He May Have To Be A Doc To Get Inside Marbury’s Head
March 9, 2009 – 11:27 am by Jimmy Shapiro
Last year the Celtics were the story in the NBA. They added Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen and were the best team in the NBA from the beginning of the year all the way to end which culminated in the NBA Championship.
They’ve been really streaky this year. They won 19 in a row, then lost 7 of 9, then followed that up with 12 straight wins. Garnett and Pierce were clearly the top two players last year and you could argue that Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo have been the two best players for the Celtics this year. The main thing is they once again have a great record and are battling the Cavaliers for home court advantage. The Cavs currently have a one game edge for homecourt advantage and both teams have recently made additions for the stretch run. The Cavs added Joe Smith and the Celtics added Stephon Marbury and Mikki Moore.
Doc Rivers joined Dennis & Callahan on WEEI in Boston to discuss all things Celtics.
Are you 100 percent convinced that Stephon Marbury will buy into the program and work out well?
“Oh I”m 100 percent convinced. I really am. I wasn’t before we had him because I never coached him, but he’s going to really work out for us. A couple things I’m surprised by, he’s a far better defensive player than I ever knew or saw for that matter. And he’s a far better passer.”
“I told Steph don’t worry about trying to fit in on the floor, just play. Play, use your instincts. Guys, I’ll tell you this, I told our team this, I’ve said it publicly: it’s a testimony to our team as much as it is to Steph and Mikki, that it’s not up to them to try to fit in, and they have to do that, but it’s really up to the guys on the team to bring them in, and I think that’s far more important.”
Celtics are 16-4 without KG, what does that mean?
“It means that we’re playing well and that’s about it. It’s brutal without him, I can tell you that. Especially defensively. One of the things, he’s a run stopper if you guys know what I mean. The one thing I’ve always loved about Kevin, he’s a great guy to throw it down to the post and stop a run. Not having him we’re relying on a lot of jump shots and that’s very dangerous.”
Listen to Doc Rivers on WEEI in Boston
Tags: basketball interviews, Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett, NBA, sports radio interviews, Stephon Marbury
