Tag: Doc Rivers

Ben Golliver: Clippers coach Doc Rivers …

Despite Williams’ success on the court, …

Despite Williams’ success on the court, the offseason trade to the Clippers had the former second-round pick set on walking away from the game – until his new head coach, Doc Rivers, talked him out of it. “I had a conversation with Doc and he was like, ‘I don’t know what these other teams are thinking, but we need you and you can get comfortable. You’re gonna be here,’” Williams said. “That meant a lot to me and it kind of gave me the confidence and the reassurance to get prepared for the season and I’m glad I did.”

Doc Rivers brought some heat when asked …

Doc Rivers brought some heat when asked about LeBron’s take on load management: “It’s our philosophy. I don’t know what theirs are. I think theirs is whatever LeBron says it is.” (via @MarkG_Medina )

Doc Rivers: Lakers load management strategy is ‘whatever LeBron says it is’

L.A. Clippers head coach Doc Rivers responded to Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James’ statements about load management from the weekend.

After all these years, Doc Rivers and LeBron James just can’t get enough of each other.

Over the weekend, James reiterated his career-long stance that he would play so long as he is healthy after putting together a couple of big performances over the weekend to help the Los Angeles Lakers get to a now 24-4 record, following Tuesday’s loss to Indiana, tied with the Milwaukee Bucks for the best record in the NBA.

But the statement from LeBron over the weekend that got the most attention, aside from talking about his son Bronny, was about how he will not undergo “load management” so long as he is healthy enough to play. He was asked this because so far, he’s played in every game this season.

“If I’m healthy, I play … I mean, that should be the approach. Unless we’re getting late into the season, we’ve clinched and we can’t get any better — or any worse — I could benefit from that. But why wouldn’t I play if I’m healthy? It doesn’t make any sense to me, personally. I mean, I don’t know how many games I got left in my career. I don’t know how many kids that may show up to a game that are there to come see me play — and if I sit out, then what? That’s my obligation. My obligation is to play for my teammates and if I’m healthy, then I’m going to play. If coach sits me out, then I’m not healthy and it’s just simple.”

On Tuesday night, the talking point got to Clippers head coach Doc Rivers. Rivers, of course, coaches the NBA’s poster player for load management in Kawhi Leonard, who has been reportedly dealing with chronic leg injuries for a few years. When Rivers was asked about it, he said that resting players is “their philosophy” while implying that the Lakers philosophy is “whatever LeBron says it is.”

From USA TODAY’s Mark Medina

Rivers is known to ruffle feathers during his press conferences so it shouldn’t be surprising that he took a shot at the Lakers and LeBron on Tuesday, but it certainly makes for even more intrigue heading into next Wednesday’s Christmas Day showdown between the Clippers and Lakers.

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The NBA has said Leonard is not healthy …

The NBA has said Leonard is not healthy enough to play on consecutive nights because of an ongoing left knee injury. That hasn’t kept the Clippers from being heavily criticized for their “load management,” with ESPN broadcaster Doris Burke among the most prominent voices to question why Leonard sat out nationally televised games earlier this season.

“It’s funny how everyone talks about …

“It’s funny how everyone talks about these back-to-backs and they’re making it better and then they do this,” Rivers said. “It’s the exact opposite of what everyone said they’re trying to do. And then you have the Doris Burkes of the world complaining about guys’ load management and then the network they work on are the ones that are changing the game times.”

“We’re talking about trying to keep …

“We’re talking about trying to keep players out of harm’s way, and it’s the exact opposite of what we’re doing,” Rivers said. “If you play at 7 you shouldn’t play before 7 the next [day]. I’ve always said that. This is like a 22-hour time change difference and plus we have to travel. So it’s really a tough one but no one’s going to feel sorry for us tomorrow, I can guarantee you that.”