The Amazingly Sucky Austin Rivers Thread

[FAH1223]

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Took a long time for someone to start this thread....

[Dat2U]

Lies. We should trade Wall and build around Rivers at PG. He'll absolutely lead us to the promised land of Zion!

[FAH1223]

Lies. We should trade Wall and build around Rivers at PG. He'll absolutely lead us to the promised land of Zion!

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[BigA]

Rivers is suck.

[Wammy Giveaway]

No other way to put it. Doc River's nepotism clearly played a factor in the demise of Lob City. The Clippers would have been doomed to the lottery for the foreseeable future had it not been for the visionary and wisdom of Jerry West.

Rumor was, when Doc was offered an extension during the miraculous turnaround, West imposed an ultimatum, that his son will be traded upon signing the extension or you're fired. Doc chose his job, and the Clippers traded Austin at the conclusion of the 2017-18 season. Look at where the Clippers are now: top of the western conference standings with the Warriors, Rockets and ancient enemy the Big Brother Lakers chasing for no. 1. With no superstars, just role players.

Jerry West took advantage of a miserable mistake the Clippers put themselves in when they anointed Doc Rivers the president role all because of what he did to guide them through the Donald Sterling scandal. The Wizards were tricked into thinking Austin would help them contend in the east, unbeknownst to the Wizards that Austin only plays well under his father, and without Doc, he's a draft bust.

[BigA]

No other way to put it. Doc River's nepotism clearly played a factor in the demise of Lob City. The Clippers would have been doomed to the lottery for the foreseeable future had it not been for the visionary and wisdom of Jerry West.

Rumor was, when Doc was offered an extension during the miraculous turnaround, West imposed an ultimatum, that his son will be traded upon signing the extension or you're fired. Doc chose his job, and the Clippers traded Austin at the conclusion of the 2017-18 season. Look at where the Clippers are now: top of the western conference standings with the Warriors, Rockets and ancient enemy the Big Brother Lakers chasing for no. 1. With no superstars, just role players.

Jerry West took advantage of a miserable mistake the Clippers put themselves in when they anointed Doc Rivers the president role all because of what he did to guide them through the Donald Sterling scandal. The Wizards were tricked into thinking Austin would help them contend in the east, unbeknownst to the Wizards that Austin only plays well under his father, and without Doc, he's a draft bust.

I doubt the Wizards were "tricked." They had to trade Gortat because Wall wanted him gone. I don't know what else was potentially out there. Rivers might have been the best they could get. It's possible that EG or someone thought that Rivers would help them "contend in the East," but maybe they just thought they were getting a 4th/5th guard. The main purpose of the trade was to get rid of Gortat.

Probably 90% of the posters on this board anticipated that Brooks would play Rivers way too much, because that's been the hallmark of the Brooks era here. Playing inferior players over better players, seemingly unable to process what's happening in front of him night after night, when it's obvious to everyone else who's watching the team. Oblivious to actual performance on the court. Brooks might eventually give the better players more minutes when he's forced to by injuries or losing.

It's been amusing to see this play out exactly how most of us anticipated, only Rivers has been even WORSE, and Brooks has played him even MORE, than probably any of us thought possible.

I'd like to give Austin a DNA test, because I'm starting to suspect that Scott Brooks is actually his dad.

[truwizfan4evr]

No wonder clippers gave him up so easily. This roster is flat out trash and the guy who put this cast together will likely break it apart and rebuild it.

[nate33]

I doubt the Wizards were "tricked." They had to trade Gortat because Wall wanted him gone. I don't know what else was potentially out there. Rivers might have been the best they could get.

I looked hard for any Gortat trades at the time. My only criteria was that we would get back 1-year contracts that have a smaller value than Gortat's outgoing contract. Rivers' was literally the only contract out there that made any kind of sense for both teams.

[Eli Babak]

I doubt the Wizards were "tricked." They had to trade Gortat because Wall wanted him gone. I don't know what else was potentially out there. Rivers might have been the best they could get.

I looked hard for any Gortat trades at the time. My only criteria was that we would get back 1-year contracts that have a smaller value than Gortat's outgoing contract. Rivers' was literally the only contract out there that made any kind of sense for both teams.

