Clippers welcome fresh start
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Even Doc Rivers got weary of the two-week saga of his departure from the Boston Celtics to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Yet when his “strange ordeal” finally ended this week, Rivers didn’t even pack a suit before heading out to the West Coast to take on another coaching challenge.
The Clippers formally introduced Rivers at their training complex Wednesday after dealing a first-round pick to the Celtics to land one of the NBA’s most respected veteran coaches.
Rivers says he felt he couldn’t lose after Boston’s Danny Ainge raised the possibility of trading him to the Clippers. Rivers claims he would have been happy with either team.
He’s eager to maximize the potential of Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, who’s expected to stay with the Clippers as a free agent.
According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Clippers are 9/1 to win the 2014 NBA Championship under Doc Rivers, while Rivers’ former team the Celtics are 40/1. The Heat remain favored to win next year’s title at 2/1, while the Thunder are 11/2 and the Bulls are 8/1.
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