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Doc Rivers Thrilled For Bruins, Happy to Work in ‘City of Champions’

WALTHAM, Mass. — The Bruins built up quite a fan bandwagon in Boston as they embarked on their miracle journey this spring to win their first Stanley Cup since 1972.

One of their newfound followers? None other than the leader of the other winter sports team in town — Celtics coach Doc Rivers.

"I don't know anything about hockey, but I went to a game and was very supportive," Rivers said Wednesday. "It was just fun to watch."

Rivers was in attendance for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, the B's final home contest at the TD Garden this year. He said he didn't understand much of what was going on — other than a quick wisecrack of "I love the hitting" — but he was thrilled to see another Boston team find success on the big stage.

"I think it's unbelievable," he said. "It's a great time to be a Boston fan in sports."

Rivers, who won his first NBA championship as a head coach in 2008, was thrilled to welcome Claude Julien into the club of Boston's championship coaches. Julien's first Cup puts him in elite company with Rivers; Terry Francona, whose Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 and '07; and Bill Belichick, whose Patriots won Super Bowls in the 2001, '03 and '04 seasons.

"It's really neat to know that you have four coaches in town that have all been champions," Rivers said. "But more importantly, I think it's great for the city. This is a city of champions right now, and I think each coach and each team wants to keep that going.

"I thought it was neat how often the Bruins mentioned that they wanted to join in with everybody else, that that was one of their driving forces. I think it's terrific. There's a great chemistry and bond with the four coaches, and I think there's a great bond with all the teams, too.

"It's a neat thing to be a part of. You don't get that everywhere, but we have it."