Divas, Accountability, Chemistry and the Coaching Challenge

[TheNewEra]

Crazy part all that got buried under the PG13 interview now. What a snowball

Don’t worry. As soon as Jovan sees a couple guys get chippy in practice, they blow a big lead, or lose and he’ll fall back on this rehash.

It’ll be interesting to see what/if any inside scoop he gets during the season.

Really can’t see how they let him anywhere near the team. He’s already been away from team media meetings from asking questions

[nickhx2]

What a day filled with drama but fun stuff

i've been under a rock today, could you cliffs notes it. i mean in regards to what paul george said about doc.

[Max Headrom]

Jovan is rehashing BS because his league "source" is playing for the Lakers now. Trezz is a ho and I can't stand him now for running to the press to whine because he was pouting even though Doc coddled him the whole time.

[nickhx2]

What a day filled with drama but fun stuff

i've been under a rock today, could you cliffs notes it. i mean in regards to what paul george said about doc.

actually nvm, i just saw that PG interview. unless there was something else after.

but yeah all that is no surprise and makes tons of sense.

[TheNewEra]

What a day filled with drama but fun stuff

i've been under a rock today, could you cliffs notes it. i mean in regards to what paul george said about doc.

actually nvm, i just saw that PG interview. unless there was something else after.

but yeah all that is no surprise and makes tons of sense.

Jovan of the Athletic wrote a spicy piece on the clippers chemistry issues AGAIN. It kind of got buried under the PG interview and then the Westbrook trade later

[NickP]

I don't care Kawhi getting privileges but PG isn't there yet. Kobe had privileges too but at least kobe gave the Lakers that leadership they needed.
Kawhi can fly to practices from Hawaii if he wanted to as long as he makes it to practices.
No one should get a free pass. If practices were cancelled because of Kawhi then I can see how it could have rubbed guys the wrong way.

[clipperlover]

Check out the following clip.

Read on Twitter

Interpret the clip how you see fit, but it sounds to me like the coaching staff was asleep. However, take it with a grain of salt because we know PG and Barnes both have a history with the former coach.

[MartinToVaught]

No grain of salt from me. PG isn't telling us anything about Doc that some of us hadn't already been saying for seven years. I mean, it's not some shocking revelation that Doc refuses to adjust. You don't blow as many series leads as Doc does without being stubborn to a fault.

[MartinToVaught]

I don't care Kawhi getting privileges but PG isn't there yet. Kobe had privileges too but at least kobe gave the Lakers that leadership they needed.
Kawhi can fly to practices from Hawaii if he wanted to as long as he makes it to practices.
No one should get a free pass. If practices were cancelled because of Kawhi then I can see how it could have rubbed guys the wrong way.

I'm calling BS on Kawhi getting practices cancelled. Lob City didn't practice much either. The truth is that not practicing was a Doc thing. After wins, the narrative was "we haven't even had a chance to practice yet and we're still this good," after losses, it was "we need time to build chemistry."

[KL2]

I call BS on the practice thing too. Leonard is a notorious gym rat. There’s tons of stories over the years about the lengths he’s gone to just to practice. I can see him being late a time or two now because he stays in SD. Someone like Leonard who just wants to play isn’t going to want to be in charge of scheduling practices either. Is that even a normal thing for teams to do?

That’s the problem with these articles. You know there’s truths, lies, and somewhere in the middle.

Leonard does have his routines like private workouts before or after practices/games. That can rub guys wrong I’m sure. There’s also plenty of stories about how he invites guys to them as well. Murray in SA, Siakim/OG/Lowry in Toronto, Mann/George/Bev here to name a few.

One of the exaggerations, IMO, is Leonard working out in the women’s locker-room or whatever. Might have happened one time cause of a time constraint or something but gets turned into him using it all the time and making the female workers uncomfortable.

Morris takes a lot of crap and some deservedly so but I like that he tried to be a vocal leader in the locker room. Those arguments between him and Zu sound good to me. They never let it spill onto the court and have some of the best chemistry on the team. That kind of stuff happens in every locker room.

I really hope Jovan has limited access to the team now. I don’t want fluff pieces and bias but we don’t need these stories either. Especially rehashed over and over.

I hope it’s a sign of Lue and his staff taking some control. Maybe I’ve missed something but guys (Lou/Bev/Patterson) that were responding to these stories before are quiet about them now.

[Captain Ballmer]

I wonder if this is Doc's time to leak stuff now?

On PG interview; he might be %100 true(I don't think so tbh), regardless he needs to shut up and make his game speak for him.

