It’s been 16 years since Doc Rivers stood tall on the helm and was drenched with Gatorade at TD Backyard within the concluding seconds of the 2008 NBA Finals, changing into a first-time champion with the Boston Celtics.
5 years later, Rivers joined the Los Angeles Clippers and averted the rebuilding stage with the Celtics, commissioned by then-general supervisor Danny Ainge. It wasn’t a transfer that went well-received in Boston as Rivers inherited a stacked “Lob Metropolis” Clippers crew that includes Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford and JJ Redick, whereas Boston bit the bullet and stepped out of the aggressive circle.
That profession transfer didn’t pan out for Rivers or the Clippers in any respect, and early on Rivers himself started to really feel remorse in turning his again on the Celtics searching for greener pastures.
“Pay attention, in my first yr with the Clippers I mentioned, ‘Uh-oh, I could have made a mistake,’” Rivers informed Steve Bulpett of Heavy. “However, you understand, one factor I’ve by no means carried out is I by no means look again. I simply don’t. I’ve by no means carried out that.”
Rivers, regardless of being handed arguably probably the most gifted roster (on paper) within the Western Convention, routinely turned the Clippers into an underachieving disappointment. Beneath Rivers, Los Angeles went 3-8 in potential series-clinching playoff video games, tying Rivers for the worst mark by an NBA head coach with a single crew ever. The Clippers blew a 3-1 lead over the Denver Nuggets within the 2020 convention finals simply earlier than Rivers stepped down and departed Los Angeles.
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The outcomes weren’t what Rivers envisioned, to not point out the dramatic 2014 fallout with ex-Clippers proprietor Donald Sterling, who was compelled to promote the franchise to Steve Ballmer and slapped with a lifetime ban from the NBA.
“The lesson that you simply study is that you could’t play by way of a foul group, you understand?” Rivers mentioned, per Bulpett. “I left the most effective group in basketball on the time to go to the worst group in basketball, and you may’t outrun that. You possibly can’t beat that. And I noticed it early.”
The Celtics, throughout the Rivers run in LA, caught by the method of their rebuild. Boston turned the draft choice returns from its Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett commerce with the Brooklyn Nets into Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Brad Stevens changed Rivers in 2013 and was promoted to the pinnacle honcho of the entrance workplace eight years later, placing notable offers for Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Vacation.
Quick ahead 11 years after Rivers bid Boston farewell and the Celtics captured Banner 18 with a window so as to add extra titles for the following few years.
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Rivers now has a front-row seat as head coach of the 1-4 Milwaukee Bucks, trying up on the Celtics and what might’ve been had he caught round.
