Doc Rivers ‘Leaning Heavily’ Toward Returning to Celtics to Coach 2011-12 Season

Every year, Doc Rivers leaves his options open either to leave the Celtics or come back to coach for another season. And every year, so far, he's opted to remain on the sidelines in Boston.

It looks like that trend will continue. After the Celtics' season ended on Wednesday night, with a 97-87 loss in Game 5 against the Miami Heat, Rivers said he was likely to return for his eighth season.

"I'm leaning heavily toward coming back," he said. "I haven't made that decision, but I can tell you I probably will. I've come to realize that over the last couple of weeks. I'm a Celtic, and I love our guys."

Rivers' resume as the Celtics' head coach now features five postseason appearances in seven years, including two trips to the NBA Finals and one championship. But after coming up short this spring, Rivers finds himself hungry for redemption with this team in 2012.

"I want to win again here," Rivers said. "I do. I'm competitive as hell, and I have a competitive group."

Rivers' decision to stay or go is an annual ordeal. He generally takes a few weeks to arrive at a final decision. Last year, the Celtics lost Game 7 of the NBA Finals on June 17 and the coach announced he was staying on June 30.

"We'll see," Rivers said of this year's decision. "I can tell you where I'm at today. Tomorrow I might change my mind, but that's where I'm at today."