WALTHAMStan Van Gundy, you have a kindred spirit in Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers.
When told that that Van Gundy was having trouble connecting with Glen Davis, Rivers wasn't the least bit surprised.
"You just have to keep pushing, and finding Baby's buttons," Rivers said. "And Stan will."
Following a blowout win over Washington, Van Gundy was asked about Davis who was 2-for-10 from the field.
This season, Davis is averaging 6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds -- both below his numbers last season as well as his career-numbers.
"He's not playing well, and I'm not sure his mind's on the right things right now," Van Gundy told reporters.
Van Gundy added that he likes what Davis has done defensively, but needs him to do a better job of moving the ball and setting screens.
Boston Celtics
"We'll keep working at it," Van Gundy said. "I've seen the guy play very well. He's a good player. He should be able to figure it out. Sometimes it takes time."
The player Davis was traded for, Brandon Bass, has been exceptional basketball for the C's this season after spending the previous two under Van Gundy in Orlando.
Bass is making an early charge at the league's Sixth Man of the Year award, averaging 14 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Although Bass and Davis have been friends dating back to their youth, Bass said the two haven't talked recently about Davis' struggles
"I haven't talked to him of late, but Glen knows his situation," Bass said. "He's been in worst situations than that. He'll be able to overcome it, sooner than later."
Patience and persistence, Rivers believes, are the best approaches to handling Davis.
"Stan's a great coach," Rivers said. "It gets frustrating at times, but the one thing Stan knows and I know is that Baby is not a bad kid. So he'll find it. You have to find it again, and again. That's just who Baby is. At the end of the day, he'll find it."