Perhaps he's just showing support for his father's new-look squad, or maybe he's being sincere, but Austin Rivers — son of Celtics head coach Doc Rivers — thinks Boston is better without Ray Allen in the mix.
That isn't a knock on Allen, though. The younger Rivers simply feels that Courtney Lee and Jason Terry are ready to fill the void left by the veteran, just as Allen is ready to make an impact with his new team down in Miami.
"As funny as it sounds, I actually think both teams benefited [from Allen signing with the Heat]," Austin Rivers said on ESPN First Take. "I think the Heat got a lot better obviously, because now the floor is spaced with Ray Allen.
"And I think the Celtics got better, because first off it was disappointing to [see him] leave because he was a part of that whole buildup to the Celtics again, but now you have a better defender in Courtney Lee, who is a great on-the-ball defender and someone who is going to add to the great defense the Celtics play already. And then you have Jason Terry, who is instant offense, something the Celtics need when you have older players like KG and Paul Pierce that get hurt. So when you have guys that are going to be inconsistent, not due to how good they are but how old they are, and the fatigue of a long season, you have guys who can come in and give you instant offense."
KG and Pierce would obviously prefer to not miss time this season, but Rivers brings up a reasonable point. Also, it will definitely be interesting to see how Lee and Terry fit into the Boston mold, as each possesses a unique skill set that could ultimately help the Celtics overtake the Heat in the Eastern Conference.
In fact, Austin Rivers thinks the C's are the Heat's biggest threat.
"I think if there's one team in the East that can beat the Miami Heat, I think it's the Boston Celtics," Rivers said. "I think it's due to the players they have, the leadership my father has, how he motivates them. … They're the only team that can do it."
Austin Rivers' new team down in New Orleans, meanwhile? Well, they have their work cut out for them in the Western Conference.
Check out Austin Rivers' take in the video below.
