MAGIC: Doc Rivers Chat Transcript

Doc Rivers Chat Transcript

Doc Rivers is heading into his fourth season as Magic head coach.

Glenn "Doc" Rivers is known as a coach who gets the most out of his players every night. In 1999-2000, Doc's first season at the helm of the Orlando Magic, Rivers took a club predicted by many to finish near or at the bottom of the league and which had four starters who were not drafted and guided the team to the brink of the playoffs. For his efforts, Rivers was named the 1999-2000 IBM NBA Coach-of-the-Year.

Despite having many new faces, one of the youngest teams in the NBA and the loss of six-time All-Star Grant Hill to injury in the past two years, Rivers led his teams to a 43-39 (.524) record in 2000-01 and a 44-38 (.537) record in 2001-02.

Rivers played 13 seasons in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks (1983-84 to 1990-91), Los Angeles Clippers (1991-92), New York Knicks (1992-93 to 1993-94) and San Antonio Spurs (1994 to 1995-96). He played for three of the game's top coaches in Pat Riley, Larry Brown and Mike Fratello.

Doc Rivers will take some time during Magic training camp to chat live on NBA.com on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 3:00 p.m. ET. Here's your chance to ask the coach any questions you might have!

Vinny Masino: Who do you think will step up to occupy the center spot on the Orlando Magic? And do you see yourself looking into any big deals trying to get a premier center in the near future??

Doc Rivers: I don't see us looking at any big deals. I'm confident with what we have and our players have to think like that also. I don't know who's going to step up to the center spot. I told my guys in camp, there's an open spot and it's somebody's job to come and take it.

Robert(Orlando): How much do you think Ryan Humphries can contribute this year?

Doc Rivers: I'm not sure yet. He's going to be an energy player. He reminds me of Bo Outlaw with a little better offensive game. He's got Dennis Rodman-type ability but as a rookie he doesn't have Dennis Rodman smarts, but hopefully we can get him there.

Daniel, CT: Doc do you think Grant Hill is healthy enough to make it through an 82 game season and even maybe the post season?

Doc Rivers: Yes I do. I think Grant is healthy. He's played a month and he's pain free. He's been going full-speed and making quick cuts and there's no swelling afterward. He's answered a lot of critics with his play so far. If there's a freak injury or something like that, it's something nobody can predict. But I think his foot has healed.

Chris, Los Angeles: I have been a shawn kemp fan for a long time, and i was wondering if he is looking good and playing better, and I was wondering if he is going to get a lot of playing time.

Doc Rivers: Shawn's going to have to earn that. He has a long way to go physically. I'm not looking for him to the be the 250-260-pound Sean Kemp from his heyday. In shape means that he can play at a good level for sustained minutes. And I used to be a Shawn Kemp fan myself.

Matt Maresca (North Arlington, NJ): Doc, you know what it takes to be a successful NBA point guard as good as anybody. What do you think Jacque Vaughn brings to the table? Also, what are the chances for Omar Cook making the team?

Doc Rivers: Jacque Vaughn brings a lot to the table. He knows what it takes to win and he knows how to run a basketball team. He's a pure point guard, something we haven't had here in a couple years. Jacque's a guy who can run an offense. We realized early that we weren't going to sign Troy Hudson and we realized that Jacque would be the next best thing. You need to have more than one solid point guard on a team, so as far as Omar Cook, he's doing fine but the jury's still out.

Rodney Smith. VA: Doc, How do you think the Magic is going to match up with the rest of the Eastern conference with the offseason additions? Who do think is going to be X factor out of the new additions to the team?

Doc Rivers: It'll be interesting. If everyone's healthy I think we can match up with anybody. We have three of the best smalls in the league. We have to improve on our rebounding and defense and if we do we can really challenge for the East. I think Olumide Oyedeji will be the big surprise for us.

Marcus, FL: Great job with the team last year, coach. I know his injury will keep him out for most of the year, but I was just wondering your thoughts on the progression of Steven Hunter. Also, is there any hope of seeing Bo Outlaw or Nick Anderson back in a Magic uniform?

