If there is someone that understands the inner workings of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, it is Doc Rivers. While the former Boston Celtics head coach might no longer be directly involved with the newest members of the Brooklyn Nets, he is certainly keeping a close eye on them. As bother players are in the final years of their career, many wonder just how much they can contribute to Brooklyn's quest for a championship. Rivers is confident the duo has plenty left to give on the court.
Rivers discussed Garnett and Pierce in an interview with the Boston Globe. Clearly emotional about his former players, Rivers thinks they will be the x-factors for Brooklyn and help the Nets be contenders in a stacked Eastern Conference. Rivers admitted he gets upset when he thinks about the two in different uniforms, but thinks they can help knock off Miami.
"So Paul and Kevin had to go and that's a tough part of the business. But that will be strange for me, I want them to do well. For a lot of reasons I want them to do well, they could knock off Miami. But it will be interesting. It will be a while different feeling," Rivers said.
Rivers believes Pierce will see more minutes than Garnett simply because of age. He believes Pierce still has the ability to go off on nights with big bursts of scoring but Garnett will get credited for changing the culture of the Nets. While Garnett might not play more that 20 or 25 minutes a night, Rivers said the veteran will bring a different attitude that will rub off on the younger players like Deron Williams and Joe Johnson.
"That's what I was most impressed with Kevin, how every game he prepared himself for games. That's what I told our young guys that I just wanted them to watch him prepare for games. It was why he was so consistent. I thought it was that important," Rivers said.
Garnett and Pierce were not the only big offseason signings for the Nets. Former point guard Jason Kidd signed on as head coach, something Rivers thinks is a perfect fit for the newly retired player. Rivers thinks Kidd and Garnett will be able to relate well with each other and the addition of Lawrence Frank will only help.
"I think Lawrence Frank will be so important for Jason as well," Rivers said. "You think about Lawrence, he worked with (the Celtics) staff, so he's worked with Kevin and he's knows Kevin as well as anybody. So I think that combination will be great for Kevin."
Rivers might be coming of a place bias, but no one knows those two players better than he does, so his opinion is certainly something worth taking not of. If anything, Brooklyn will be an interesting team to watch next season.