"Rivers, the former Boston head coach, told one of his favorite tales: He famously collected $100 from every member of the Celtics' traveling party on a road trip and stashed the money in the ceiling of the visitors locker room at the Lakers' home arena. (Rivers' legendary motivational tactic actually took place after a February regular-season game against the Lakers in 2010, and the Celtics returned to collect that money in the NBA Finals)."
"He also thought it was possible that the time Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson's Lakers came out in retro short shorts against Rivers' Celtics could've happened on Christmas. (It was on Dec. 30, 2007, close enough to blend into Christmas). The Celtics and Lakers did play each other on the holiday in 2008."
""I've had a lot of Christmas games," Rivers explained to ESPN. "It's different. I love it and hate it at the same time because having time with your family, it's so important"
Doc Rivers has played or coached on Christmas 17 times since 1984. Many of Rivers' most vivid holiday memories connect to the Celtics–Lakers rivalry. He collected $100 from every member of the Celtics' traveling party and hid the money in the ceiling of the visitors' locker room at the Lakers' arena after a February 2010 regular-season game; the Celtics later retrieved the money during the NBA Finals. Rivers associated the Lakers' retro short shorts on Dec. 30, 2007, with holiday recollections, and the Celtics and Lakers also met on Christmas 2008. Rivers describes playing on the holiday as a love‑hate experience because family time is important. The NBA Christmas Day slate features marquee matchups broadcast on ESPN and ABC.
Read at ESPN.com
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