Boston Celtics Doc Rivers Is Still Hurting After Finals Loss: This Is Not Bad For Celtics Fans
[picappgallerysingle id="9133309"]The 2010 season was a tough one for Doc Rivers. After the Boston Celtics went out and lit up the NBA for a 25 and 5 start, the team would go .500 the rest of the way. The Celtics felt bad luck’s death kiss as the injury bug ravaged the team. Glen Davis broke his thumb being stupid before the season. Kevin Garnett aggravated his knee. Paul Pierce then hurt his foot. Marquis Daniels hurt his thumb to the point he was ineffective. It was only fitting that with a three game to two Finals lead that Kendrick Perkins would blow his knee out. Rivers also had to contend with a Ray Allen that was out of focus at times due to his contract status and possible trade. The Celtics due to injuries were not the deep team that people thought they would be. The bench would be a nonfactor for most of the year due to the injuries of Glen Davis and Marquis Daniels. The Celtics also acquired Nate Robinson for Eddie House. Robinson took some time to learn Boston’s system. Add to that the fact that veteran laden team seemed to go through the motions with guys like Rasheed Wallace not putting much effort during the regular season and one realizes this was a tough year to be Doc Rivers.
Despite all these issues Doc Rivers was only five points or a healthy Kendrick Perkins from an NBA Title. He coached the perfect playoffs until the Finals. He guided the team by Dwayne Wade and the Heat despite limping into the playoffs. He beat the top seeded Cavs and LeBron James. He managed to come up with a defense that stopped the juggernaut that was the Orlando Magic in the playoffs. He even managed to Kobe Bryant relatively in check for the Finals. He overcame LA’s dominance in the paint to remain within a breath of the NBA title. However, this great coaching job was for not because of the game seven loss in the Finals.
This kills Rivers. Rivers would have loved to sail off into the sunset on top. He could have watched his son play without any regret of unfinished business. He could have won a second NBA title and cemented his Celtic Legacy. You realize he knows this with every interview. Every time he brings up his starting five has not lost a series yet, you can see the pain in his eyes. He knows a chance for greatness slipped through his grasps. He knows having not won a title as a player that chances can be few and far between.
He knew he could not go out like that. He knew the gun could be reloaded and the team could make one more major go of it. The starting unit may be older, but still an elite starting unit. Ray Allen is still a lethal shooter. Paul Pierce is still a very dangerous scorer. KG can still play exceptional defense and score. Kendrick Perkins is a rock in the middle. Rajon Rondo is the straw that stirs the drink. The emerging superstar is getting better and better and this makes life a lot easier for the rest of the unit at both ends of the floor. The game seven loss should motivate these men and I fully expect Doc to keep that scar visible.
Danny Ainge made it clear that the team would fix the flaws from last year. The bench is deeper than any incarnation from last year. Role players like Delonte West, Von Wafer, Luke Harangody, and Avery Bradley were added to the Marquis Daniels, Glen Davis, and Nate Robinson mix. The team also has needed size in Jermaine O’Neal and Shaq. This team should also be more hungry and have revenge on its’ mind after such a hurtful loss. Focus should not be an issue this year. The disrespect of Miami being favored only adds more fuel to the competitive fire.The Boston Celtics will be a better team next year. Pain is a powerful motivator. Doc feels it. Next year the rest of the NBA will feel his pain when Boston is unleashed. Banner 18 is a serious notion.
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