Doc Rivers surprised, then again not, by firing of Kevin McHale

Kevin McHale/Photo courtesy of NBA.com

 

The firing of Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale on Wednesday after a 4-7 start seems to have been a stunner. All McHale did this past season was lead the Rockets to the Western Conference finals, a place the team had not been since the 1996-97 season.

In getting that far, McHale led his team back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Clippers in the conference semifinals, to advance.

Count Doc Rivers among those left shaking his head.

“Yeah, very,” he said, when asked if he was astonished by the news. “I think it’s surprising for everyone. They only made it to the Western (Conference) finals last year. But that’s our league. And I think I’ve given this speech now my last 11 years a lot – nothing surprises me anymore.”