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BOSTON -- Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers said Tuesday that 38-year-old Paul Pierce remains on the fence about returning for his 19th season but believes Pierce has something left in the tank.Depends on the day I talk to him. Paul has had the summer, hes gone back and forth, Rivers said while back in Boston to host the annual ABCD Hoops Dream fundraiser at TD Garden. I think he has a right to do that. I really do.Paul didnt have the best year last year. I dont think he wants to go out that way. So I think thats why hes working to try to come back. But he still may change his mind next week. So we just have to wait. I told him if I see him at training camp, Im assuming hes playing.Rivers plans to talk with Pierce again this week but does not expect an answer until training camp draws closer.Rivers said he would be brutally honest with Pierce if he didnt think Pierce was capable of helping the Clippers next season.If I dont think they can play, then I tell them that. But I think Paul can play, Rivers said. I dont know how much hell play, but he can play. Ive always thought its easy for someone else to tell you to retire; I think thats something that the player has to come to by himself.Rivers reaffirmed that, should Pierce choose to retire, hell encourage him to sign a one-day contract with the Boston Celtics in order to retire as a member of the Celtics organization.I think its important. I think we have to do that. And I think we will, Rivers said. [Celtics president of basketball operations] Danny [Ainge] and [assistant general manager] Mike [Zarren], weve already talked.The day [Pierce] retires, hes going to retire a Celtic. He has to. Pauls a Celtic. So when he retires, hes got to retire as a Celtic. I dont think anyone disagrees with me.During an 11-minute chat with reporters, Rivers was peppered with questions about his former Celtics Big Three of Pierce, Kevin Garnett?and Ray Allen -- with all the questions centering on whether Rivers thought any of them would play during the 2016-17 season.Rivers could only laugh when it was noted that he thought each of those players had a limited playing window when the Big Three came together for its title run in 2007.I told the guys when we got them together, Weve got to win this year. I dont know how long youre playing, Rivers said. I thought like two or three years. So I was a little wrong on that one, for sure.Rivers talked with Allen this summer but wouldnt tip his hand on whether he thought Allen would resume his NBA career after sitting out the past two seasons.I dont know. I wont talk about what we talked about. I think if Ray was in the right spot, he may play, said Rivers. I think Ray wants to golf a lot too, right now. But Ray is in amazing shape. I dont know how he does that. I didnt know how he does that as a player; I dont know how he does it as a non-player. Hes probably in top-5 shape in the NBA. So could Ray play? Absolutely, I believe he could.Rivers sounded most confident that Garnett would continue his playing career, even as he aids the rebuilding process with the Minnesota Timberwolves.I think Kevin -- and I know it, because I talk to him -- loves the young guys on his team, Rivers said. He loves how they work. He thinks they have an old-school mentality. So I think hes really gotten into Kevin, the teacher. And I honestly never saw that coming, either. Yet he was a phenomenal teacher with [Boston]; I just didnt think he would have the patience to do it. And I think Kevin loves teaching these young guys.And I think Paul just loves playing. He was the one that I thought would play the longest because the way he plays, and hes doing it. Abby Smith Jersey . 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Abby Dahlkemper Jersey . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. Kelley OHara USA Jersey . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. Editors Note: Alex Scarborough covers the SEC for ESPN.com.Theres an arms race taking place in college football that has even the most distinguished of programs feeling as if theyre a step behind. And you can thank Alabamas Nick Saban for not just being ahead of the curve, but throwing the first curve to being with.The desire for more man power is met by seemingly unlimited budgets. Theres no such thing as being over-qualified anymore. These days you cant find a perennial top-25 program without a fully stocked staff, while traditionally second-tier programs are pushing to expand theirs.It started with Sabans arrival at Alabama. Four national championships later, everyone is playing copycat.Looking at the college game through the lens of his time in the NFL, Saban beefed up the Tides organizational infrastructure, adding bodies to the personnel department and bringing in accomplished coaches to lend a hand wherever possible.Getting an accurate number of everyone working in the Mal Moore Athletic Facility is difficult -- in 2012, there were 146 non-coaches on the athletic department payroll -- but a few big names stand out over the past few years. For instance, when Jim McElwain was offensive coordinator, he had former Power 5 offensive coordinators Mike Groh (Virginia) and Billy Napier (Clemson) on his staff. Kevin Steele, who had been a head coach at Baylor, served as director of player personnel in 2013.ddddddddddddThe next year, former Washington assistant and ace recruiter Tosh Lupoi joined the staff as an analyst. This year, former Maryland O.C. Mike Locksley will hold a similar position.We learn things all the time from other people, how they do things, Saban said. Were always looking for a better way, and everybody is responsible for that. So when you have the opportunity to get somebody like Mike, they bring a lot to the table. ... Hell have some ideas that will contribute to what were doing in a certain segment systematically. There are a lot of benefits in bringing somebody with his experience aboard.Saban disciples have followed suit, whether its McElwain at Florida, Jimbo Fisher at Florida State or Kirby Smart at Georgia. Former Saban assistant Will Muschamp has already made noticeable changes to the staff at South Carolina. Retired Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier told XM Radio recently, I dont know how many theyve got, but ... weve got about 12 more than when I was there, in one year.Saban changed the game, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. He changed it for everybody, changed the whole model. And you see the results that theyve had.To read Alex Scarboroughs full article, visit ESPN.com. ' ' '