Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers believes new additions Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett could prove to be such forces for the Brooklyn Nets the team could supplant two-time defending champ Miami for Eastern Conference supremacy this season.
Rivers, who coached the pair for six seasons in Boston, told Boston.com not only is he convinced both grizzled veterans still have plenty left in the tank, but soon LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and all the other Eastern Conference contenders will soon know that too.
"They could knock off Miami,” he said. "I think obviously Paul's younger and in tune to play more minutes than Kevin, but I think they're still at the top of their games. I think Paul is still one of those guys who can go off for big nights and still have big scoring nights. Kevin is a culture change. He won't play but 20 to 25 minutes a night and there'll probably be nights when he doesn't play but his presence there alone will absolutely change the culture of Brooklyn. There's no doubt about it. I think for some of the young guys, even some of the veteran stars, Joe Johnson and Deron Williams, will learn and understand what a winner is and looks like and professionalism and being prepared.”
Rivers added that he doesn’t foresee any major problems for first-year coach Jason Kidd in trying to handle such a veteran roster.
"That's where I was most impressed with Kevin,” he said. “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."
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