The Latest Injured Boston Celtic is Doc Rivers


The Boston Celtics are a wounded bunch – everyone from the players, to now even the coaching staff. The Boston Herald reports that head coach Doc Rivers is suffering from a herniated disk in his back (for which he had to take an epidural to relieve the pain): “In a year where Avery Bradley, Jeff Green, Chris Wilcox and Jermaine O’Neal have undergone season ending surgeries and Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are playing through infirmities, Doc Rivers is now coaching through a back ailment that may require a procedure in the offseason. […] ‘It’s been going on for about four weeks,’ he said. ‘I think it was in Game 4 or 5 against Philly that it really got bad, so I just went in and took the shot.’ As for the possibility of surgery, Rivers said, ‘I don’t know. I hope not.’ He then smiled and added, ‘I’m sure Dr. (Brian) McKeon thinks so. But I don’t want to make a big deal out of this,’ Rivers said. ‘I’m fine.’ Considering the maladies that have befallen the Celts this season, there seems to be a cloud that is hanging over what is likely the last run together for the trio of Pierce, Allen and Kevin Garnett. And Rivers isn’t immune to the trend. ‘I guess not,’ he said. ‘But I’d rather have them all, though. I’d rather me have the injuries and the players be fine.’”