Doc Rivers: Clippers Need Length, Two-Way Players

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/245842/Doc-Rivers-Clippers-Need-Length-Two-Way-Players



Doc Rivers: Clippers Need Length, Two-Way Players



MAY 3, 2017 7:12 PM


The Los Angeles Clippers face an uncertain offseason with the free agencies of Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. The Clippers have struggled with both injuries and a less than adequate supporting cast.

"I don't know. I think they deserve a chance to win. They have built this legacy. I do believe that," Rivers said Wednesday. "Whether that's what we decide to do that or not. There's a big part of me that believes (in them). These guys are responsible for the birth of our franchise in a lot of ways. They consider themselves Clippers. ... I would love them to shepherd that through. Whether that happens or not, it's too early to make all those decisions or they'll make them for us. But I do have a strong believe in that."

Rivers talked about the needs the Clippers have to improve their roster.

"We need length," Rivers said. "We need more length and two-way players. Again, that's easy to say. Little harder to do with the way our contracts are. We may continue to do what we've done or we may decide to change our contracts and have more flexibility."

Rivers is looking forward to shifting towards the front office aspects of his job.

"I'm really looking forward to it," Rivers said. "I'm a driven human being. I can tell you I do this for one reason and that is to be the winner. I decided a while ago I no longer want to be in the party I want to be the party. Like I tell my players, when you set yourself up that way, you're going to have a ton of disappointment. I told them that four years ago. Unfortunately, so far I've been right. It's the only way to go, as far as I'm concerned."

JILL PAINTER LOPEZ/ASSOCIATED PRESS


bob
MY NOTE:  "Two-Way Players".  It seems to me that's French for "non-specialists" (my apologies to the French, I have no idea why they get picked on anytime someone thinks something needs an apology.  Wait a second.  I'm apologizing to them for using them as apologists?  Have I suddenly become French?  But why not "pardon my Serbo-Croatian"  Who knows?  It's all Greek to me) but Doc was the one who flew to Dallas to snatch Ultimate One-Way Player DeAndre Jordan out of the jaws of Mark Cuban.  It was Doc who wanted JJ Redick, who was and is an aging one-way shooter.  Mo' Buckets Speights is another one-way player.  Isn't his son a two-way player and if not, why not?  Brandon Bass is a solid, albeit not spectacular, two-way player.  How many minutes did Doc play play Steady Eddy Bass this year?  11mpg and 4 minutes, total, during these playoffs.  Who's to blame because Doc's roster is what it is?  Doc's.  And when you ask him about breaking up his team he says he doesn't want to.  Well, ok then.  I'd refer him to Einstein's definition of crazy, which "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result".



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I have just one question: What "legacy" is he referring to???They haven't won anything, and one of their stars has missed more playoff games than he has played. Doc.....me thinks you are talked out of two sides of your mouth.

The one piece that has been missing from the Clipper is a solid SF. A must have to win.

dboss

I'm sorry, Doc's a cool guy, knows the game, is interesting as hell to listen to, but I don't think he is that good of a coach. Bob made an interesting point in another thread - Doc left because he didn't want a rebuild, yet this years Celtics may very well go further in the playoffs than any of Doc's Clippers teams. Along a similar vein, I wonder how many championships Brad could have won with those Pierce/Allen/Garnett teams? I suspect more than one. To be fair to Doc though, he did know how to handle those 3 big personalities. Brad was never a pro, and is probably too close in age to ever be able to garner the respect that Doc did.

Earth to Doc, you are the GM.  You assembled the roster, now you gotta play them.