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Doc Rivers: I want Mike Longabardi ‘to take it personally when teams score’ 11.06.12 at 6:12 pm ET
By

WALTHAM — Doc Rivers has kept a close eye on Mike Longabardi for a long time.

Five seasons ago, when Longabardi joined Rivers’ staff, he was helping out Tom Thibodeau, the defensive mastermind of the Celtics championship run in 2008.

When Thibodeau left after 2010, that left a void, one Rivers felt perfectly suited Longabardi. On Tuesday, during an open practice at the team’s training facility, Longabardi put on a show on just how to defensively coach up an NBA team consisting of stars who put defense first.

Longabardi yelled out instructions to Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, among others, directing them on the team’s trapping principles and defensive rules.

“Remember, every trap has to have a purpose,” the 39-year-old coach told his team at the beginning of a two-hour practice.

It’s just the kind of thing Rivers, who would occasionally chime in, wants to hear from his No. 1 defensive assistant.

“He’s been around it,” Rivers said after practice Tuesday. “He’s been in the office next to mine. He communicates it well. I just want him to be focused on that. Whoever is my defensive guy, that’s their only job. All the other coaches do everything, they help with the defense, they help with offense but whoever I make my defensive [assistant], that’s his job.”

Rivers said no one on the team took it harder when the Heat dropped 120 points on the Celtics in the opening night loss.

“I want him to take it personally when teams score,” Rivers said. “And he does. Trust me, the first two games, he wanted to jump off a bridge somewhere. And that’s what I want him to be. I want him to be mad at people and hold them accountable.

Before joining the Celtics for the 2007-08 season, Longabardi was with the Rockets for four seasons as an assistant coach/video coordinator for two seasons, the video coordinator for a season and the assistant video coordinator for a year.

Longabardi spent seven years as an assistant coach for the men’s basketball teams at Pfeiffer University, Adelphi University, Lafayette College, as well as Towson University. He was on the coaching staff that led the Lafayette Leopards to a Patriot League title and an NCAA Tournament berth. Longabardi also was a member of the coaching staff for the Celtics 2008 Championship team.

Read More: Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Houston Rockets, Mike Longabardi Print  |  Email  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • jj

    Take him, and he won’t drop balls that hit both hands with the Superbowl on the line…Sorry did I say that?

  • Chrisgator

    Resign welker and go after colston. I like Wayne, but I think he goes where Peyton goes

  • Not an idiot

    Good lord, how many over-the-hill WR do we have to bring in before everyone realizes it isn’t worth it? Go after Colston or ANY WR under 30.

  • kyle

    Everyone is talking about how the Pats need big youg fast wide receivers but I think that Brady does better with smarter veteran receivers. They should sign Reggie Wayne if they have the chance too and bring back Randy Moss for veteran minimum. 

  • Relax

    Colston got tagged by N.O. already.  I would be a fan of bringing in Wayne, but not for big money.  However, he might be the best available WR other than V. Jackson.  And Jackson won’t be worth the kind of money he wants.

  • Cfn

    The question is if he will pick up on this offense; remember how excited everyone was about Ocho.  Does he have at least a half a brain in his head unlike Ocho?

  • Tito

    Do you really think that Brady can throw the long ball accurately anymore? Please don’t make me laugh. There is a reason that BB is not drafting WR’s. They are a waste of time. That is why he got the tight ends.

    • Relax

      I would say the reason he is not drafting WR’s is becasue every time they do draft one he is a bust.  And it’s a long line of busts.  And why do you think Brady can’t throw the long ball anymore?  He did just fine when Moss still had a motor.  Not sure what drafting TE’s has do to with anything.  Every team needs TE’s.  I just think the Pats have been using the talent that they have, and they have no deep threat.

    • Positivemike

      Yeah the mechanics are definitely off. I want to jump to the conclusion that he’s got significant shoulder or elbow damage when i see so many deep balls underthrown, but he also occasionally overthrows on deep routes. Whatever the cause, the deepball accuracy isn’t there anymore and he makes me nervous as he*l when he goes deep.

      • Cfn

        I agree with Tito, that Brady is off on the long ball.  He usually over thows it. Or gets picked off when he throws it long.  I don’t think it is elbow problems, I just think he is not working on the long bomb, and so when you don’t practice it or have a really capable WR for it then you loose it.  If Brady could stretch the field with someone like Moss then Pats offense would even be better than this year.  If they doubled Moss that would leave open Gronk, Welker or Hernandez. This could be a deadly combination.

        • Keebs

          He’s only off on the deep balls because he doesn’t have anyone to throw them to regularly. The last consistent deeps balls he threw was from what, 07? It’s gotta be a little hard to basically throw everything underneath from 5-15 yrds out, then randomly throwing a deep ball to a special teamer once every blue moon. He has no rhythm for it anymore. I don’t think they necessarily need some big deep threat like Moss was, but at least a skilled receiver who can go out 20-40 yrds & go up & fight for a ball.  

          As much as I like Wayne, he is 33 which is not THAT old, but I’d rather have a younger guy locked for the few years Brady has left to win another SB. I like Branch, but I don’t think they need him. He’s not the same guy. I’d like them to resign Welker & maybe try to sign a couple more receivers to go with Welker & the tight ends. Even if they do draft a wide receiver, I guarantee he wont see the field anyway. Go sign Brandon Lloyd & possibly even Moss if he’s serious about the things he’s been saying. That means you could probably get Moss for cheap money. I think that kind of offense would be killer against the good defenses they have trouble scoring against. I think it’ll take some pressure off Brady. I honestly think they’re just a few pieces missing from winning the SB. Maybe another DB & a pass rusher along with the wide receivers & they’re all set. 

