Doc Rivers, Bill Simmons engage in war of words

To say that it's been a rough week in Boston sports would be an understatement. The Boston Bruins lost a chance at winning the Stanley Cup in 17 seconds. The New England Patriots released a tight end who was arrested and charged with murder. The Boston Celtics traded their title-winning coach to the Los Angeles Clippers for a draft pick. And then the franchise traded a pair of future Hall of Famers for more draft picks. So if ESPN personality - and noted Boston sports fan - Bill Simmons took offense to Doc Rivers calling him an idiot during the network's coverage of the NBA draft, can you really blame him?

The moment occurred after reporter Shelley Smith relayed to Rivers that Simmons thought the head coach had quit on the C's. When Smith tossed it back to Rece Davis, Jay Bilas, Jalen Rose and Simmons on the set at the Barclays Center, the erstwhile "Sports Guy" explained himself:

"The truth keeps changing. I mean he's given different quotes about this. He didn't know. He did know. He kinda knew. He wanted the trade to happen. He was coming back. He needed a year off. When he sticks to a story, I'll believe the truth."

Davis then tried to explain what has been a strange two-week courtship between the Clippers and Celtics over Rivers' services when Simmons interrupted him.

"Just own it. Just admit what you did. The writing was on the wall. The Celtics want to rebuild. You don't want to be a part of it. You want to go to the Clippers and it happened. Just own what you did."

As for the draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected UNLV freshman Anthony Bennett with the top pick. He's also the first Canadian to be taken No. 1.

Meanwhile in baseball, Yasiel Puig had a 2-run single that helped the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-4. The victory is the club's sixth straight.

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