NBA

Celtics coach has bad memories of MSG

WALTHAM, Mass. — Doc Rivers holds Madison Square Garden dear to his heart.

The Celtics’ coach played there as a Knick, but his memories of the arena are not necessarily overwhelmingly positive ones.

“If you talked to any player who never won it, they don’t have a great memory. That sounds sad in some ways, but that’s very true. I really don’t. I remember all of the negative [junk],” Rivers said. “I remember Game 5 against Chicago [in 1993, when Charles Smith failed to score the tying basket on numerous shots in the final seconds]. That’s my greatest memory, but that’s the memory I have.”

But in no way is Rivers down on the World’s Most Famous Arena.

“It’s special for me because I played there. It’s special to every single player because it’s the only arena left that has a memory. All of the other ones have been blown up,” Rivers said. “This is the one that Frazier and Ali fought in. … This is the arena where all of that stuff has happened, and players know that.

“I have kids, and one of their dreams is to play in Madison Square Garden. They’re not from New York. It’s the only building.

“It used to be The Forum, the Boston Garden and Madison Square Garden. Now it’s Madison Square Garden.”