Doc Rivers to Coach East in 2008 All-Star Game

NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2008 – Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers will coach the Eastern Conference All-Stars for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game, to be played on Sunday, Feb. 17, at New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, LA.
Rivers and the Celtics’ (33-6, .846) coaching staff earned the honor to coach the East as a result of their 109-93 victory over the New York Knicks this afternoon at Madison Square Garden.

Head coaches for the East and West All-Star teams are based on teams with the best winning-percentage in each conference through games played on Sunday, Feb. 3. Phoenix Suns head coach Mike D’Antoni and Washington Wizards head coach Eddie Jordan are not eligible to coach in the 2008 NBA All-Star Game because they coached in last year’s All-Star Game.

This season marks Rivers third season at the helm in Boston. In his first Season as Head Coach of the Celtics Rivers led the club to a 45-37 (.549) record as well as the teams first Atlantic Division title since the 1991-92. Rivers is only the fourth coach in franchise history to have earned the NBA Coach of the Year Award, joining Tom Heinsohn (1972-73), Bill Fitch (who won it with Cleveland (1975-76) and Boston (1979-80)) and Red Auerbach (1964-65), for whom the trophy is named. Rivers has guided Boston to an 18-3 home record while also compiling an NBA best 15-3 road record for the first place Celtics.

The All-Star starters for both the Eastern and Western Conference will be announced on Thursday, Jan.24 live on TNT, while the All-Star reserves will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 31.

The NBA All-Star Game will broadcast live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide at 7:00 p.m. CT on Sunday, Feb. 17 from New Orleans, LA.