BOSTON - Don't make the mistake of counting these Celtics out.
And we're not even talking about the NBA Finals.
A day after Boston's 96-89 win over the Lakers in Game 4 tied the series 2-2, Celtics coach Doc Rivers countered the many critics who expect this version of Gang Green to part ways this summer.
The two central characters in the matter are Rivers and Ray Allen. The coach has admitted he is thinking of leaving his post to spend more time with family, while the Celtics' shooting guard and one-third of the team's vaunted Big Three is in the final year of his contract.
The topic arose when Rivers was asked whether he and his players have discussed the fact that this could be the team's last run.
Share "No, we don't talk about it at all, and I don't think this is anyway," Rivers said inside TD Garden. "I've said that -- I said it in the middle of the year."
While Rivers -- who has one year remaining on his contract -- didn't discuss his situation, he wasn't afraid to speak his mind on Allen's prospective free agency.
"I think, hopefully, we sign Ray back," he continued. "I think I can say that. If not, I just got fined.
"I think Kevin [Garnett] is going to be better next year because of a year away from [knee] surgery. ... So we don't think that. I think everyone outside of us [does]."
If the Celtics do indeed resign Allen, it would be quite the turn of events from February's trade deadline. Boston general manager Danny Ainge strongly considered moving the 34-year-old Allen and upgrading with a younger shooting guard, not knowing at the time that this group wasn't done playing championship-level basketball just yet.
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