LOS ANGELES – Doc Rivers may no longer be on the sideline of the LA Clippers, but he still thinks the Western Conference will be decided by his former team and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Philadelphia 76ers coach faced his former team on Saturday for the first time since being dismissed after the Clippers’ 3-1 loss to the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the playoffs. And although he says the Clippers are not running very fast, which is different from when he was calling the shots, Rivers said the Clippers and the Lakers are the favorites in the West.
“Listen, Utah has been great … But I still think Clippers and Lakers are still the teams to beat in the West,” said Rivers before taking on the Clippers.
Rivers admitted that the observation was being made “from afar”, saying he doesn’t watch as many Western Conference games now that he’s on the East Coast. But, he said, “I don’t see anyone better than these two teams.”
Entering Saturday night, the Utah Jazz (33-11) had the NBA’s best record. Rivers’ Sixers had the second best record in the league. While the Clippers were third in the West before the game against the Sixers and the Lakers held on fourth, despite being without injured LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Rivers said it all comes down to the Los Angeles teams, as it should be the last season, when Lakers and Clippers were considered favorites to win everything.
The Denver Nuggets, which came in fifth in the West entering Saturday night, had a major impact on the negotiation deadline to make Aaron Gordon of Orlando and JaVale McGee of Cleveland better equip with the elite teams of the West. And Rivers mentioned that Utah has Bojan Bogdanovic back this season after not having him in the bubble.
“I thought Denver had a great negotiation deadline, they made great plays,” said Rivers. “Utah is playing unbelievable basketball, so they will be there. Portland, I think his team has improved too.
“But I still think it’s the Lakers and the Clippers.”
The Clippers showed a tribute video welcoming their former coach, who was with the organization between 2013-20. Rivers left his mark throughout the franchise, turning what was once a laughing stock into a playoff candidate and helping him move from the Donald Sterling scandal to title contender status with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Current coach Ty Lue is a protégé of Rivers.
“They are a different team,” said Rivers. “They don’t have many of the same guys, [but] they do many of the same things that I run. Passing by [their plays at] Shootaround today, I thought we were going to go through our Shootaround sometimes. But I also wouldn’t have changed much offensively, I mean, they were pretty good last year. “
Rivers said he didn’t have much time to train last season due to injuries to Leonard and George and others, and then the pandemic break and the interruption of the bubble’s restart.
Rivers said the Clippers now have more continuity.
“The difference is that they had a chance to practice together, you know?” Rivers said. “And you can see that. I think they gave PG more ball, which I think helped him. So, they made some good changes. The biggest change I see is also defensively. I think they are better defensive teams. It’s funny , the numbers don’t say exactly that, but when I see them I think they will be a better defensive team, one of the best defensive teams when the playoffs start. “
The Clippers added Rivers’ former owner, Rajon Rondo, in an exchange with Atlanta for Lou Williams. Rivers won a championship with Rondo in Boston and said his former defender will help orchestrate the attack, relieve Leonard and George and provide much needed leadership.
“It was difficult a few times in the past year,” Rivers said of not having an owner like Rondo. “Especially without the practice time we didn’t have, to execute a play on the stretch where you didn’t yet have the ball in the hands of PG or Kawhi. Now you don’t have to do that. You can actually perform a set where Rondo can deliver the ball. .
“But I think that as important as it is, your voice will be even more important,” Rivers said. “I think he is one of those guys who speak openly, speak the truth and tell everyone and hold everyone accountable. I think this is important.”