Three-year honeymoon sounds like an oxymoron, but that's what Doc Rivers is beginning with the Orlando Magic tonight.

Plucked from a television job two years ago, Rivers became an instant coach of the year. He has said all the right things, and done a whole lot of them, too, while spouting the now-familiar line that he's just feeling his way in this business.

Rivers is popular and smart and charismatic. He hasn't yet had a player challenge his authority or his methods, although that day surely will come. Everybody, with the possible exception of Milwaukee coach George Karl, likes Rivers.

He has proven he can take a team with heart and hustle and not much else to the brink of the playoffs. He has proven he can help a 21-year-old with enormous potential pull a supporting cast to the first round.