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O'Brien gets contract extension

BOSTON, May 21 (UPI) -- Despite a lackluster team effort in this year's playoffs, Boston Celtics Coach Jim O'Brien has been given a contract extension through the 2005-06 season.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

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The extension is one of the first notable moves by Danny Ainge, who earlier this month was hired as the team's Executive Director of Basketball Operations.

"We are excited to have Jim be our head coach," Ainge said. "Coming in new, this was not a process that was a given. There was a lot of conversation, observation, and analyzing of circumstances. Of all the guys out there, he is the guy that we want."

The Celtics are the NBA's most successful franchise, with 16 titles, but last won the championship in 1986, when Ainge was the starting shooting guard on a team that featured Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Dennis Johnson.

In this year's playoffs, the Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to New Jersey in four straight games, ending a six-year playoff drought.

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They finally beat Milwaukee, but struggled.

"I am excited and energized, and very much looking forward to be joined with Danny in this quest to bring this franchise to the next level," O'Brien said

O'Brien guided the Celtics to a 44-38 record this season, despite limited production from center Vin Baker, who was acquired in a trade with Seattle. Baker averaged just 5.2 points in 52 games, and was suspended indefinitely, reportedly for alcohol-related problems.

O'Brien is 117-65 since taking over for Rick Pitino in January 2001. The Celtics were 49-33 in 2001-02, their best record since the 1991-92 season.

"Under difficult circumstances, he's done a great job," Ainge said.

O'Brien was an assistant for the Celtics under Pitino before being promoted to interim coach. Boston was 12-22 when O'Brien took over, and 24-24 over the remainder of that season.

He signed a multi-year contract as coach on April 24, 2001.

O'Brien came to the Celtics in 1997 along with Pitino from the University of Kentucky.

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