After weeks of speculation that a coaching change could be on the horizon for the Boston Celtics, a meeting between Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge on Wednesday evening confirmed that the former is headed for the West Coast.

Ainge met with Rivers in Boston to discuss the negotiations between the Celtics and Clippers just a day after talks were “called off.” After a morning full of optimism that Rivers might actually remain with the organization he helped guide to a championship in 2008, it’s painfully clear that he’s done.

A veteran of nine seasons in the Hub, Rivers reportedly wasn’t thrilled by the idea of a rebuilding progress. That’s why he did nothing to squash rumors of a swap between the Celtics and the Clippers that would involve his coaching rights.

Rivers wants another shot to coach an NBA champion and there is significant work to be done in order for the Celtics to get back to that level. The Clippers are no guarantee, but they have a better shot -- at least over the short term. Rivers has been loyal to the Celtics during his tenure, supplying the perfect style and personality to deal with more than one huge personality, but he’s also been paid handsomely to coach several future Hall of Famers.

He is one of the best coaches in the game and only 51, but Rivers averaged 34 wins in the three years prior to the arrival of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Since then, the Celtics have averaged 53 wins and won 61 playoff games.

That’s why the Clippers want Rivers -- he deals well with stars. He doesn’t have the gravitas of Phil Jackson or the work ethic of Erik Spoelstra, but you can’t deny he’s a near-perfect fit for a budding, star-laden contender.

It’s clear the Clippers are using Rivers as a way to ease the process of re-signing Chris Paul -- or he’s made up his mind to stay and is pulling the strings. If they can get the Celtics to waive the coach’s non-compete and get him aboard, Paul will fall in line. If Los Angeles hires Rivers and then Paul signs elsewhere it would be Baron Davis-Elton Brand in 2008 all over again -- only much worse.

This is a dangerous game for the Clippers, with all the leverage in Ainge’s hands. He knows the Clippers need to make this deal happen, so he can demand as much as he wants. The offer will have to be more than simply DeAndre Jordan and a first-round pick for Garnett and Rivers. Perhaps another pick. Maybe Eric Bledsoe. Possibly both.

The reality is that this courtship of Doc Rivers is the best thing to happen to the Celtics since Kevin McHale sent Garnett to Ainge six years ago.

A page needs to be turned and the Clippers are doing Ainge a favor by making it impossible not to flip it and jumpstart the rebuilding process. There was a nice spin, but the Celtics weren’t contenders entering this season. Jason Terry was never a perfect replacement for Ray Allen. Jared Sullinger was red-flagged by half the league because of back problems and the trio of Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce and Garnett were no longer an interlocking piece.

Then Rondo got hurt and there was a jolt of energy before a first-round elimination. The previous season, the Celtics clicked late and somehow got within a win of the NBA Finals. The status quo wasn’t going to work again.

Looking into Garnett’s eyes after the Celtics were eliminated by the Knicks on May 3, it seemed as though retirement was probable. Pierce admitted that playing for another franchise after 15 seasons was a possibility. Rivers looked more devastated than a coach that cobbled together a playoff run without his superstar point guard should.

The writing was on the wall.

This ending isn’t as sentimental as what seemed like the more likely possibility last month -- Garnett retiring, Rivers calling it quits to spend more time with his family in Florida before resurfacing in a season or two -- but it takes all the blood off of Ainge’s hands. He has been loyal to this core, but doesn’t suffer from nostalgia.

Completing a deal with the Clippers not only takes care of Garnett and Rivers, but also provides him the tools with which to speed up the rebuilding process. Jordan isn’t anywhere near the level of Garnett, but he’s young and serviceable. Adding Bledsoe would take some heat off Rondo and open up the chance for an electric two-point guard lineup and gives the Celtics another asset.

Then there is the pick, or maybe even picks, and Pierce.

Waiving Pierce seems like the next act in the play, removing a portion ($10 million is the figure CelticsHub is using) of his $15.3 million salary from the books for the 2013-14 season. That wouldn’t get Boston under the salary cap, but it’s assumed that Pierce would prefer the ability to sign with a contender than endure what will be a rebuilding season with Boston.

Whatever happens with Pierce, Rivers and Garnett are on the verge of becoming the next two dominos in fall of the Big Three Era. Allen left for Miami a year ago, officially elevating Rondo to monument status. This summer, the likenesses of Rivers, Garnett and Pierce will tumble. Rondo will stand alone on the mountain that Ainge guards.

Follow @Andrew_Perna

For the first time in a series that could have overwhelmed them from the start, the Indiana Pacers looked lost in Game 7 against the Miami Heat on Monday night. The defending champions rolled to yet another NBA Finals with a 99-76 win at AmericanAirlines Arena.

The Pacers led 21-19 after the first quarter, but had nine turnovers in the opening frame as the Heat attempted 28 shots. Miami shot 28.6 percent in the first, but stepped up to hit 45.8 percent of their attempts over the remainder of the game.

