His out of time out plays have always been pretty good. I'm pretty sure most people would say his biggest failures result from him in an executive role. As gm I can't think of any moves he made that were all that great it amazing.

Drawing up set plays out of time outs is coaching 101. What else?

Popovich routinely develops players into the best versions of themselves (Ginobli, Parker, Leonard, Green, Splitter, etc.). Who has Doc developed?

Stevens has instilled a system of ball movement and defensive responsibility that elevates players and makes them more than their level of talent. Just look at how Bradley, Thomas, and Crowder have done after leaving Boston. What schemes did Doc develop? Boston was a talented defensive team but that was because Thibodeau revolutionized perimeter defensive by taking advantage of new rules that allowed zone coverage. Doc handled offensive schemes more and they were competent offensively, but they also had three Hall of Famers, and could sometimes be bullied into relying on Garnett's midrange jumpers.

Doc is average to below-average at substitutions. The Celtics probably have another title if he figures out a way to stagger Garnett's minutes better so that he's not relying on a hobbled Kendrick friggin Perkins to be Boston's interior defense against Gasol and Bynum.

In Orlando, he had a below-average roster, and took them to a losing record. In Boston, he was a perennial Finals contender, but he had three HOFers. In L.A. he had three All-Stars and couldn't get over the hump.

His coaching accomplishments aren't empty, but they basically amount to "definitely better than Vinny Del Negro," and I don't think that means he's great tactically.