If a Deron Williams fan club breaks out in Boston, Doc Rivers just might join the group.
Well, he might after cooling off following his ejection from the Celtics' 110-97 loss in which Williams scored 22 points with 11 assists.
Earlier Monday, though, Boston's coach had nothing but praise for the Jazz's All-Star.
"I love him. He's terrific," Rivers said of Williams after a morning shootaround.
"You can't have a conversation about best point guard in the NBA (without mentioning him) — he has to be in it," Rivers continued. "He has to maybe be the first guy you talk about."
Rivers, a former NBA point guard himself, wasn't shy when it came to raving about Williams during his team's annual Utah visit.
"He does everything — he shoots the ball well, he makes great decisions, defends, he's a big guard that can post up," Rivers said in the morning. "I don't know what more you want in a point guard."
"He doesn't need the ball in his hands for 24 seconds," Rivers said. "But he can have the ball in his hands for 24 seconds, and that makes him special."
"He plays body positions as well as any guard in the league, 1, 2 or 3. Him and LeBron (James), they both do it," Rivers said.
"If you get on the side of those guys, it's over, the play is over. Now you're just hoping he makes a bad decision or misses a shot, but he's getting what he wants."
"We want to pressure him," Rivers said, "but you're scared to turn him because if you turn him and he gets to the side of you then the play's over. He makes it difficult."
"I wish," the 6-foot-4 Rivers said, "I was that talented of a big point guard."