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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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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 11: Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers talks with Montrezl Harrell #5 during the first half against the Toronto Raptors at Staples Center on December 11, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 11: Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers talks with Montrezl Harrell #5 during the first half against the Toronto Raptors at Staples Center on December 11, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Harry How/Getty Images) /

2. 2018-2019 Season – Pending, But Wow

This season has easily been the biggest surprise of the Doc Rivers era in LA.

The Clippers got off to a fast start, winning 10 of the first 15 games and sitting at number one in the Western Conference at one point. At that time, TNT host Charles Barkley said the Clippers would not make the postseason. I’ll use that sentence as a timeline.

Since Barkley spoke about Rivers and Co., the Clippers moved on from star forward Tobias Harris, trading him to Philadelphia. They also traded Avery Bradley and Mike Muscala, acquiring Landry Shamet, JaMychal Green, Ivica Zubac, Garrett Temple and Wilson Chandler from those trades.

Many thought the trade was a throwing in of the towel for the Clippers, who were competing for the eighth seed at the time. Instead, the Clippers have been nothing short of hot since the All-Star break and now sit with the possibility of gaining the fourth seed and home-court advantage in the first round.

Doc has been considered for Coach of the Year honors by many creditable people throughout the NBA for his work this season with keeping a team with so much roster turnover in the playoff hunt. He is also leading a historic bench with Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell, who are on pace to be the highest scoring bench in the league this season.

Will Doc Rivers win Coach of the Year for his efforts, probably not with the work that Mike Malone and Budenholzer have done with their respective teams, but this season has been one of Doc’s best with the Clippers, but not his best ever.

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