BOSTON -- When Doc Rivers departed the Boston Celtics in 2013 after nine seasons as their coach, he admitted he was not enthused about the prospect of enduring another rebuilding process. It's part of the reason Rivers ultimately became intrigued by a Los Angeles Clippers team that was a surefire contender.
Fast-forward three years, and the talent-laden Clippers have won just two more playoff series than the Celtics. Both teams are coming off a first-round playoff exit, and at least one sportsbook pegs them with similar championship odds for the 2016-17 campaign. Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook has the Clippers with the fourth best overall odds at 20-1; the Celtics are right behind them at 25-1.
With Rivers back in town on Tuesday night for the annual ABCD Hoop Dreams fundraiser at TD Garden, the Clippers coach and president of basketball operations was asked whether he could have envisioned the Celtics turning things around this quickly.
"I didn't know," he said. "[Celtics president of basketball operations] Danny [Ainge], [assistant general manager] Mike [Zarren], [owner Steve Pagliuca] and that whole group have done an amazing job of collecting picks and assets. Now, their next step is obviously turning them into players."
The Celtics were a roster turnstile for coach Brad Stevens' first 18 months on the job. Since adding Isaiah Thomas at the trade deadline in February 2014, Boston has made two playoff appearances while building around the core that was constructed during Stevens' first one and a half seasons at the helm. Rivers believes that signing Al Horford -- Boston's first true free-agent splash in nearly two decades -- might be the biggest key to the Celtics taking the next step.
"Getting Al was big," Rivers said. "I think Al was more important than any of the draft picks, to be honest, because I believe, once you get one, others will follow. I thought we learned that in 2008. We [added star talent] through trade, but once we made the trade, the Eddie Houses and all the other guys wanted to join in. I think Al will have that same impact here."
Since adding Horford, the Celtics have been pegged as maybe the biggest challenger to the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference. Boston is well positioned to continue building after maintaining cap flexibility and while still oozing future draft picks (including access to the Brooklyn Nets' picks in each of the next two drafts).
There's an argument to be made that Boston has a better chance of being a sustained long-term contender than a Clippers team that is set to watch both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin elect to explore unrestricted free agency next summer. Boston has an affordable young core under long-term control, the financial flexibility to seek another top-tier free agent to pair with Horford next summer, and the possibility of a high lottery pick via the Nets.
Make no mistake, the Clippers have the sort of star talent that, when healthy, makes them a legitimate contender in the Western Conference. Rivers likes his group, and he said as much when asked about the Celtics bringing Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to pitch Kevin Durant in the Hamptons in July.
"I liked our group better," Rivers said of the Clippers' entourage on the Durant visit. "Brady can't make a shot. I love Brady, he's my guy. But the difference between Brady and Blake and [DeAndre Jordan], I'm going Blake and DJ in basketball."
Durant, of course, signed with the 73-win Golden State Warriors, making the Clippers' road to the NBA Finals that much more daunting out west. Rivers admitted there's a lingering sense of urgency in Los Angeles despite the new obstacles his team faces.
"It’s been a sense of urgency since we’ve been there, in my opinion, and we haven’t followed through yet," said Rivers, whose Clippers were bounced in the second round of the playoffs in each of his first two seasons. "So it’s another sense-of-urgency year. But we’re not the only ones. Everyone has a sense of urgency."
There's urgency within the Celtics, too. Boston players like swingman Jae Crowder have been adamant that the Celtics must advance in the playoffs and show progress after two first-round playoff exits the past two seasons. But there is the safety net thanks to the way management positioned the Celtics, particularly with cap flexibility and plenty of draft assets.
Ultimately, there may be no reason to pick sides. Pagliuca pitched a solution that would make both current and former Celtics coaches very happy: a Celtics-Clippers matchup in the NBA Finals.