That's what I'm thinking. Rivers is badly overpaid but would be fine as 5/6th guard this year but for whatever reason Brooks used him as our 6th man at the start of the season - luckily his role has diminished lately though he's still on the court way too much. I guess it would just make too much sense to bench him for 5 games and give Brown some real opportunities.

[Ruzious]

Lies. We should trade Wall and build around Rivers at PG. He'll absolutely lead us to the promised land of Zion!

LOL, Dat would change religions to get the best basketball player in the land. That's fan dedication!

[80sballboy]

Austin "the Glove" Rivers
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2018/12/10/austin-rivers-was-supposed-be-wizards-bench-scorer-instead-hes-their-top-defender/?utm_term=.2615d82d1a0d

[Ruzious]

Austin "the Glove" Rivers
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2018/12/10/austin-rivers-was-supposed-be-wizards-bench-scorer-instead-hes-their-top-defender/?utm_term=.2615d82d1a0d

He gives effort (gold star for him!), but he lacks the quickness, length, and strength to be an elite defender - and it's not even close. I am glad that he plays a more disciplined style of D than Wall does, but Rivers has to because he's not capable of making the plays that Wall occasionally does.

But speaking of effort - Does Rivers give it in the gym? He looks like he's never lifted a weight in his life. How is it that guys like Harden and Beal and Wall look like they've gained 20 plus pounds of muscle in the NBA, while Rivers looks the same as he did in HS All-American games?

[80sballboy]

Austin "the Glove" Rivers
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2018/12/10/austin-rivers-was-supposed-be-wizards-bench-scorer-instead-hes-their-top-defender/?utm_term=.2615d82d1a0d

He gives effort (gold star for him!), but he lacks the quickness, length, and strength to be an elite defender - and it's not even close. I am glad that he plays a more disciplined style of D than Wall does, but Rivers has to because he's not capable of making the plays that Wall occasionally does.

But speaking of effort - Does Rivers give it in the gym? He looks like he's never lifted a weight in his life. How is it that guys like Harden and Beal and Wall look like they've gained 20 plus pounds of muscle in the NBA, while Rivers looks the same as he did in HS All-American games?

He's a passable defender and the fact that he doesn't get lit up is fine. Certainly much better than Jody Meeks and actually played a decent game tonight in Indiana. He probably has his father's instincts, but Doc was a bigger, stronger and better athlete. I guess Austin is more concerned about his podcast than working out with weights.

[leswizards]

Austin Rivers has the highest DRtg on the team at 117. I am guessing his defense actually sucks. “More fake news from the Washington Post” Donald Trump

[bsilver]

From today's Washington Post article on Rivers being Wizards best defender. It's surprise to me, but at least he does try.

"Though Rivers may appear to be a tertiary figure within offensive sets, his confidence shines on the other end where he comes close to approaching that “elite defender” status. Rivers entered Monday surrendering only 0.778 points per play, according to Synergy Sports, best among the Wizards and in the 88th percentile of the NBA.

During his first start of the season against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, Rivers held Eastern Conference rookie of the month winner Trae Young to two points on 46 possessions. On Saturday night, Cleveland Cavaliers rookie point guard Collin Sexton torched the Wizards while matching his career high with 29 points, but Rivers limited him during their one-on-one matchups. In the 14 possessions against Rivers, Sexton scored just three points, according to NBA.com stats."

[80sballboy]

Austin Rivers has the highest DRtg on the team at 117. I am guessing his defense actually sucks. “More fake news from the Washington Post” Donald Trump

That's beyond stupid. Stats are stats. Sure, scouts' opinions on Rivers D might be different but how is that fake news if he does a decent job against his own man? That was the point of the article. His offense is another story.

[closg00]

I call Rivers Herky Jerky, all of those herky jerky movements of his are pretty bad on offense, but it seems to serve him well on defense.

[Wizfanman]

Rivers is decent as a backup pg. Ive been impressed with his ability to drive and finish at the rim. Certainly better than what we've had previously at backup.

[Eli Babak]

He is not a point guard. He is not a shooting guard. He is just someone who tries his best defensively and rarely has good games offensively. Less Rivers the better.