Source: C’s want Doc to stick around -- Extension in works

Doc Rivers and the Celtics can only hope that they land the first or second pick in this June's draft and are able to select either Kevin Durant or Greg Odom.

By Steve Bulpett

Boston Herald Sports Reporter
Monday, April 9, 2007 - Updated: 04:57 AM EST

ATLANTA - Doc Rivers will have an opportunity to coach the Celtics [team stats] next year and beyond. According to league sources, the club is prepared to offer Rivers a contract extension following this season.

Rivers’ original four-year deal ends after next season, and he has stated he didn’t want to be in a lame duck position, though he did stop short of saying he would leave if the team didn’t extend his contract.

Now it appears that issue will be moot. While the salary figures and length of the new contract have yet to be discussed, both sides seem willing and eager to get something done.

Neither director of basketball operations Danny Ainge nor Rivers would confirm the news, but both made clear their satisfaction with the way things have gone this season under circumstances that include a far too young roster and a series of key injuries.

There were reports earlier in the year that some in the highest reaches of the organization were very open to a coaching change, but Rivers’ efforts in improving some of the young talent and keeping the team playing hard through a trying time have apparently altered that stance.

Ainge refused to get into Rivers’ contractual situation, but when asked in general about his coach, he said, “I think Doc likes what he sees in the future of this team and the players, and we like what Doc has done. Doc and I have a great relationship, a great deal of trust. He believes in the young players on this team and he doesn’t feel we’re that far off.”

Rivers avoided discussion of his situation.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Rivers said yesterday as the Celtics prepared for the last six games of their season, including tomorrow night’s tilt against the Atlanta Hawks, “but the ownership and Danny have been absolutely terrific with me. The city’s been terrific. It’s a great situation. When you put all those things together, things usually work out for the better for everybody.”

Though his coaching performance has become a target, Rivers remains confident in his ability.

“I have no doubt about it,” he said. “I’ve always believed in that. Every time I’ve had a decent team we’ve won. Just think about it. I’d never been under .500 in my career until these last two years. I’ve never been a big winner either, and one day I want to be that. I hope we can do that here, but I’m going to need some help. We have to improve still. We’re extremely young. Whoever we draft, that’s great, but we’ve still got to add some age to our team.”

At least, in part, because the Celtics have so many players still learning the pro game, Rivers spent a great deal of time being loud with his team the last two years. He acknowledged the concern that continuing this way could shorten his shelf life with the club, though he added the sideline style would change with a more experienced group. [continue]

I have to do a lot of coaching,” Rivers said. “Some of it is yelling, some of it is encouraging. You spend so much time doing that, you worry as a coach that when they finally do get it, are they going to hear you anymore? That shouldn’t stop you from doing it though, because you have to. It’s not what you want to do, and you know if the right group of guys gets it you won’t have to do it at all, but right now to get them going you have to do it. Either that or you get different guys.

“You can look at it a lot of ways, but it’s something you’re always concerned about because every coach who has to go through these rebuilding stages with young teams will tell you that a lot of the time when they get ready to really play, they don’t want to hear your voice anymore.”

Asked about this issue, Ainge pointed to the development of players whose ears have been ringing.

“A coach has to do what’s best for the team, and what Doc has done has made our players better,” he said. “But we all still have a lot of work to do.”