A voice from Rivers's past

Doc Rivers and Al Michaels formed a lasting bond during their ABC broadcasting days. (CATHERINE STEENKESTE/GETTY IMAGES)

Doc Rivers was on the sideline the last time the Celtics were on ABC television, back on Jan. 18, 2004, for a loss to the Spurs. But he wasn't a coach; he was a color analyst.

The Celtics are back on ABC today, for the first time in four years, as they take on the Magic in Orlando, and this time Rivers will be on the sideline as Boston's coach. Expected to watch the game on television is Rivers's old ABC partner, Al Michaels, one of the all-time great play-by-play voices. He couldn't be happier for his friend.

"He was not only a great partner but a great guy," said Michaels, who now works for NBC. "We're still very good friends."

Rivers compiled a 171-168 record in four-plus seasons as Orlando's coach before being fired 11 games into the 2003-04 season. The day after his firing, he went to Los Angeles to try out with ABC, doing two practice games with Michaels.

Rivers, who had experience as an NBA analyst with TNT, and Michaels developed instant chemistry, and three days after being fired, Rivers signed with ABC.

"When Doc got fired in Orlando, it ended up being a blessing for me," Michaels said. "I did not know Doc. I had only known him from his days at TNT. We thought Doc was a good fit. We did some practice games and we meshed really nicely."

The first game they worked together was a Rockets victory over the Lakers on Dec. 25, 2003.

"Al looked at it as preparation for him because he'd been out of the NBA," Rivers said. "I'd been out of doing that. We really were both nervous. He hadn't done basketball [in a while] and I hadn't done TV in four years.

"We were laughing. Christmas Eve he called me. I had landed in LA and he wanted to know if he could still call rebounds 'caroms.' I said, 'Guys don't use that anymore.' He said, 'OK, I don't want to be outdated.'

"It was amazing how he thought about different words. I was thinking, 'Man, this guy is a pro.' "

Rivers also used the job to improve as a coach. When attending practices to scout teams, he remembered plays and practice approaches that he liked for later use. He kept a notepad to aid him with the game and had another one to jot down "neat stuff" and "new systems."

He also picked up knowledge by talking with coaches.

"It's great sometimes when you're doing sidelines because you get a chance to see different systems," Rivers said. "You talk to all the coaches. You never stop learning and forming your ideas. I took advantage."

During their short time together, Michaels said that Rivers really seemed to enjoy the job and wasn't pressed to get back to coaching. But when the Celtics became strongly interested during the 2003-04 season, Rivers couldn't resist the opportunity.

He said he initially said no to coming back, but after being reminded by his wife, Kris, that the Celtics were on his short list, he took the job on April 29, 2004.

"It was kind of bittersweet," Michaels said. "I was happy for Doc on one hand that he was going back to coaching. But on the other hand I was hoping to work with him two years, maybe three."

Said Rivers: "I loved the job. I was in no hurry. My intentions were to take two years off unless a job came up, honestly. This is a special job. There is only one Celtics that I know of."

Michaels and Rivers worked their last game together on June 15, 2004. The Pistons defeated the Lakers, 100-87, to win the NBA Finals in five games. And as the clock started ticking down, Michaels and Rivers quietly got a little emotional, knowing they would be saying goodbye at the final buzzer.

"When I signed off, I remember at the championship game we both actually had tears," Rivers said. "It was funny. We were just close. You knew that part of the friendship wouldn't go away. We golf together. We talk all of the time."

Said Michaels, "We really had something really special going."

And it's something special that the Celtics are on ABC again. It's their fourth time since the network began showing NBA games again on Dec. 25, 2002, after a 29-year hiatus. And considering that the ABC games usually shown on Sundays are reserved for the elite, it's a good thing for the Celtics that they are back.

Michaels, who says he watches lots of Celtics games on satellite television, said, "In Orlando, people wondered how good of a coach he was. I'm just thrilled that all those questions are now answered. He must be having the time of his life, at least in terms of coaching, with this team."

Rivers is now in his fourth season coaching the Celtics and was recently named coach of the Eastern Conference All-Stars. Down the line, though, he can see himself doing games again. Who knows, maybe he and Michaels can get reunited.

"I'm sure I will someday," Rivers said. "I loved it. I enjoyed it. You tend to go back to things you like."

Celtics Kevin Garnett (abdominal strain), James Posey (finger), Brian Scalabrine (flu), Tony Allen (scratched eye), and Scot Pollard (ankle) all made the trip to Orlando and are game-time decisions today.