For the second straight season, the Los Angeles Clippers lost in the first-round of the NBA playoffs. The Boston Celtics however, the team that Clippers coach Doc Rivers used to be in charge of, are playing in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
No doubt that the tides have turned since Rivers' exit from Boston — though it's not directly implying that he was the one holding back the team's potential. Brad Stevens is a great coach who possesses the ability to maximize his players' skills, and the Celtics have benefited from that through the years.
Despite the separate direction and level of success that Rivers and the Celtics have taken since, the grizzled coach is not jealous of his former team's success or upset with his decision to leave Boston.
From the Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett:
“None of that actually matters to me,” the Clippers coach and president told the Herald yesterday. “I’m happy for the Celtics, and I’m very happy where I’m at. I did what I did for a lot of reasons, so I have no problem with that. Hey, it’s true. They’re in the conference finals, and we haven’t gotten there yet, and I don’t really care on my account. I’m not in competition with that. I’m happy for the Celtics and what they’ve been able to do.”
“Boy, it’s amazing. It’s great. I mean, listen, I’m the coach and president of the Clippers, but I’m always going to be happy for guys I worked with and worked for. The way it’s worked out. I couldn’t be more thrilled for Danny (Ainge) and (assistant general manager) Mike Zarren and Brad (Stevens, who replaced him as coach). I think it’s just phenomenal.”
Clearly, Doc Rivers has no regrets about his decision to coach the Clippers and genuinely seems happy for the Celtics. He has his own problems as the Clippers enter a summer that is full of questions surrounding the contracts of its stars.