What will it take for Ballmer to admit that the GM/Coach Doc experiment has failed?

[wco81]

Wiretap story up there says CP3 told Ballmer that Doc was one of the reasons he left.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/249520/Chris-Paul-Revealed-To-Steve-Ballmer-That-Doc-Rivers-Was-Contributor-To-Exit

I don't know what Ballmer's expectations were after the trade, the signing of Griffin and then the trade of Griffin. But he has to be disappointed not to get into the playoffs?

Doc going to survive? Well doesn't matter he has a guaranteed deal. But how can he keep Doc after being a reason why the best player on the team, maybe in franchise history, left?

From a team which was winning 50-55 games, which would have been good for #3 seed this year, to out of the playoffs. Are there going to be consequences for this decline?

[esqtvd]

a) If Ballmer and Chris were the only ones there, who leaked this and why?

b) Doc has no contract past next year. After tonight's game he'll officially be a lame duck.


Since Doc pulled off a minor miracle coaching this shipwreck to a winning season, his position is somewhat improved. But if Ballmer leaked info that blames Doc even partially for CP leaving and helping to create the shipwreck, that position swings into the red. And without a new contract, Doc SHOULD ask Ballmer for permission to pursue the Knicks or Magic job. If all this plays out, by the looks of things, Ballmer will have maneuvered Doc into walking.

[illastrate]

Wiretap story up there says CP3 told Ballmer that Doc was one of the reasons he left.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/249520/Chris-Paul-Revealed-To-Steve-Ballmer-That-Doc-Rivers-Was-Contributor-To-Exit

I don't know what Ballmer's expectations were after the trade, the signing of Griffin and then the trade of Griffin. But he has to be disappointed not to get into the playoffs?

Doc going to survive? Well doesn't matter he has a guaranteed deal. But how can he keep Doc after being a reason why the best player on the team, maybe in franchise history, left?

From a team which was winning 50-55 games, which would have been good for #3 seed this year, to out of the playoffs. Are there going to be consequences for this decline?

I don't think it's as black and white as the Clippers' declining. They lost their two best players in CP and Blake, have been playing WITHOUT half of their rotation due to injury for most of the season, and yet, the Clippers were in playoff contention until Game 80. Hell, even Doc has had some Coach Of The Year whispers. Ballmer could use that narrative to keep him.

On the other hand, if DJ leaves, that spells the end of Lob City officially and nature will have run its course. Ballmer could hit the reset button. And with The Logo running the front office essentially, the Clippers could be in the playoffs next season with the right set of moves.

[wco81]

a) If Ballmer and Chris were the only ones there, who leaked this and why?

b) Doc has no contract past next year. After tonight's game he'll officially be a lame duck.


Since Doc pulled off a minor miracle coaching this shipwreck to a winning season, his position is somewhat improved. But if Ballmer leaked info that blames Doc even partially for CP leaving and helping to create the shipwreck, that position swings into the red. And without a new contract, Doc SHOULD ask Ballmer for permission to pursue the Knicks or Magic job. If all this plays out, by the looks of things, Ballmer will have maneuvered Doc into walking.

The tough thing in all this is, if CP3 stayed, then presumably they'd have tried to keep most of the roster intact, including JJ and Mbah a Moute.

50 wins would have gotten the #3 seed easily this year. And with a strong Clippers team, Rockets may not be the team they were this year so they might have gotten the #2 seed, with a weaker Warriors team (unreliable depth).

Instead, all 3 former Clippers are likely to get to the second round and beyond this year.

If Doc was a key reason for CP3s departure, it's hard to spin anything that happened after that as a success.

[MartinToVaught]

Since Doc pulled off a minor miracle coaching this shipwreck to a winning season, his position is somewhat improved.

A "minor miracle"? Really? Look at the teams that finished behind us in the standings - do you see any of them, other than maybe a fully-healthy Memphis, that has a better roster than we do? If anything, a real coach probably would have won a few more games than Doc did.

[esqtvd]

a) If Ballmer and Chris were the only ones there, who leaked this and why?

b) Doc has no contract past next year. After tonight's game he'll officially be a lame duck.


Since Doc pulled off a minor miracle coaching this shipwreck to a winning season, his position is somewhat improved. But if Ballmer leaked info that blames Doc even partially for CP leaving and helping to create the shipwreck, that position swings into the red. And without a new contract, Doc SHOULD ask Ballmer for permission to pursue the Knicks or Magic job. If all this plays out, by the looks of things, Ballmer will have maneuvered Doc into walking.

The tough thing in all this is, if CP3 stayed, then presumably they'd have tried to keep most of the roster intact, including JJ and Mbah a Moute.

50 wins would have gotten the #3 seed easily this year. And with a strong Clippers team, Rockets may not be the team they were this year so they might have gotten the #2 seed, with a weaker Warriors team (unreliable depth).

Instead, all 3 former Clippers are likely to get to the second round and beyond this year.

If Doc was a key reason for CP3s departure, it's hard to spin anything that happened after that as a success.

As I opined on the other thread, I don't believe Chris left for such a petty issue of Doc not chewing out Austin for stuff he chewed others out for. I think Chris left because he didn't believe he could lead this team to greater success, so he traded Blake for Harden and became the #2 man. So far, looks pretty brilliant.

FTR, JJ was gone regardless. Austin was set to take the SG position. Indeed, there are stories that CP wanted Austin to start over JJ and was pissed that Doc said no. [And FTR, I agree--JJ was horrid with the 2nd unit.]