Doc works on mental game with Rondo and Darko

Is it a coincidence that the two players he needs to work head games with both end with 'o'? I'm going to very interested to see if Doc's approach with Darko pays off. Very interested.

http://www.boston.com/sports/2012/10/06/celtics-coach-doc-rivers-works-mental-game-with-darko-milicic-rajon-rondo/0aQJvhgMhCOEYAjsBbBPpN/story.html





MILAN — There is a method to Doc Rivers’s hands-off approach to his
team the past few days on their European journey. The Celtics coach is
spending more time during training camp on the mental approach of his
team and less on actual on-court performance.





He was rather blasé about Friday’s 97-91 preseason-opening loss to
Fenerbahce Ulker of Turkey, but he stressed during a wide-ranging
interview with Italian media Saturday afternoon that he is working
feverishly on preparing his players for success by instilling
confidence.












One of his main subjects is center Darko Milicic, who has traveled
around the NBA, tabbed as a potential star after being the second
overall pick in 2003. Now merely a role player, Milicic has struggled
with confidence over the past few years and was squarely in coach Rick
Adelman’s doghouse last season, prompting the Minnesota Timberwolves to
waive him through the amnesty clause.



“He just needs a chance. He just needs a team that wants him to do
his job without asking him to be the No. 2 pick in the draft,” Rivers
said. “We’re just asking him to be part of a group and part of a team.
We give him roles on the team. I think he likes the roles that we’ve
given him and he didn’t feel any extra pressure. So far, so good. We
just have to keep him in that frame of mind that he’s in now.”



Milicic has been bogged down by the pressure and expectations of
being selected so high in a draft class that has become one of the best
in recent memory.



“You can see that he gets frustrated easy,” Rivers said. “So we’re trying to eliminate those episodes.



“Our thing right now with Darko is to play forward. From being around
for a short time, as a coach I can probably feel he’s played his career
backwards. He lives in the past a lot and we’re trying to get him to
live in the future.



“I told him [Friday], the only time I’ll take you out is if you make a
mistake and make another mistake because you’re thinking about the last
mistake. I won’t take you out for making a mistake. So hopefully that
works.”



Rivers has built a strong bond with point guard Rajon Rondo and last
season called him the most intelligent player he ever has coached. But
with Rondo assuming the leadership role on this year’s club, Rivers
wants him to accept more responsibility.



“Basketball-wise we want him to make his jump shots a little bit
more, we want him to make his free throws,” Rivers said. “But leadership
is the wrong word, it’s more being the team general on the floor.
That’s where I want him to really improve. I’m really pushing him this
year to think like me on the floor. The better he does that, I can sit
on the sideline and maybe have a cup of coffee or something during the
game.



“I just think it’s really important for him because of our offense.
He doesn’t need to look to the sideline for every set; he can feel it,
he knows it, having him draw up plays more. I think it’s a good
progression for him.”



. . .



Jared Sullinger scored 16 points in his NBA debut, looking
comfortable around the basket and flowing well with Rondo on
pick-and-rolls. With Chris Wilcox out indefinitely with back spasms and
Jeff Green playing small forward, there is opportunity for Sullinger to
make an impression.



He was the first rookie off the bench Friday and looked as if he had been there before.



“You just have to know your personnel, as long as you know who you
are playing with on the floor, you won’t look bad,” Sullinger said. “And
you’ve just got to understand that you gotta take steps back. Sometimes
I am going to be the fifth option and I have to understand that and
keep playing my role.



“Like Kevin [Garnett] told me, if you come in here and play hard, you
will play. Pretty much that’s what I’ve been doing. I’ve been trying to
feed off of Kevin. Basically I have been under him since Day 1, always
asking him questions. Mentally you’ve got to understand that you’ve got
to let your ego down. I never had an ego, but you’ve still got to let
your ego down and understand that you’re playing with some greats.”



. . .



Rivers was asked whether the Celtics should be targeting the Heat and
the Lakers in their quest for a championship, “Just Miami,” Rivers
said, “The Lakers have won nothing. They just have a lot of players. A
lot of good players.” . . . Sunday’s opponent, Emporio Armani Milano,
features former San Antonio Spur Malik Hairston, ex-St. John’s guard
Omar Cook, former Kansas swingman Keith Langford, and ex-Alabama big man
Richard Hendrix. They last played Wednesday, suffering a 67-64 loss to
Virtus Bologna. They are 1-1 in Series A of the Euro League.




bob






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