Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers is leaning toward leaving the team after this season, sources told the Boston Herald, but he told the newspaper Tuesday that no final decision had been made about his future.
There had been rumors in seasons past about the 48-year-old Rivers stepping down, and once again it's the tug of his family life -- not another NBA coaching opportunity -- that may pull him away.
Family first. You know at first when I look at this article I said to myself it makes perfect sense for Doc to leave the Celtics after this season. He has three seniors, one in college and two in high school. One of his sons is one of the best high school basketball players and will be starting his college career. He doesn't want to miss this time in his son's life. He needs to be there for his son. To help his son and watch his son achieve success. Then, you know I actually sat down and thought about it for a minute. Family first. That phrase is used all the time in this situation, but what about the Celtic family?
Back when the Celtics signed Doc to a contract to coach the team I thought it was a horrible decision. I did not think Doc was the right man for a job. He was fired from the Orlando Magic for his inability to create a winner. There was no denying Doc could coach the young guys and develop them, but he was not a proven winner. Secondly he was not a Celtic. Doc was an Atlanta Hawk, he had been through the battles through out the 80s against the Celtics and should have hated them. Why would a Hawk be a good fit for the Celtics? There was so many ex-Celtics out there dying for a job, why didn't Danny give one of them a shot. Instead, he chose an Atlanta Hawk to bring back the Celtic pride? Give me a fucking break, right?
Then Doc went on to lead the Celtics to a championship with the aid of Danny Ainge trading for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. There was some Doc supporters who said Doc deserved praise for taking a bunch of players who had never played together and turn them into a championship winning team. There was also a flip side who said the team didn't even need a coach. They were so talented they were going to win the championship no matter what. Especially since Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce wanted it so badly.
I was on neither side. I was 50/50. I thought Doc did what he always did. Didn't lose a game for the Celtics that year, but most certainly didn't win a game. He does a solid job year in and year out. You get exactly what you want from Doc. Exactly what the team should do.
So it this brings me back to my original point. Family first. Doc River is choosing his family first. The Rivers family. That's why Danny should have hired a Celtic. If he had done that, family would never be a reason because the coach's family would have been the Celtics. Just before the ship sinks and the Celtics become even older than they look today, Rivers is going to bolt and claim he needs to be there for his kids.
And that my friends proves, Celtic tradition was not brought back with Banner 17. There is no Celtic Pride anymore. The team has shown that this season and now the coach will show it this off-season.
So Danny, do what is right for the Celtics and not for Doc. Don't let Doc sit around all off-season and try to decide. We don't need a Brett Favre saga here. When you get bumped out of the first or second round, tell Doc to go be with his kids like he wants to be. Get someone in here that will restore Celtic Pride. Someone that will infuse energy into the big 3. Someone that will tell Rasheed Wallace to stop shooting threes and get down low. Someone who will call out Kendrick Perkins. Get someone in here with a vision. Someone who can win games when we least expect. Someone who will restore Celtic Pride.