[TheNewEra]

I want to hear from Lou he must be so conflicted right now

[esqtvd]

I really hope Jovan has limited access to the team now. I don’t want fluff pieces and bias but we don’t need these stories either. Especially rehashed over and over.

I hope it’s a sign of Lue and his staff taking some control. Maybe I’ve missed something but guys (Lou/Bev/Patterson) that were responding to these stories before are quiet about them now.

silence = acceptance
it's just fact
I'm not a Jovan fan but he's just reporting the obvious

The Clippers’ previous leadership regime — Beverley and Williams — was more vocal in nature. Beverley is a direct, if not confrontational leader, while Williams is a calming presence who picks his spots. But after being displaced within the team’s hierarchy, they weren’t as comfortable as the season before, multiple league sources said.

“Who did they look to as the guy that was going to bring them all together?” one league source said. “It can’t be the coach all the time.”

Leonard’s reticence was a tone-setter in the Clippers’ locker room.

The 2018-19 Clippers had a fun, light energy about them. The group visibly enjoyed being around one another, in part because they were a ragtag group with middling expectations.

Conversely, the 2019-20 Clippers had a much different vibe. Those around the team often categorized it as “off” or “weird.” The players didn’t joke around as much before or after games. They were far more serious — and quiet. Players, coaches and staffers became less friendly with and available to the media.

For better or worse, Leonard’s personality is enveloping, particularly as he’s grown into a superstar who doesn’t embrace the spotlight.

...

The Clippers’ lack of personal connections led to communication issues in crucial moments, including, most notably, during their collapse against the Nuggets.

The players didn’t always address on-court issues or miscommunication or hold one another accountable. More often than not, the Clippers tried to sweep their issues — offensive stagnation, defensive miscommunication, inconsistent rebounding, etc. — under the rug rather than address them, league sources said.

When there was conflict, the group would typically go silent, the players retreating into their own worlds, on their phones or at their lockers. There was a discernible distance between the team, multiple league sources said.

“There was no dialogue when things weren’t good,” one league source said. “You need more than the rah-rah from Pat Beverley, every once in a while, that amps everybody up.”

Recognizing this, some players and coaches tried to improve the situation. After a rough stretch in early January, including Harrell’s eyebrow-raising comments to the media about the state of the team’s locker room, Leonard organized a series of players-only film sessions. He also worked out with Beverley and George during the hiatus after the league shut down because of the coronavirus.

But there wasn’t consistency behind his actions with teammates, multiple league sources said. He didn’t talk up his teammates publicly the way other stars do, or even behind the scenes. Leonard’s leadership progressed throughout the season, but it never reached the level it needed to foster a championship culture.

The issue isn't so much the preferential treatment, it's that the leaders didn't lead--on the court or off. The only lesson to be learned now is whether they learned their lesson. Supposedly Kawhi's been on the phone with all the guys. Now the question is whether he and PG can really lead and make them better players ON the court, which is all that really matters.

It wasn't just Trezz--not only did Kawhi and PG suck ass, everybody else did too. [Except Zubac of course lol.] There was no team there and even PG in his weaselly CYA interview had to admit that. I was wondering about J-Myke's departure and now we know--

Read on Twitter

?

[KL2]

I don’t mind guys talking. I wouldn’t want anyone silenced.

I’m talking about Lou saying things like out your source or there’s no problems in the locker room when these stories first came out. Bev and Patterson with like comments or using emojis as snide replies too. That just adds fuel to the fire.

Lue preaching about ignoring the outside noise is what I like and meant about taking control when it comes to these stories.

For me leadership always starts with the coaches. Yeah, that can only take you so far and then players have to do the rest. Lue’s comments about a new system/structure put into place and players knowing their role on the team speaks volumes about how there wasn’t one last year.

As for Jovan he’s lost all my respect. It’s fine to report it the first time. If his story opened eyes that changes needed to be made, players taking a look in the mirror, etc... great. It sure feels like the FO did what needed to be done. Why don’t we wait to see if it was a successful change or not? Yet, Jovan felt the need for a 3rd time to report the issues in the locker room last season. Why? It’s pretty obvious his sources are no longer with the team.

[Forte IV]

Jovan couldn’t let the Clippers enjoy what is hopefully a successful off season. Nor could he let them start camp on a positive note. Nope. He’s like, wait, let me grab my hamper of dirty laundry to air again. And again. And again.

I wonder how players will respond to him now? If they’ll be more careful what they say to him for fear of him airing it to the public?