Doc Rivers: I don't know that. I haven't heard. We've had talks to see if they were available. They've both done good things for the franchise, especially Bo Outlaw. I think Steven will be back earlier than people think. He's a hard worker and he's way ahead of schedule and we're thinking maybe mid-December for his return. He has a tremendous upside.

UV(new britain, CT): DOC, I think you're the best coach in the NBA. Is there a specific team in the East that you feel gives more trouble than others? Thanks.

Doc Rivers: Well I guess record-wise we struggle against Milwuakee. New Jersey gave us fits last year. And Boston matches up with us very well. They have a guy in Paul Pierce who matches up well with T-Mac and we still haven't found a guy who can really stop Antoine Walker.

Tom (Orlando): Hey Doc, how's the training camp going? Do you guys have fun there? and what do you guys do to prepare for the new season?

Doc Rivers: We don't have to spend a lot of time on conditioning because the guys have really worked hard in th offseason. We're working on fundamentals and sharing the ball and basically playing together.

Danny (Tokyo): Do you have any advice for the rookies in your team?

Doc Rivers: Watch. Learn. Listen. And play as hard as you can possibly play and I'll give you minutes. That's what they told me as a rookie and it's about the best advice I got as a player.

Pat (London): What was your most memorable moment as an NBA player?

Doc Rivers: I guess making the All-Star game and Game 7 of the Boston series. The Bird-Dominique battle was incredible. And most games in New York at Madison Square Garden. That atmosphere is a basketball player's dream.

Prav (Orlando): Hello Coach. My question is who is expected to be the starting center as of now and how often are we going to see the big lineup of T-Mac, Hill, and Miller?

Doc Rivers: Again, don't know about the center. It's an open job. You will see that lineup a LOT. Definitely at the end of games. We might even start the season with that lineup. But we'll wait and see.

Mike (Roy, UT): Hi coach...does it feel in any way different being one of the youngest coaches in the league? Do you implement strategies of your past NBA play into the young and athletic Magic?

Doc Rivers: I don't know if it's different. I'm one of the youngest coaches but the longest tenured at four years. It's nice being with a young team, they can grow with me and I can grow with them. We're all in this together. That's a song, I think.

Susan (Orlando): Doc, I really love watching the team and cheer their many improvements. What is the biggest change to the team dynamic do you see with a healthy Grant Hill?

Doc Rivers: I think Tracy and Grant and Mike will have to learn to play together. One might have a great streak on the floor and the others might watch. I'm looking forward to getting them all playing well together. But, of course, that's something that will come with time.

Zev (San Diego): Who is the best swingman in the league in your opinion?

Doc Rivers: I would say Tracy McGrady. Kobe. Paul Pierce. And Vince Carter. The guy got a lot of criticism. But he played hurt for a lot of last year. I think he'll bounce back. And a guy a lot of people have forgotten about is on our team: Grant Hill.

baker1: Larry Brown brought up a good point about the state of american basketball during his hall of fame speech. He believes there are not enough good coaches who "teach" the game the way it should be played. Do you agree with his assessment, and as a fellow coach, what can we do to correct it?

Doc Rivers: I think we have to continue to teach the game. I don't think theres one way to play. There's a lot of ways to play. In the AAU's, sometimes the coaches are teaching offense and how to win that particular game. When I was a rookie, I was taught how to play. I think maybe the competition has gotten in the way of the way coaches teach guys. The U.S. didn't perform well in the Worlds. We're the superior players. We just weren't the superior team.

justin: The Magic are ranked 14th in espn the magizines poll? how do you think we rank overall this season?

Doc Rivers: Last year we were ranked no. 1 and of course Grant's injury hurt. Patrick Ewing had to fight through some injuries and didn't do what we thought he might. I would just caution anyone who counts us out this year. But I really like our chances. We've been underdogs before.

Doc Rivers: Just like to say thanks to all the fans out there. There's a lot of great Magic fans and lots of great NBA fans who tuned in. We're going to do a lot to keep you as Magic fans, but maybe more importantly, fans of the NBA. It's a great game.