What's Up Doc

Rivers has instilled confidence in his
teams during his tenure in Boston.

The Boston Celtics made a step towards their future Friday night, signing head coach Doc Rivers to a five-year extension. The deal is reportedly worth about $35 million over those five seasons. Rivers was hired to take over the Celtics prior to the '04 season and has made his presence felt, but it has not been all glitz and glamour during his tenure in Bean Town.

    When Rivers arrived the Celtics had not won an NBA championship since '86 and much like the New York Yankees theory, it's win a championship or you have failed. Boston would make the postseason Rivers first season at the helm finishing 45-37, but were defeated in the first-round by the Indiana Pacers. After a two year absence from the postseason, general manager Danny Ainge brought together three of the best players in NBA history in an effort to bring a title back to the City of Champions.

   Ainge acquired one of the games best pure shooters in Ray Allen from the Seattle Supersonics in June of 2007, adding another veteran leader to complement long time Celtic Paul Pierce. He wasn't done there. Almost a month later Ainge made NBA trade history with acquisition of All-Star Kevin Garnett. The 6'11" forward was the centerpiece of a historic seven for one player deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was the most players swapped for a single player in league history.

     With those two offseason additions the Boston Three Party was born and were prepared to achieve something special. They did just that.

    One of the most heated rivals in sports was renewed that season when the Boston Celtics would win their first Eastern Conference championship since '87 and face off against the hated Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals.

    Boston proved to be a team of destiny and much too tough for the new look Lakers dismantling them in six games, including a 39-point beat down in front of their home crowd to capture their 17th NBA title in franchise history. The Celtics were finally back atop the basketball mountain. Once a man that had no future with the Celtics, had restored order in the NBA. Without the bringing together of the Big Three, Rivers might be out of a job much less signing an extension. Since then Boston has made the postseason the last three seasons, but have yet to raise the Larry O'Brien Trophy a second time under Rivers.

    They came close a year ago in a thrilling seven game series rematch against Los Angeles clinging to four point lead heading into the fourth quarter. Boston would be unable to survive Kobe Bryant and Co.'s run in the final period missing out on their second title in three years.

    This season marked an odd one for Rivers and Co. Center Kendrick Perkins was traded in a questionable move by Ainge to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trading deadline in exchange for forward Jeff Green. The move was made looking towards the future with a team clearly set to win right now. Many believed this was Boston's last shot a title, but the injury to NBA assist leader Rajon Rondo and the Miami Heat being much too athletic, Boston was ousted from the postseason earlier than expected. Many believed Rivers was mulling retire after the loss following the lead of Lakers legendary head coach Phil Jackson.

The acquisition of the Big Three
paved the way for Rivers success.

 Gang Green is not getting any younger with the Big Three all thirty-three years old or above, wondering how much good basketball is left in those aching legs. At 25, Rondo brings the silver lining to the equation for Rivers, but from there where do you go? Glen "Big Baby" Davis is now a free agent, along with six other Boston players, and it not expected to return wanting to have a more significant role elsewhere.

    There are plenty of questions to be answered in Boston's future, but rest assured Rivers will have them ready for another deep playoff push as long as he's controlling the sidelines.