Gary Sheffield, Jr
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Doc Rivers is officially leaving the Los Angeles Clippers and this should explain their future plans with Paul George. Self claimed “Playoff P” was a laughable nickname, but allowing Rivers to walk creates this illusion that he was the problem. This also means coaches like Tyronn Lue, Mark Jackson, and Mike D’Antoni could be headed for L.A.
Coach Doc Rivers is out with the Clippers, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 28, 2020
Here’s the trade Clippers star Kawhi Leonard signed off on to pair himself with Paul George:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and the Clippers’ first-round draft picks in 2022, 2024 and 2026, two first-round choices via Miami in 2021 and 2023, and the right to swap first-round picks in 2023 and 2025
When Doc Rivers was handed the keys to the Kawhi-PG13 duo, he was expected to mesh the talents like Phil Jackson. Reality is starting to set in that Rivers never coached at a level to accomplish this type of greatness. Steve Ballmer and th Clippers can’t allow a deal of that magnitude to go down and bail on the player. L.A. opted to bail on the one part of their team they didn’t have an investment in: Doc Rivers.
There may be members in the Clippers organization that want to sell on PG, but now isn’t the time. If Kawhi or Jerry West wanted to facilitate a deal to get Kawhi a REAL running mate, his value couldn’t be lower than it is now. Any trade of George this offseason would essentially be giving him up for free.
Pressure punted to next season
This move makes the team seem like they believe Doc Rivers was the problem when Paul George couldn’t hit a shot all playoffs. He suddenly earned the nickname Pandemic P, then we shift the blame to the head coach out the blue? Doc Rivers will certainly find a new job and Philadelphia could be looking at the partnership. We also never know what Houston thinks about bringing a defensive coach in behind James Harden and whoever they can get in a trade for Westbrook.
Doc Rivers made a statement via Twitter:
— doc rivers (@DocRivers) September 28, 2020
The NBA is going full WWE and we’re just waiting to see how all these storylines play out.
I had forgotten how massive that trade was. They didn’t even a running back from the Cowboys in the deal!!!
Just my opinion but I think the Clippers owner was disgusted at Doc’s fake crying about black men being shot by cops everyday. As a retired LEO. Good riddance Doc!
Pretty interesting thought…HOWEVER, he has ALWAYS underachieved as a coach…coughed up several 3-1 leads, only won ONE in Boston, and has done less with more than most I can remember. In the end though, this has Jerry West’s fingerprints all over it. Go Clippers!
Could be onto something there Gary. It was a pretty embarrassing performance.
Pandemic-P! I never heard that! 🤣
Sorry we didn’t love you back, Doc…
IMHO Mark jackson has earned a shot at coaching the LAC.
He’s as tough as they come and he’s not a whiner.
And he was great with Jeff Van Gundy on TV.
*Jackson
Another clown too focused on the blm BS don’t let the door hit you in the ass maybe you’ll have time now to look up the facts on these cases and i’m still not watching
Why wouldn’t he pick “Playoff G”? This is an imminently better nickname.
I vote for Mark Jackson. I hope Steve Ballmer reads this comment.
Glenn Rivers is a proven choker and loser, as indicated by his playoffs series records after leading 3-1 in the playoffs. He is extremely overrated and has been surviving on his one and only Boston championship. That he could not lead this elite Clippers team to the Finals is all we need to know about his coaching ability. Clippers held on to him 4 years too long. Should’ve fired him after the Rockets playoff series debacle. He is a whiner. He’s all talk. An emperor without clothes.
Yeah nobody should keep their job after blowing to shepherd 31 lead where they had double digit 2nd half leads in close out games. And if Boston wanted rid of him when he won a ‘Ship there, why should LA keep hime when hes never made a conference finals for them?