Doc Rivers returns to standing ovation, memories and his successor

Doc Rivers (right) returned to Boston for the first time, meeting his Celtics successor, Brad Stevens.

Elise Amendola/AP

Stevens is the next generation. He made the same kind of decision last summer, at a time in his life when it made perfect sense for him to take on the type of long-term rebuilding project that Rivers took on a decade ago. During breaks in the game, Green and his Celtics teammates would say nice things to Rivers; and then the ball went back into play and they chased it hard on behalf of Stevens. It was the best of both worlds.