  • mikepatriot

    Highly risky. The guy is too old in football years. We need a wideout that can come in, do well out of the box and stick around for at least another 3 or 4 years. Thirty two should be the cut off  age with a preference for someone 25 to 32. We’ve been too long without a steady, continuous wideout and it shows. Moss was a one hit wonder and did his thing but was never in the long range plans. We saw how devastating Brady could bne with THAT kind of reciever for one year. I want a younger reciever who has at least some of the skills and body type Moss had that year; 6’3 to 6’5, sneaky fast, not necessarily a burner, and a guy who can play JUMP BALL, wants to fight for the ball and can occassionally pull the thing down with one hand like Moss did for one year. A Plaxico Burress type minus the head problems and crim record wouldn’t be bad.

  • Lipper

    If I were Bill I’d take Jackson,Wayne, and Colston in that order. If not I would trade up & draft Blackmon, or select Jeffrey with one of the 2 1st round picks

  • Dano S

    Sign Reggie Wayne he could be a Jerry Rice to Brady.Then let Ocho go back to Cincy he got great discipline here and they have a very good young QB.Draft for Pats 1 Mark Barron S Alabama
    1Jerel Worthy DL Michigan St 2 Whitney Mercilus DE Illinois 2 David Wilson RB Virginia Tech
    3Jarius Wright WR Arkansas 4Mike Martin DL Michigan.

  • Guest

    Can’t the Pats get a WR in their prime?

  • KEELO_ORG

    WOW….HOW , THERE  MUCH FOOLISHNESS IS THERE ON HERE? WAYNE REALLY? NOT GONNA HAPPEN. MOSS, MAYBE. BOTTOM LINE IS THE PATS WILL PICK UP BRANDON LLOYD (WHO BILL TRIED TO TRADE FOR MID SEASON) AND DRAFT A WR IN THE MID ROUNDS. BILL WILL REBUILD THIS DEFENSE  IN THE OFF SEASON, THERE ARE 7 STARTERS FROM LAST YEAR THAT ARE EXPENDABLE. WE NEED DE/OLB/DBS I FORSEE ALOT OF DEFENSIVE MOVEMENT THIS OFFSEASON.

  • jon

    The question is, can Wayne stretch the field like he did a few years ago?  Not sure about that anymore.  I’d say, re-sign Welker of course, then go get Brady a younger ‘stretch the field’ guy like a Vincent Jackson.  Jackson would be the BEST WR out there in the FA market – and by adding a VJAX to this offense – along with the TE’s Plus Welker for the next 3-4 years, this will make #12′s job that much easier! 
    PLUS, then take one of their #2′s and trade it to Carolina for J. Stewart (a everydown back who can catch out of the backfield!) Plus this will bring back #12′s PLAY ACTION FAKE!! Please!

  • JimDaytona

    Yes, great idea, let’s go after another over the hill receiver. I am really getting tired of these wasted articles. I am about to submit my resume to upgrade WEEI sports articles.

  • KEELO_ORG

    jon- get real man …a #2 for stewart? they will NOT bring in another rb..period.  they have Woodhead, Ridley, Vareen, and are about to resign Green-Ellis they have no interest in another rb. If Stewert is so good then why did Caroline resign Williams last year when he was free to go? Because hes just a “descent ” player on a bad team.

  • Timbalou

    I believe they should pick up Brandon Lloyd.  If not, take a 1 or 2 year flyer on one of the “older” productive receiver such as Wayne.  I also believe they should draft (3rd or 4th round) and develop a young receiver (again).

    The first 2 round should be defense only (LB, S, or DE).

    The other opinion I have is dip into the free agent pool and get a decent cornerback.  Not an off the street guy.  You can never have enough cornerback.

  • rct303

    you people seem to think Belichick plans on re-doing the defense. Think again. Bill is a tweaker, not a changer. Maybe a piece or two but never anything major. On another note; everybody but everybody believes Ocho is gone. Think again. That would be an admission of judgement error and that ain’t happening.  would not be at all surprised. He will not draft a safety or a pass rusher. He may draft a true center, high. Maybe another QB. He will sign some free agents to compete for various positions. Maybe a late round reciever for the taxis squad. A good special teamer for punt returns and kickoffs. now you are all saying this guy is nuts. Well,  look at last year when the exact same situation existed. You were all wrong including myself. Think minimal, very minimal, and then cut that in half. now your close! the trouble with your uninformed fans is that you know to much, and are much to logical. Think Belichick

  • rct303

    You think Ocho is leaving , think again. After a deplorable year his stock is under the floor boards, which means he’ll take cheaper than cheap to keep a helmut on. Now thats a deal that will help keep that payroll a little south of 20th. don’t count on Welker playing unless he signs on to a very diminished contract with high threshold incentives. At best a franchise tag for him. there will be no trading up. Think backwards. Do not waste your time evaluating the combine for specifically needed talent. you were all wrong before with this time will not being an exception. do not let yourselves down for a dissappointment. Look for nibbles around the edges, no big free agent reciever, unless someone is eating part of a large contract for high picks. don’t look for a top end reciever in the draft. The worst decision would to bring back an old moss cheaply, look for that to happen. Look for a safety from an other team in exchange for a high draft with a deferred contract. look for a swap of high picks for a quantity of lows. Now you all may be thinking i’m attemptiong to be facetious to blast a point across, maybe a little, maybe. Not enough so to be wrong!

  • Dom

    The best fit by far. Although he is a little older, the guy is a workhorse he hasn’t missed a game in like 12 years, he is a consummate pro who keeps his mouth shut

  • J R Biela-jr

    They went to the two tight end set because the rest of the league had become small on defense to counteract the passing league the NFL becomes.  BB leading the way in philosophy changes in the NFL, everyone is getting small to cover WR’s in nickel and dime ok then I’m gonna go big and have a passing attack focused on my TE’s

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