Miami took over in the second quarter. They outscored the Pacers 33-16 while going 10-for-17 from the field, including 4-for-8 from deep, and a perfect 9-for-9 from the foul line. Indiana committed six turnovers, giving them 15 for the first half, and after dominating the boards in Game 6 they corralled just four rebounds in 12 minutes. They didn't rebound any of their nine missed shots in the period.

Indiana didn't immediately fold after the half, trading buckets with Miami for a stretch, but they couldn't get closer than 12 and the lead ballooned to 76-55 heading into the fourth. They simply couldn't score enough and the struggles were exacerbated by foul trouble for the first time in the series.

Paul George and Roy Hibbert were both limited by fouls in the second half, forcing Frank Vogel into some tough decisions. It's a little early to disrespect this season by looking at the offseason, but adding to the bench (in conjunction with the supposed return of Danny Granger) will do wonders for Indiana's ability to push to the next level and win more often coming from behind.

A majority of the talk heading into Game 7 centered on whether LeBron James would have to take over -- or if Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh would produce enough for the Heat to survive a significant scare from the Pacers.

Wade did enjoy his best game of the series -- 21 points on 7-for-16 shooting and nine rebounds -- but ultimately the LeBron didn't need any help. James had an effortless 32 points and eight rebounds on 17 shots. He went 15-for-16 from the line as Erik Spoelstra focused on blitzing the paint consistently for the first time in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Bosh struggled yet again, going 3-for-13 from the field, but he had eight rebounds and presented enough of a threat to help spread out Indiana's defense.

The Pacers were strong in terms of field goal defense, holding Miami to 39.1 percent shooting, but didn't work hard enough on the defensive glass (15 offensive rebounds for the Heat). Indiana was also crushed at the foul line as Miami was the aggressor from the opening tip. The Heat were a tremendous 29-for-32 from the line.

Paul George Shrinks

Just 48 minutes from what would have been just the second NBA Finals appearance in franchise history, Paul George needed to at least battle LeBron James on the game's biggest stage. Instead, the first-time All-Star had easily his worst performance of the playoffs when his team needed him most.

George, who fouled out, went 2-for-9 from the field (seven points) with seven rebounds and four assists. He had just two points and an assist in the second half.

He was dominated by LeBron, which happens to the best of this generation, and must once again look to a series loss to the Heat for ways to improve. If he is as hungry as he seems, George should watch Game 7 on repeat.

Moving to his natural position of shooting guard, if Danny Granger does play another game for the Pacers, and adding some strength to his upper body are relatively easy fixes that would work wonders. He is such a great defender and a few additional pounds will only help him try to contain the LeBrons of the league.

George should also continue to work on both his jump shot and ball-handling skills.

Turnovers

The Pacers are far from polished offensively, but 21 turnovers are obviously far too many. Miscues on that end of the floor only help the opposing team get high-percentage shots, especially when they are of the live-ball variety. Indiana has an elite half-court defense and they want to employ it as much as possible.

There has been some talk about the Pacers looking for an additional ball-handler after George Hill struggled under any sort of pressure in the postseason. That seems like a knee-jerk reaction, given Hill's size and the commitment they made to him last summer. He could have played better, especially in this series, but he's 27 and Indiana doesn't need him to be an elite point guard. Also, if he was used in a three-guard lineup alongside George and someone else, he'll be undersized and that would remove Indiana's vital size advantage in the shrinking NBA.

David West led the club with six turnovers on Monday night and while not all where his fault, the offense itself struggled with ball control because Miami did such a great job defensively. For a majority of the first half, and part of the third, the Pacers had a difficult time simply initiating the offense inside 30 feet.

Where They Won, They Lost

The recipe for success was simple for the Pacers through the first six games, dominant in the paint and on the glass and at the very least they'd have a chance to win in the final moments.

Miami hit Indiana where it hurt in the deciding game, drawing even in points in the paint. The Heat led 28-16 in that category through three quarters before the Pacers were able to scuff it up a bit with the game decided. The defending-champions also had a +7 rebounding edge, including a 15-8 advantage on the offensive glass. Miami outscored Indiana 17-4 in second-chance points.

Help For LeBron

LeBron didn't need much help, but did have more support with the season on the line. Wade had his first 20+ point performance since Game 2 of Miami's first round series against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Norris Cole and Ray Allen also provided a nice punch off the bench, allowing the Heat to increase their lead in the second quarter when LeBron got a short rest. The duo combined for 18 points on just 10 shots. Allen's 3-for-5 performance from deep was especially encouraging with the NBA Finals approaching. He shot 26.8 percent from three in his previous 11 playoff games.

The Indiana Pacers took the floor for Game 6 against the Miami Heat on Saturday night with a simple goal. Win and force a deciding seventh game. Lose and the season would be over.

In a role reversal of what took place two nights earlier, the Pacers dominated the third quarter to take control of the game and remain alive. They outscored the Heat 29-15 in the third period, taking a 68-55 edge in the fourth.

