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.