Doc Rivers raves about Danny Ainge's Celtics overhaul

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics/2017/09/doc_rivers_raves_about_danny_ainges_celtics_overhaul



Doc Rivers raves about Danny Ainge's Celtics overhaul



Stephen Hewitt


Monday, September 04, 2017




Credit: Patrick Whittemore
Former Celtics Coach Doc Rivers (L) and current Celtics Coach Brad Stevens share a laugh on Tuesday, September 06, 2016 during the 6th annual Hoop Dreams basketball event to benefit ABCD at The Fleet Center. Staff photo by Patrick Whittemore.




Doc Rivers has seen his share of crazy NBA offseasons, but this one may take the cake.

The former Celtics coach and now the coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, Rivers can attest to this summer’s madness after his team lost Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets back in June. But he’s still keeping a close eye on his former team.

When he saw the Celtics swing a blockbuster trade for Kyrie Irving last week, Rivers wasn’t surprised. Moves like that are just what he’s come to expect from general manager Danny Ainge.

And he thinks it’s made the C’s better, too.

“I mean, I think Cleveland and them are obviously the two teams to beat in the East, but this tells you why I think Danny and I were successful together, and it’s why Danny and Brad, they’ll be successful, is because they’re never scared to make moves or changes,” Rivers said. “You think about it, they won the East last year and they have six or seven or eight new players, and they really have changed their identity. No Avery (Bradley), no (Jae) Crowder, that’s their heart and soul of their defense.

“They went out and got talent, man. That’s gonna show. I think what they’ve really done, to me, what they didn’t have in the past, and I think every team has to have it, you have to have closers. You can be as good as you want to be, and at the end of the game you need to have guys who are going to close the game for you. Now they have those. I don’t know if they’ve had that in the past, and now they do.”

Rivers said he misses being in Boston, but he doesn’t sound like a man who regrets his decision to leave for the Clippers. Since his exit four years ago, the Celtics have already returned to the top of the Eastern Conference, something Rivers marvels at from afar.

“My love for them hasn’t changed,” Rivers said of the Celtics. “For me, it was time for me to change. When you’re somewhere for nine years, you don’t think whether it’s the right or wrong decision, you think it’s the right decision for you at that time. But as far as wanting them to do well, that will never change. Unless they’re playing me.

“Other than that, love Danny (Ainge), love (owner Steve Pagliuca), that whole group, and I just want them to do well. I really do. I love what they’ve done. I think the turnaround in four years starting with hiring Brad and then going from … (Ainge) and (assistant general manager) Mike Zarren have done the best job I’ve seen in sports in a long, long time of rebuilding. Maybe ever.”


bob


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".. but this tells you why I think Danny and I were successful together, and it’s why Danny and Brad, they’ll be successful, is because they’re never scared to make moves or changes,”

Really Doc? Cuz if this were true, wouldn't you still be on Boston?

Otherwise its an ok articule

Matty wrote:".. but this tells you why I think Danny and I were successful together, and it’s why Danny and Brad, they’ll be successful, is because they’re never scared to make moves or changes,”

Really Doc? Cuz if this were true, wouldn't you still be on Boston?

Otherwise its an ok articule

The yoyo master speaks!

He did not want to go through a rebuild. He did not want Danny to trade Pierce and Garnett. Now Boston is clearly moving up and LAC are clearly moving down. I find justice in all of this.

dboss

and with a new person in charge for the Clippers, I predict Doc won't be long for the door there.

Thanks but no thanks, Doc.

Stevens took a team of seemingly misfit parts and made them competitive during the rebuilding process. Doc wanted a ready-made team to "take to the next level" (how did that turn out?).


KJ