Doc Rivers “Probably Will” Be Back Next Year

The Boston Celtics were smacked around by the Miami Heat in a five-game series that ended the Celtics’ hopes of returning to the NBA Finals for the third time in four years. Miami’s 97-87 win Wednesday night, gave the Heat at 4-1 series win over the defending Eastern Conference champions.

Thoughts immediately turned to next season in Boston, and one huge question appears to have been answered. Despite hemming and hawing for the better part of a year, Celtics coach Doc Rivers claims he “probably will” return to coach the team next season.

Over the past few years, many had speculated that Rivers would take a break from coaching at some point. With his youngest son Austin headed to Duke this fall as the top-rated high school basketball player in the nation, most figured he would want time off to watch him play. Apparently not.

Rivers just finished his seventh season with the Celtics, and claimed that he is “a Celtic” and “wants to win here again.” He went on to say “I don’t believe this team is done.”

Rivers might be right, but with so many injuries piling up on an aging roster, you have to believe it’s only going to get harder for the Celtics to reach the peak they did as NBA Champions in 2008. But hey, if Doc wants to stick around and try to get there again, good luck to him.