Doc Rivers is out as head coach after the LA Clippers blew a 3-1 lead to the Denver Nuggets in the 2020 NBA Playoffs.
Rivers, who has been the coach of the Clippers since 2013, had a big three of Chris Paul (CP3), Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan when the team blew a 3-1 lead to the Houston Rockets in 2015. Since then, Rivers has become synonymous with blowing 3-1 leads in the playoffs. The first occurred in 2003 when he was the coach of the Orlando Magic. The latest could not have been any better for all NBA fans.
3-1 Leads and Doc Rivers are Like Oil and Water
The latest installment of a Rivers’ team blowing 3-1 leads comes when he has arguably the most unlikeable team in the NBA. Kawhi Leonard, Lou Williams, and the man the myth the legend Pandemic P. This team acted like they won the Finals when all of them besides Kawhi has never won a title before. They made commercials, had billboards all over LA. All to get bounced by Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic. It won’t be long till Kawhi realizes he should’ve stayed in Toronto. He’s probably already thinking that now.
Next Man Up For The Clippers
Who’s next man up for the Clippers, Ty Lue, Mike D’Antoni, or Mark Jackson? That remains to be seen, however. Rivers’ tenure in LA was nothing short of a failure. They gave him an ample amount of talent, and he failed to get any of them to gel and work together. Not to mention when Kawhi inevitably does leave, the Clippers have no picks. They gave all of them to OKC for Pandemic P. The Clippers are set back at least five years as the Thunder holds control over the Clippers’ first-round picks for the next five years.
Doc now finds himself without a team. Sure, a team will hire Rivers; he’s an excellent coach until the second round of the playoffs. He’ll find a job sooner rather than later. It’s the Clippers that are in the more dire trouble for the immediate future. Owner Steve Balmer will have to work some serious magic if he wants to keep the Clippers on the right track.