The Clippers can win the championship and the first thing he’ll probably post is another airing of dirty laundry. Sheesh.

Ive been thinking this. But Clipper twitter seems to love Jovan for writing this. I think this makes him look like a hack imo. He's going down the path of exploiting the same story over and over again for clicks. He's writing puff pieces to bring down the Clippers right before training camp starts? It's potential career suicide what hes doing. I'd be every surprised if any Clippers even talk to him this season.

[esqtvd]

Jovan couldn’t let the Clippers enjoy what is hopefully a successful off season. Nor could he let them start camp on a positive note. Nope. He’s like, wait, let me grab my hamper of dirty laundry to air again. And again. And again.

I wonder how players will respond to him now? If they’ll be more careful what they say to him for fear of him airing it to the public?

The Clippers can win the championship and the first thing he’ll probably post is another airing of dirty laundry. Sheesh.

Ive been thinking this. But Clipper twitter seems to love Jovan for writing this. I think this makes him look like a hack imo. He's going down the path of exploiting the same story over and over again for clicks. He's writing puff pieces to bring down the Clippers right before training camp starts? It's potential career suicide what hes doing. I'd be every surprised if any Clippers even talk to him this season.

If you read the whole story [I subscribe] Jovan says plenty about how Ty will turn things around--if he can. Bold face mine--IMO if Kawhi and PG do what they should have done last year, Ty will have an easy time of it.

The Clippers rebounded by signing Serge Ibaka, whose 3-and-D skill set, championship experience and public friendship with Leonard are positive additions to the locker room. His affable personality should serve as a connecting force between players. Aside from Ibaka’s arguably superior fit on the court, mixing up the team’s locker room dynamic could prove to be the change the Clippers need. LA also traded for Luke Kennard and signed Nicolas Batum to bolster the bench.

Moreover, the Clippers are planning to make several notable adjustments under Lue this season, prioritizing modern principles like pace, spacing, shooting and small ball more than they did under Rivers. Based on his teams’ rate of improvement in Cleveland, Lue has the potential to unlock the best version of the Clippers on both ends. He’s already discussed playing with more ball movement, which would likely translate to an offense in which players feel more important and involved.

Clipper players are excited to play for Lue, league sources said. The team is well aware that iso-ball won’t work this season. This season’s squad should be able to build continuity off of last season, with midseason newcomers like Morris and Jackson able to participate in training camp. The Clippers will also have Leonard and George available in training camp after missing some (Leonard) or all of it (George) last season.

Lue’s additions to his coaching staff — Dan Craig, Kenny Atkinson, Chauncey Billups, Roy Rogers and Larry Drew II — are well-regarded around the league for a wide range of skills, including player development. The Clippers are confident that their offseason personnel changes, coupled with Lue’s strengths as a tactician and locker-room leader, will be the solution to most of their issues from last season, league sources said.

As the Clippers begin the second year of the Leonard-George partnership, the burden is on Lue, the front office and ownership to figure out how to maximize the pairing. After last season’s embarrassing ending, that task includes continuing to evaluate and determine which players fit around Leonard and George, both on and off the court.

The pressure is on for LA to learn from last season’s cultural mistakes. The onus is also on Leonard and George to take greater accountability and establish a healthier locker room dynamic this season, which league sources say the duo is aware of. The 2021 free-agency period is looming.

Perhaps there will be fewer examples of preferential treatment this season, be it the team revising its approach or the superstars re-evaluating the method’s effectiveness. Or perhaps nothing will change on that front and this season’s role players will simply be more accepting of their limitations and responsibilities, meshing better with their superstar counterparts.

The Clippers had as much, if not more talent than any other team in the NBA last season. But the ingredients never quite mixed right.

Ultimately, the first season of this chemistry experiment failed. Now it’s back to the lab.

[Forte IV]

The problem with the article is the title and the fact all of the "positive" fluff isnt until the end of the article

[esqtvd]

The problem with the article is the title and the fact all of the "positive" fluff isnt until the end of the article

maybe he's not exactly buying their BS

Greif in the Times:

During an appearance on the “All The Smoke” podcast with former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, George ripped Doc Rivers for misusing him on offense and not preparing the team sufficiently during the playoffs.

Though almost a third of all offensive plays George ran last season featured him as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, the largest share that pick-and-rolls have comprised his offensive diet in his career, according to Synergy Sports, George blamed Rivers for not using him in enough pick-and-rolls, adding that Rivers ran him off screens too often.

[MarxyLebronist]

The author got their little clicks. Hope they were worth it.

[NickP]

It must pain the Doc fans a lot.