Doc Rivers: Clippers Had Same Heart As 2008 Celtics

[CelticsElite]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26615690/never-more-proud-group-guys

[gouki88]

Considering their talent level they really had no right winning one game in Golden State, let alone two.

Traded away their best player mid-season, had basically no wing defence to write home about, started a rookie back-court in their playoff run and still got 2 games against the champs.

If they get Kawhi / KD / other big name FA, watch out

[jambr380]

The full quote:

"This was the 2008 Celtics without [Kevin] Garnett, Ray Allen, [Rajon] Rondo and Paul [Pierce]," Rivers said. "It really was, like, same heart, played every night hard. And that's why they connected. I think you could take this team and put it in every NBA city, and when they leave, every NBA city would love this team. Because the people who come to games go to work all day. And they love to see players who play like they work.

"And I thought what the city saw in this team, what I saw in this team, was a hard-hat team that came to work every day. And it doesn't matter if you're blue-collar or white-collar, people appreciate workers."

We have had a couple of teams like that in recent years and I think that is why people are so 'disgusted' with this year's team. We have made it to the ECF the last two years and, this year, we are adding those star players. While the regular season didn't go as planned, there is still time to turn things around.

As for Doc, I don't think he would trade that '08 team for the world. He just seems proud that a team that was supposed to fall out of the playoff race after the Harris trade ended up taking one of the best teams of all-time further than Lebron ever did (I am not including the pre-KD days).

[CelticSooner]

Clippers were fighters. They had a great season overall.

[Birdman]

still loss

[BASS_THUMPER]

doc is delusional

[SHAQATTACK]

no where near the talent .

KG is the best player Doc will ever coach

[gouki88]

no where near the talent .

KG is the best player Doc will ever coach

Yeah, Doc basically said that they’re the ‘08 C’s without the Big 3 + Rondo

[Kuberski33]

It's great to have heart. In the NBA talent always wins.

[BASS_THUMPER]

no where near the talent .

KG is the best player Doc will ever coach

here you go again...smh

SCALABRINE!!!

[Walker Wiggle]

FEels like the end of 1999-00 after Doc's Magic finished .500 and just missed the playoffs. That team had crazy effort and togetherness and it was arguably his best coaching season. The following summer they signed two max free agents -- Tracy Mcgrady and Grant Hill. I suspect the Clippers will add at least one this summer, especially how impressive that team was this past year.

[More Banners]

FEels like the end of 1999-00 after Doc's Magic finished .500 and just missed the playoffs. That team had crazy effort and togetherness and it was arguably his best coaching season. The following summer they signed two max free agents -- Tracy Mcgrady and Grant Hill. I suspect the Clippers will add at least one this summer, especially how impressive that team was this past year.

That's one hell of a jinx to throw around. Holy smokes. Someone better light a candle for whomever they sign now. Yikes.

[nickagneta]

Doc giving high praise to his team. He should take a bow as well, as this year was just another exceptional job of coaching by Doc. I know people hate him here and give him no credit, but Doc Rivers is one of the three best coaches in the NBA.

[mr. dee]

FEels like the end of 1999-00 after Doc's Magic finished .500 and just missed the playoffs. That team had crazy effort and togetherness and it was arguably his best coaching season. The following summer they signed two max free agents -- Tracy Mcgrady and Grant Hill. I suspect the Clippers will add at least one this summer, especially how impressive that team was this past year.

That's one hell of a jinx to throw around. Holy smokes. Someone better light a candle for whomever they sign now. Yikes.

Trading Ben Wallace for Grant Hill was great on hindsight, but the Magic ultimately lost that trade. Imagine Ben Wallace playing alongside T-Mac.