After winning their first four games to open the season, the Clippers looked more than capable of holding their own in the first year of the post-Chris Paul era. However, the club’s fortunes have taken a sharp downward turn since then. After a blowout loss in New York on Monday night, the Clippers have now slipped to 5-11, losing nine straight contests and 11 of their last 12.
There are a few factors contributing to the Clippers’ struggles. The team has been hit hard by injuries, with key players like Danilo Gallinari, Patrick Beverley, and Milos Teodosic missing time so far this season. And the club’s schedule hasn’t exactly been soft during the current nine-game losing streak — the Spurs, Cavaliers, and Thunder are among the teams that have beaten L.A. during that stretch, and six of the Clips’ last seven games have been on the road.
Still, there have been some bad losses for the Clippers this month, with Monday’s representing the latest. After cutting the Knicks’ lead to two points midway through the third quarter, the Clippers surrendered a 12-0 run and never recovered, with head coach Doc Rivers suggesting that run took the team’s “spirit” away.
“When you lose nine games in a row, you’re in a losing streak, you start feeling sorry for yourself when things don’t go right and you can’t do that,” Rivers said.
Following the game, Marc Stein of The New York Times stopped short of saying that Rivers is on the hot seat, but he did tweet that Rivers will “inevitably” begin to face “hot-seat scrutiny.” After years of falling short in the playoffs with those CP3-led squads, the Clippers entered the season hopeful that Rivers could alter the team’s approach and get the most out of the new-look roster. So far, that hasn’t happened.
While it’s probably too early for the Clippers to make a change, it’s still worth a discussion. Rivers had his president of basketball operations title removed this past summer, and is now simply the team’s head coach. His contract is a lucrative one, but it reportedly only runs through the 2018/19 season, so the Clippers wouldn’t be on the hook for several years worth of salary if they were to replace him.
What do you think? Is it time for the Clippers to make a head coaching change, or at least to seriously consider one? Or has Rivers’ résumé earned him the right to receive every opportunity to right the ship in Los Angeles? Jump into our comment section below to weigh in!
I think it’s too early but they definitely aren’t playing up to what they thought they were. Seemed like they thought they were better and were a deeper team this season and that hasn’t been the case. Would like to see what they can do if they are all healthy and playing together for a few weeks. I think Rivers should get one more season after this one and if they fail (which they will if the Warriors keep their team together) then talks about Rivers being replaced should start up.
CP3 has been carrying them, and now it’s exposing them. The clippers just aren’t that talented without him. Blake griffin is a shadow of his formal self, and Jordan is useless on offense, despite his defense. The rest of the team is just average or below average, with their big playmakers gone like reddick and Crawford. Rivers never did anything when griffin was in his prime, when they had a good supporting cast, and when they had Chris Paul. It’s his fault he couldn’t move them past the second round, and it’s his fault that Paul left. Now his team isn’t going to do anything, especially in the west. They need to get rid of the most overrated coach in the league and start a rebuild. The only reason he won a championship in Boston was because he had three hall of famers and a prime rondo. They were the original current warriors. Any coach could have won a ring with that talent. In conclusion get rid of rivers.
Chris Paul is a cancer. he isn’t good enough to carry a team and at the first sign things aren’t going good he tucks tail and runs.
First sign of trouble he runs? The trouble has been there for years, CP3 just decided it was time to go.
I think Doc gets the year, and should the Clips either go out in the first round or not make the playoffs at all, then he’ll be gone.
Even though I think Doc Rivers is the most overrated coach professional sports, he can’t be blamed for the slow start because three of their starters have been out. Plus the fact that Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan might be the two most overrated players in basketball.
I agree with you on everything you stated. I was happy when he left Boston. Most overrated coach in the history of the Celtics Franchise.
Thibadeau was the reason their defense was so good in Boston. Look what happened when he went to Chicago. Chicago’s was at the top of the league and Boston’s drastically declined. The clippers defense has been pretty bad in the Doc era.
Celtics fan here and ditto. Doc was a terrible coach and I don’t miss him at all.
Time for doc and his son to be sent packin’. It’s ridiculous doc was allowed to sign his son to that contract. Guy scored 2 points last game. Doc & Austin are the problem. It’s time for fresh faces.
Jordan is a different, lesser center without CPaul. CP could find ways to use him; there’s not many as sharp as he is.
Early on, it was unclear if they were rebuilding, and Griffin was going to be a point forward. So there is a lot to work out.
Those are reasons (besides the PG injuries) for losing, but Rivers is at least partly responsible for these things. It’s too soon to fire though.