Post#1 » by mkwest » Sat Dec 19, 2015 2:23 am
The critiques of Rivers have reached a critical volume, in both senses of the word. His substitution patterns -- on a team with plenty of players getting fewer minutes than they have in the past -- have come under question. The Clippers defense, now running more conservative schemes than it did during the first two years under Doc, has tailed off. He’s leading a team that’s become as famous for its technical fouls as for its lobs and slams. Meanwhile, he’s one of the main culprits. Then, there’s the locker-room chemistry, an issue that hit its public peak during this summer’s free-agency period when DeAndre Jordan became an unofficial Maverick for three days before flip-flopping and returning to L.A.
The Clippers played an ultra-aggressive defensive style during the first two seasons under Rivers, one that saw big men straying from the paint and following ball-handlers to the perimeter often.
“One thing we were starting to give up was too many threes,” said Rivers, who noted that keeping Jordan, the team's obvious most-important defender, closer to the rim was a priority, as well. “Now, it has really taken shape. But it took longer than I thought.”
This year’s team is playing a conservative style in comparison. Jordan is sagging back against pick-and-rolls more often as L.A. has gone to a scheme that’s relatively basic around the league. Still, the Clips D hasn’t improved all too much, ranking just 15th in points allowed per possession, though the team has given up far fewer threes than it did a season ago.
“What we discounted was, it’s hard enough with nine new guys, but when you put in a whole new defense, it’s 15 new guys,” Rivers said. “In my mind, I couldn’t understand why our guys who were here couldn’t pick it up. It was frustrating the hell out of me, and then I finally realized it’s new to them, too. So, once I think I relaxed on it a little bit, I think our team did.”
Fred Katz,
Fox Sports
