Doc Rivers former Clippers' players are sniping at one another. It might explain why their old team was so disappointing.
"In terms of accountability, your best years in the NBA were when you played for him and the Clippers... It's just very ironic and kinda weird that you have this energy towards him."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 20, 2024
Austin Rivers responds to JJ Redick criticizing his dad Doc.pic.twitter.com/jV64Cza2UF https://t.co/jtm6E4Mjyj
One day after Patrick Beverley and J.J. Redick sparred over Redick's criticism of Doc Rivers, his old coach with the L.A. Clippers, former center Spencer Hawes jumped in to defend Redick over former teammate - and Doc's son - Austin Rivers.
Statistically inaccurate statement, buttttt if we want to talk about someone whose career got saved by Doc… ☕️ https://t.co/J1cthJP35m
— Spence Needle (@spencerhawes00) February 20, 2024
Let's recap. First, Redick criticized his old coach for not taking responsibility when the teams he coached struggled, and "throwing the team under the bus."
"The trend is always making excuses... Taking over a team in the middle of a season is hard... it's always an excuse. It's always throwing your team under the bus... there's never accountability with that guy."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 20, 2024
JJ Redick called out Doc Rivers pic.twitter.com/o6778489QY
Redick played for the Clippers from 2013-17, where he became a regular starter for the first time in his career. He averaged 15.8 points per game and shot a scorching 44 percent from three-point range during that time.
But despite winning between 51 and 57 games every season, the team lost four of their six playoff series, blowing a 3-1 series lead to the Houston Rockets in 2015, including a 19-point third-quarter lead in an elimination game.
“The Josh Smith and Corey Brewer Game”
— V̷a̷t̷o̷r̷ (@VatorSports) June 18, 2023
Trailing by 19 points late in the 3rd against the Clippers and facing elimination, the Houston Rockets pulled off one of the most improbable and exciting comebacks in NBA playoff history with James Harden resting. https://t.co/MkXVKuGCZn pic.twitter.com/EwffBQJE30
After Patrick Beverley tweeted that Doc "Started you when no one else wanted 2," Redick shot back that another team had made him a contract offer to start. Then Austin Rivers went on ESPN and said it was "very ironic and kinda weird" that Redick was being negative about his old coach when he'd had his best years there.
But it speaks to the internal problems of that wildly talented Clippers team, known as "Lob City." The squad featured future Hall of Famer Chris Paul, five-time Clippers All-Star Blake Griffin, a first-team all-NBA center in DeAndre Jordan, plus sharpshooters Redick and Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford. That collection of talent never got out of the second round of the playoffs.
That may be more damning than anything Redick said about Rivers. The failure of the team is an indictment of Rivers' coaching, as is the rift between these former Clippers.
Granted, Beverley and Redick were never teammates in Los Angeles, with Redick departing for the 76ers the same summer Beverley arrived from Houston. But there was clearly a rift in the locker room, and ironically, Austin's "favored status" with his coach/father was reportedly a source of resentment.
For a team that was already known for whining incessantly about officiating, it's not a huge surprise these Clippers also sniped at one another. But it could explain why they repeatedly came up short or melted down in big games.
Now Doc Rivers has another talented, star-laden team in Milwaukee, one that's only 3-7 since he took over as head coach. The next few months may show us whether Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo will be on TV complaining about Doc in five years. Or five weeks.
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