Philadelphia 76ers Doc Rivers wins his 1000th game: Ranking his top 5 moments as an NBA head coach

Doc Rivers has made quite the NBA career for himself
Doc Rivers has made quite the NBA career for himself

#3 Doc Rivers and the Boston Celtics return to the NBA Finals defeating the Orlando Magic 96-84 on May 27, 2010

Doc Rivers, Celtics management and his team celebrate beating Orlando in the 2010 ECF
Doc Rivers, Celtics management and his team celebrate beating Orlando in the 2010 ECF

Doc Rivers had to scramble to pull this one off. Nate Robinson took over for an injured Rajon Rondo and propelled the Boston Celtics into the 2010 NBA Finals. Robinson's 13 second-quarter points gave the Celtics a lift after Rondo went down and Paul Pierce had 31 points and 13 rebounds.

With the win the Celtics earned their 2nd NBA Finals appearance in 3 years. Dwight Howard had 28 points and 12 rebounds, and Vince Carter had 17 for the Magic -- who could not overcome Nate Robinson's energetic contribution. It was at this moment that Doc Rivers told the world that he was a top-level NBA head coach.

#2 Doc Rivers gets his first NBA Finals win in the infamous 'wheel chair game' vs. the Los Angeles Lakers, 98-88, on June 8, 2008

In a classic match in Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals, Doc Rivers and his Boston Celtics were looking to complete a mission that seemed inevitable. Boston was the best team all season, and Paul Pierce (28 points/8rebounds, Ray Allen (17 points) and Kevin Garnett (17 points/14 rebounds) were locked and loaded to prove their season was no fluke.

The new Boston Garden was as loud as I've ever heard an NBA arena to be and the game lived up to all the excitement. After what was then known as a Paul Pierce knee injury, the Celtics forward came out of the tunnel to hit two big threes late to carry Boston to victory in Game 1, 98-88. Kobe Bryant had 30 points and 8 assists, and Pau Gasol 17 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

#1 Boston Celtics defeat Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers 131-92 to win Doc Rivers' first NBA championship on June 16, 2008

Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 14 rebounds, Paul Pierce had 17 points and 10 dimes and Ray Allen scored 26 points to rout the Los Angeles Lakers 131-92 at the TD North Garden and become the last NBA team standing in 2008.

Game 6 was never in any doubt, and everything seemed to click for Boston -- who won their 17th NBA championship over a bitter rival the Celtics hadn't faced since 1987. Kobe Bryant scored 22 for the Lakers. It was a return of two classic NBA franchises in the NBA Finals, and that Doc Rivers was able to bring the NBA title back to Boston is a testament to his NBA acumen and will.

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