Rivers needs to emerge
Austin Rivers has always shown sparks of something more in his game, but it has never been consistent enough to warrant his top-ten draft selection. Many would say that if it were not for his father Doc Rivers (GM/Coach) he might have been out of the league and not signed a four-year deal prior to the start of this season.
He can play and he has another gear where he can affect the outcome of games without question, but consistency has not been his best friend. He has gone through stretches where he has looked like a very capable starting guard. Then, other times you are left to think and scratch your head, “Did he really just throw up that shot, with that much time left?”
Austin will continue to do that, but after a slow start to the season, he has shot well from deep (a career-high 38.9 percent) and has been one of the Clippers more dependable shooters. He is not the passer Blake is, but if he can give some leadership and help control games until they can at least get Griffin back it could help steady the ship.
Rivers told Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times the following after Paul’s surgery:
"“When everyone is back, when you get Chris and Blake back, if this group can execute, and then you put those two guys back on the floor, I think it makes us better in the long run. This is not the way you want to do it, but this is the way it’s been presented.”"