When present Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers was with the Los Angeles Clippers, he reportedly was near leaving the franchise for the Los Angeles Lakers, in keeping with Los Angeles Occasions senior author and columnist Invoice Plaschke. This was earlier than the time the Clippers constructed a contending staff with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and earlier than the Lakers received their seventeenth championship.
Protected to say, the Lakers dodged a bullet
Within the 2020 NBA Bubble, Rivers took a ton of flack for the Clippers’ notorious collapse, exactly after they blew a 3-1 result in the Denver Nuggets. His changes, or lack thereof, have been a large sizzling matter at the moment.
The Clippers could not discover a option to cease Nikola Jokic — be aware this was earlier than he received an MVP. Rivers’ determination to place Montrezl Harell (who at the moment was the’ sixth Man of the Yr awardee) to protect Jokic when Ivica Zubac was sitting on the bench stays questionable till this very day.
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In the meantime, the Lakers, led by their superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, thrived with their head coach Frank Vogel (at the moment) due to their dominant protection and changes throughout the Playoffs. If Rivers did find yourself transferring to the Lakers, would they’ve overwhelmed their opponents the way in which they did? Nobody is aware of, but it surely’s honest to say Vogel was the higher coach within the 2020 playoffs.
Why hiring Rivers can be a mistake
Plaschke’s primary level in his column is that the Lakers ought to do every thing they’ll to signal Rivers for his or her head coach opening within the offseason. Rivers, whose job at the moment stays secured with the Sixers, must be concerned in a commerce package deal for the Lakers to amass him.
The columnist argued that the purple and gold ought to go all-in on Rivers as a result of he is the proper veteran coach and voice to guide this disoriented Lakers roster.
Rivers could know what it is like to guide a veteran-laden roster, however does he have the teaching expertise that might daring nicely with James, Davis, and probably Russell Westbrook (if he does find yourself staying)? Rivers’ file means that he hasn’t had a lot success even when he is gotten the chance to educate Chris Paul, Joel Embiid, James Harden, Leonard, and George. So what makes him credible sufficient to educate a Lakers roster that badly wants to show issues round?
What the Lakers want is a frontrunner who can command the respect of their superstars and on the identical time put them in the most effective place to succeed on the court docket. How will the Lakers’ famous person respect a coach who hasn’t received up to now decade and is not the most effective X and O tactician? The Lakers want a reliable and confirmed coach, which Rivers is not.
If the Lakers do not rent Doc Rivers within the offseason (which is more likely to be the case), that might be one other bullet dodged for the franchise.
