Will they be O.K.?

As Doc Rivers (left) and Kevin Garnett (right) head for greener pastures,
will the grass be greener on the other side for the Celtics?

It's easy for Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers to sit here now and say that the Celtics will be fine.

It's easy for Garnett to say that when after he was shipped to a team that many feel will challenge the reigning champion Miami Heat.

It's easy for Rivers to say that because many are picking his Los Angeles Clippers to win the Western Conference title. 

From the outside looking in, it's easy to make rash assumptions. Sure, everything will be fine. Don't worry.

But will it?

Rivers was in Boston this past Wednesday Action for the Boston Community Development's Hoops Dreams charity event at TD Garden, and he spoke highly of newly-hired Brad Stevens. Rivers believes Stevens will be a "very, very good NBA coach." He feels the Celtics will be alright. 

While promoting his new ANTA shoe in China this past week, Garnett answered a few questions about the Celtics. When asked about the current state of the team, Garnett responded, "I think Boston's going to be fine. That team has always been proven, they always succeed, always push the envelope when it comes to winning, and they have good pieces up there, Jeff Green, Rajon (Rondo), Brandon Bass, guys up there that's really hard-working guys, that will come in and compete every night, are going to put forth a valid effort. So they're not going to be shabby, not at all." 

Not too shabby, eh? We'll see.

What am I saying here? Well, I think that we should take these comments from both Garnett and Rivers with a grain of salt. To a point, they actually might mean what they say. But do you think they really care? 

Rivers, despite disputing this notion for months now, wanted out. Once he saw the writing on the wall, he wanted to leave. And why blame him? He was about to embark on his third rebuilding project in what is going to be his fourteenth season as an NBA head coach. That's too much to ask for a guy who is a former Coach of the Year award winner, an NBA champion and a guy who is regarded as the best coach in the league.

Now, Rivers is on cloud nine. He's coaching a team that should challenge for an NBA title, and he's doing so in the beautiful city of L.A.,  a place where he can play golf 365 days a year. He's in his happy place, so he doesn't have to worry about how his former team is going to perform. He has to get acclimated with his new surroundings, so why waste time stirring the pot about the past?

The same applies for Garnett. He has to get to know his new teammates, and he's about to chase after another ring. Why does he have to worry about his old team will do? 

The recipe for these guys (Garnett, Rivers and for Paul Pierce when he does speak) is as follows: just say they'll be fine and move on. They're all in different places now, and why is that? It's because Danny Ainge felt the time was now to build the next great Celtics team, and that team was not going to include Garnett, Pierce and even Rivers. 

Let's face the facts: the Celtics will not be a very good team in the foreseeable future. Things may be interesting, but they will not be a true championship contender for quite some time. So why kid ourselves? Why should we believe these guys who will not be here to experience this "low" period?

Just because these comments are coming from two men who will forever live in Celtics' lore doesn't mean fans should read their words like biblical passages.