For all the success Doc Rivers had as the head coach of the Boston Celtics, he knows plenty about devastating losses. The Celtics came close to winning their second championship under Rivers multiple times after they won an NBA title in 2008. In 2010, Boston lost a gut-wrenching Game 7 to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. In 2012, Paul Pierce and company took a 3-2 series lead over the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, only to lose to the eventual champions.
That’s why when the San Antonio Spurs lost to the Heat in Game 7 of the NBA Finals this year, Gregg Popovich turned to Rivers for coping advice.
Doc Rivers said Gregg Popovich called and asked him "Do you ever get over Game 7 losses?" Doc's response? "Nope" #clippers #celtics #spurs
— gary washburn (@GwashNBAGlobe) July 17, 2013
While one coach reaching out to another in that type of situation isn’t unheard of, some people will be surprised to hear that Pop did it. We’ve grown accustomed to seeing the Spurs coach snapping at reporters and talking about how his wife lectured him. His decision to reach out to Doc proves that Game 7 losses sting a little more — no matter how tough a person looks on their exterior.
