Sixteen months ago, seemingly everyone was calling for him to be fired for, among many other things, his team allegedly tanking the season for draft position. Twelve months ago, most people were wondering how he was going to screw up his suddenly loaded roster. Three months ago he was handed the first NBA Championship trophy for the Boston Celtics in 22 years. And two days ago, Doc Rivers was rewarded for not screwing up a stacked roster with a 3-year, $5.5 million per season contract extension (which is almost 5 times as much as he ever made in a season as a player).
Now I won't lie, I was one of the many who believed Doc needed to go at the end of the '06-'07 season. I know they were young, and I know they had major injuries, but I was just never convinced that Doc was as good at bringing young players along as everyone else seemed to be. I watched the games, and I didn't see the improvement in discipline and decision making you'd expect if their coach was actually great at developing youngsters.
But then the now famous moves were pulled, and a team perfect for Doc Rivers' style was suddenly there in front of him. You might argue that a roster with 3 superstars will make any coach look good... but try telling that to George Karl out in Denver. Doc's strengths as a coach... keeping players motivated, united, loose, and prepared to play... played perfectly into a roster of character guys who wanted to win more than anything. Coupled with a great defensive x's and o's coach, Tom Thibodeau, Rivers kept the ship sailing along even through some tough playoff waters (when his elder stars must have been getting worn down) and fulfilled the giant amount of expectations put on him at the start of the year. No wonder the media loves this guy.
So now Doc will be with the team through the 2010-2011 season. That keeps him through Paul Pierce's existing contract (who will be 34 at the end of that season), and one year before Kevin Garnett's contract ends (who will be 35 at the end of '10-'11). Of the other starters, Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo's current deals both expire in '10-'11 as well, with Ray Allen's finishing in '09-'10 (when he will be 35). Doc has shown that he can win with this set of players, and it looks like they're all together for at least a few more years. Will they dominate as much now that they're all a year older and their hands weighed down by a couple pounds of diamonds? Will Doc finally figure out he should play Leon for heavy minutes? We'll find out soon enough.
One things for sure, he should have no problem affording condos in Las Vegas hotels now.
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