NBA Finals: Clippers’ Doc Rivers plays major role for Cavs’ Tyronn Lue
Even in the NBA Finals, Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue relies on influence from Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers.
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue had full support from Clippers head coach Doc Rivers when he left the Clippers’ bench for a massive raise in Cleveland, according to the Orange County Register.
Rivers and Lue still talk all the time, Lue said before Game One of the NBA Finals.
“I talk to Doc a lot,” Lue said Saturday via the Register. “Probably too much. But he’s just always been there for me.”
During the Eastern Conference finals, Lue requested Doc Rivers opinion on Toronto’s offense.
This is an instance where Lue will text Rivers and ask him what he sees, according to Rivers.
“I’ll draw it up on a napkin at a restaurant and take a picture of it and send it.” Rivers said via Sports Illustrated.
Despite the Clippers early playoff exit, Rivers enjoys seeing the success of his protege reaching the NBA Finals. Lue learned how to lead a team from Clippers head coach Doc Rivers.
Their relationship dates back more than 12 years ago when both were in Orlando. Rivers saw enough of Lue in Orlando to tell Lue he could come coach for him when Lue eventually retired. Rivers noticed Lue taking notes, which was unusual for a player.
As a player, Lue took notes and sketched plays which he placed into a binder labeled with the coaches name. One of those coaches was Rivers.
Lue has taken the Clippers head coach’s influence and combined it with influences from other great coaches during his development, Rivers said.
“You can’t do exactly what the coach you played for or coached with did. ” Rivers said. “You have to make it your own, and he’s doing a great job of that.”
Rivers said Lue was a natural leader as a player. He thought Lue could be a really good coach some day because of his basketball IQ and his ability to connect to players.
Lue thought the idea was silly at first, according to Rivers.
Rivers pitched Lue on the idea, and he got Celtics GM Danny Ainge to offer Lue a job behind the bench.
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The role started as an internship, but blossomed into an apprenticeship. Lue sat a row back from the Celtics’ bench. Rivers would often lean back and whisper to Lue, according to Sports Illustrated.
Lue later became the Clippers’ defensive coordinator when Rivers first came to Los Angeles. Rivers made Lue stay all summer and scout every team. Rivers wanted Lue to understand the workload of becoming a coach.
“That’s when he transitioned over to really doing it, and from that day forward, he was ready to go.” Rivers said.
Lue was instrumental to Rivers changing his defensive philosophy to accommodate the athletic Deandre Jordan and Blake Griffin.
“Ty saw those things in film, brought ‘em up, we talked about ‘em and implemented a lot of them. He was great.” Rivers said via Sports Illustrated.
Now, Lue is really doing it. After a a 57–win season (41-27 under Lue) and a 12–2 postseason, the Cavaliers will rely on Lue’s leadership to erase a 2-0 series deficit to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
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Clearly, Lue may call on his relationship with Rivers for some insights into beating the Warriors. The Clippers were the last team to beat the Warriors in a playoff series, back in 2014. That was the staff that Lue was a part of in Los Angeles.