was way too important to him, instead of being who he is. Baby's never going to be a great scorer in our league, but he can score. What Baby has to be is an energy player, a guy who takes charges. Yeah, if we get him for the right price," he said. "I think it would be nice, but we can't overpay. That will be up to Danny and Wyc [Grousbeck] and them. That's one of the things I stay out of, at least I try to. We've got to get him back in the right frame of mind. And that's the way he was the last 20 games. Baby's a good basketball player. He can help us or any other team. But, to me, only if he plays the right way (WEEI)."
Listening to it Doc seemed pissed at Big Baby. He was very loyal to him, and gave him the minutes, but in the end Big Baby just never came around. We have written many times that their were reports that Big Baby got fat. Doc was asked about it, and he said that he didn't know, but that it seemed pretty obvious from just looking at him that he had put on weight. All of this to me means he is gone. If Big Baby didn't have the concentration to keep his weight in check during his contract year (probably the most important year of his career) then I don't think he is worth investing in. Plus, guys with his body type don't last long in the NBA.
On being part of the rebuilding process...
"I don't think anyone's looking forward to that, but I'm willing to do that," he said. "I had a group that has been very loyal to me. I think it would have been very easy for me to just run and go somewhere else and chase something else. It would have been easier to do it the other way; I just don't think it's the right thing to do. Coaches talk about loyalty and team all the time. I just thought it was time to show it. And that's what I did (WEEI)."
Very interesting. I was wondering why he came back, and maybe he felt that the "Big 3" gave him so much that he should be the one that rides this process out with them. I also think this "showing loyalty" plays into the long term. KG/Allen are in their last year, and if he remains loyal to them this could be a stepping stone to attracting more free agents. Doc is already one of the most beloved coaches in the NBA, and showing that you are loyal (even through the bad times) could go a long way to bringing in a big time free agent (Howard, Paul, ect). I think the Celtics have enough to make a decent run next year if they sign good guys next year, while also not crushing their future. They can sign a bunch of 1 year contracts, and then have the cap room and core (Rondo, Pierce, maybe Green).
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