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What Season Has Been Best for Doc Rivers with the LA Clippers?

By Ethan Smith

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 18: Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers and new owner of the Clippers Steve Ballmer address the media after Ballmer was introduced for the first time during Los Angeles Clippers Fan Festival at Staples Center on August 18, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 18: Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers and new owner of the Clippers Steve Ballmer address the media after Ballmer was introduced for the first time during Los Angeles Clippers Fan Festival at Staples Center on August 18, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 10: Head coach Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers watches from the bench during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 10, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 10: Head coach Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers watches from the bench during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 10, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

6. 2016-2017 Season – The End of an Era

The 2016-2017 season for the Clippers was about as stagnate as the Doc Rivers era could get.

The Clippers posted another solid record, going 51-31 which put them in the fourth seed in the West for the second straight season.

Lob City would meet the Gordon Hayward led Jazz in round one and to be fair, that series got off to probably the worst start thinkable when Joe Johnson made a game-winner in game one to steal a game in Staples Center right from the get-go.

LA only managed to win one home game throughout the series out of four, which to be fair was downright embarrassing for a team with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Deandre Jordan and JJ Redick.

Doc and Co. would fall in seven games to Utah and following the loss, everyone knew Chris Paul was on his way out and many called for Doc Rivers to be fired, something he experienced back in Boston with the likes of Bill Simmons publicly calling for his dismissal.

The Clippers chose to keep Rivers, move on from Paul in the trade with Houston and move on from the Lob City era in full. The 2016-2017 season didn’t post the worst record but it definitely left a sour taste in the mouth of Clipper Nation losing to a team that ultimately lost its star to Boston the following offseason.

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