Shattering barriers not new in Boston

0 Comments | USA TODAY, June, 2008 | by Caleb Calhoun

As if having the NBA's two most storied franchises, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, in the NBA Finals wasn't enough, Celtics coach Doc Rivers added to the historical significance.

When Boston won its 17th NBA championship with a 131-92 rout of Los Angeles on Tuesday night at TD Banknorth Garden, Rivers became the first African-American coach to win an NBA title since another Celtics leader, K.C. Jones, did it in 1986. That also was the last time the franchise hung a banner.

Yet, it's not just been African-American coaches who have gone a couple of decades between rings -- most of the league's coaches fall into that category. Since Jones won in '86, only seven coaches, including Rivers, have held the O'Brien Trophy: Pat Riley won three between the...