Supposedly there's trouble in Clipperland (behind the scenes)

[Kuberski33]

Usually when you have a situation like this, it implies that Ballmer is not enamored with Doc - that being the case he'd, probably want to wrap his arms around entire organization and send Doc the message that 'you're on notice'.  i.e. better results are needed or you're out.

And the Clips have not really performed to expectation under Doc to date.  And his actions as a GM leave a little to be desired.

Ballmer might well be seeing an overpaid coach/GM who's not worth what they're paying him.

[CoachBo]

People like Ballmer did not become billionaires because they are stupid.

Most billionaires got that way though hard work, incredible ambition and even more incredible luck.

Mike

Or they were born on third base and thought they hit a triple.

[D.o.s.]

People like Ballmer did not become billionaires because they are stupid.

Most billionaires got that way though hard work, incredible ambition and even more incredible luck.

Mike

Or they were born on third base and thought they hit a triple.

That would be the 'even more incredible luck' part.

Conflating wealth with intelligence is a bad thing to do (see: Trump, Donald) but most people don't increase their personal wealth by any meaningful percentage without having some measure of ambition and drive.

[Hemingway]

Usually when you have a situation like this, it implies that Ballmer is not enamored with Doc - that being the case he'd, probably want to wrap his arms around entire organization and send Doc the message that 'you're on notice'.  i.e. better results are needed or you're out.

And the Clips have not really performed to expectation under Doc to date.  And his actions as a GM leave a little to be desired.

Ballmer might well be seeing an overpaid coach/GM who's not worth what they're paying him.

Being an NBA coach is great because ifyou get fired they still have to pay you. I guess you can try to make someone quit.

It does seem like something is wrong with the world when the clippers are a good team.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

The only reason I'd be sad to see the Clippers struggle is Paul Pierce.

Other than that, I'd love to see them implode. Bunch of whiners.

[Hemingway]

Yeah agreed. Butif they do implode, our chances of getting Paul back go way up.

[sed522002]

Doc as the GM hasn't been so great (if DeAndre would have actually signed with Mavs...man Clips would be screwed). Doc is a good coach, but the playoffs was a straight embarrassment to lose while being up 3-1..no excuses for that at all. 

[D.o.s.]

Yeah agreed. Butif they do implode, our chances of getting Paul back go way up.

For his one day ceremonial retirement, you mean?

[Kuberski33]

Doc as the GM hasn't been so great (if DeAndre would have actually signed with Mavs...man Clips would be screwed). Doc is a good coach, but the playoffs was a straight embarrassment to lose while being up 3-1..no excuses for that at all.

How good a coach is Doc, really?  He never has been able to develop a good bench save for the year the Celtics won it.  How many Rondo backups failed here?  The Perkins trade was a result of them realizing they couldn't win that year because their bench stunk.  And his bench in LA has consistently let him down.

Not saying he stinks, he is a solid game coach.  But there's more to coaching than game management and motivation, which granted he's pretty good at.

[Csfan1984]

Yeah agreed. Butif they do implode, our chances of getting Paul back go way up.

For his one day ceremonial retirement, you mean?

One day? I thought last year's playoffs verse Raptors was his ceremonial retirement. LAC run is just a part time job to keep him busy.

[D.o.s.]

Doc as the GM hasn't been so great (if DeAndre would have actually signed with Mavs...man Clips would be screwed). Doc is a good coach, but the playoffs was a straight embarrassment to lose while being up 3-1..no excuses for that at all.

How good a coach is Doc, really?  He never has been able to develop a good bench save for the year the Celtics won it.  How many Rondo backups failed here?  The Perkins trade was a result of them realizing they couldn't win that year because their bench stunk.  And his bench in LA has consistently let him down.

Not saying he stinks, he is a solid game coach.  But there's more to coaching than game management and motivation, which granted he's pretty good at.

Developing the bench is just as much of a GM's job as it is the coach's responsibility (although, obviously, he's been a pretty awful GM).

[Big333223]

Doc as the GM hasn't been so great (if DeAndre would have actually signed with Mavs...man Clips would be screwed). Doc is a good coach, but the playoffs was a straight embarrassment to lose while being up 3-1..no excuses for that at all.

How good a coach is Doc, really?  He never has been able to develop a good bench save for the year the Celtics won it.  How many Rondo backups failed here?  The Perkins trade was a result of them realizing they couldn't win that year because their bench stunk.  And his bench in LA has consistently let him down.

Not saying he stinks, he is a solid game coach.  But there's more to coaching than game management and motivation, which granted he's pretty good at.

Developing the bench is just as much of a GM's job as it is the coach's responsibility (although, obviously, he's been a pretty awful GM).

He's caught a lot of (deserved) criticism for his job as a GM but they might have a very good bench this season. Especially if Lance Stephenson isn't a lost cause. Then again, maybe Stephenson's crazy mojo is the reason there is turmoil in the Clippers. It seems to follow that dude.

[marlon.oddo]

To all the posters who have negative things to say about Doc, you must be bitter over how he left the Celtics.  Just consider two facts-he has the 3rd highest regular season winning percentage since 2007-08 and he's won Coach of the Year.  He has done everything a good coach does-he took an undermanned team in Orlando into the playoffs and then with Boston, he managed 3 superstar players and a very difficult, but talented, PG.

Carrying the dual roles of coach & GM is very difficult but Doc wanted that.  He has some help on the GM side.  By the way, Doc saved the Clippers when Sterling blew up.  He tried to keep his players focused and he was the point man for the organization during the crisis.

He might not have done the greatest job as GM but he had a good offseason this year.  The biggest problem with the Clippers is that they have the reputation of whiners with the officials.  That usually comes from the coach but Doc has never been a whiner.  He should tell his team to stop the whining and just play.  If Zucker is a political animal and is trying to expand her duties from the business side to the basketball side, then it's up to Ballmer to draw the line.

http://www.nba.com/coachfile/doc_rivers/

[clover]

People like Ballmer did not become billionaires because they are stupid.

Most billionaires got that way though hard work, incredible ambition and even more incredible luck.

Mike

But not intelligence?

[GreenFaith1819]

To all the posters who have negative things to say about Doc, you must be bitter over how he left the Celtics.  Just consider two facts-he has the 3rd highest regular season winning percentage since 2007-08 and he's won Coach of the Year.  He has done everything a good coach does-he took an undermanned team in Orlando into the playoffs and then with Boston, he managed 3 superstar players and a very difficult, but talented, PG.

Carrying the dual roles of coach & GM is very difficult but Doc wanted that.  He has some help on the GM side.  By the way, Doc saved the Clippers when Sterling blew up.  He tried to keep his players focused and he was the point man for the organization during the crisis.

He might not have done the greatest job as GM but he had a good offseason this year.  The biggest problem with the Clippers is that they have the reputation of whiners with the officials.  That usually comes from the coach but Doc has never been a whiner.  He should tell his team to stop the whining and just play.  If Zucker is a political animal and is trying to expand her duties from the business side to the basketball side, then it's up to Ballmer to draw the line.

http://www.nba.com/coachfile/doc_rivers/

Good points.

If the Clips don't advance this season, it won't be on Doc, IMO.

He proved himself to me in THIS game. He basically WILLED them to one of the biggest upsets in NBA History:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpxtiQZiK2c

Had "Just" returned from 2 deployments in the course of 15 months and THIS WIN was pure awesome.

Thank you Doc!