Searching for an answer, Erik Spoelstra put Mike Miller into the game and we nearly witnessed another out-of-nowhere Mike Miller Game. He forced a turnover and then hit back-to-back threes to bring Miami to within 70-64 with 8:11 left.

David West, slowed by an upper respiratory infection, hit a 17-foot jumper about a minute later and the Heat never again got as close. After Miami used a 13-2 run to trim Indiana's lead to six, the Pacers responded with a 9-0 spurt to seal the 90-77 victory.

This series has been one for the ages, with just a single blowout and more than a handful of big-time playoff moments. As good as the first six games have been -- the outcomes no longer matter. It will all be on the line in Miami on Monday night.

The Heat were without Chris Andersen, who was suspended for a hit on Tyler Hansbrough in Game 5, but received good production from Joel Anthony. He has trouble finishing offensively, but had eight rebounds and three blocks. The problem? He didn't have a single rebound in 15 second-half minutes.

Miami might have missed Andersen's energy though, as LeBron James and Norris Cole were the only players on the team with any sense of urgency. They were 24 minutes from the NBA Finals, but seemed to lean on the fact that they had a Game 7 coming at AmericanAirlines Arena.

West was a step slow as you might expect. He was 0-for-7 in the first half, but waved off Frank Vogel when the coach looked to pull him. He had eight rebounds despite his struggles in the first two quarters and finished with 11 points and 14 boards.

The common refrain is that the Heat have all the pressure on their shoulders in Game 7, but that is not the case. The Pacers are very aware that they are one game away from the NBA Finals and that's as big a burden as anything else.

Hill Responds, Stephenson Up-And-Down

The Pacers needed a good game from George Hill and he responded with 16 points and six assists. He was much more aggressive than in Game 5, after which he admitted he was sort of just watching his teammates make plays on the road.

Lance Stephenson made an impact on the game, but still isn't scoring. In the last two games, he has scored a total of eight points on 3-for-11 shooting. He did a lot of little things on Saturday night though, grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing four assists. I wrote after Game 5 that Indiana would need around 20 points and 10 rebounds from the duo to force a seventh game.

Hill and Stephenson combined for 20 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists and a steal (six turnovers). The stakes are now higher and Frank Vogel is going to need both players to score to win again down in South Beach.

Hibbert's Growth

He has been talked about a lot, but I haven't really dedicated much space to Roy Hibbert in my coverage of this series. He was phenomenal again in a must-win game, leading the way with 24 points, 11 rebounds and a blocked shot. Hibbert is such an intimidating presence in the paint that he isn't getting a chance to reject as many shots as he did during the regular season. His impact is much greater than his numbers in that respect, as it has been all season.

Hibbert grabbed five offensive rebounds, helping the Pacers outscore the Heat 14-5 in second-chance points. Another great night from the field (11-for-20) allowed the Pacers to win the paint battle 44-22 despite all missed layups and dunks they suffered in the first half.

It was obvious heading into the series that Hibbert was the key to Indiana's success, but you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone that was willing to predict he would be this consistently dominant. After signing a huge contract last summer, his numbers improved from poor to decent to good as the regular season progressed.

Hibbert took his game to another level in early rounds against the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks, but has shifted to an undiscovered gear against the defending champions. He is averaging 22.8 points and 10.8 rebounds on 55% shooting against Miami's smaller frontline.

He has always had this in him, but his affable personality seemed to prevent him from putting his talent on full display. He's almost unrecognizable from the player the Pacers acquired in 2008 and deserves credit and acclaim for all the hard work he has put in over the last five years.

Miami Cavaliers

Reggie Miller had some fun on the TNT broadcast when he referred to the Heat as the Miami Cavaliers, but in reality LeBron James may have to put the team on his back (like his days back with Cleveland) if they are going to face the San Antonio Spurs and for an opportunity to win their second consecutive NBA title.

Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have floated in-and-out of this series and were historically bad in Game 6. They combined to shoot 4-for-19 from the field and had 15 points and six rebounds between them. Ernie Johnson reported during the TNT postgame show that it was the lowest scoring total for the pair since they became teammates prior to the 2010 season.

Overall, Miami struggled to score. They scored 77 points on 36.1 percent shooting (a season low, regular or playoffs) after putting up 70 points in the first half alone last Sunday. If you remove LeBron's shooting line (10-for-21), the Heat shot 31.4. Oddly enough they made six of their first seven three-point attempts and finished 10-for-18 (55.6 percent) from deep. That means they shot 29.6 percent on two-pointers.

Aside from the first quarter when Miami caught fire from long range, the Pacers did a good job of closing out on shooters and clogged the paint enough to prevent penetration until the fourth quarter when LeBron decided it was time to put his head down and try to at least earn a trip to the foul line. There will be more of that in Game 7 as both teams look to impose their will.