Doc to the Clippers

I know the Celtics' fans are crying bloody murder because of the most recent blockbuster move.  Doc Rivers is one of the best coaches in the NBA.  He has been a driving force behind the Boston Celtics' recent success.  That said, I do not blame him for not wanting to be a part of a retooling effort in Boston.  He sat at the helm while Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo won a NBA title in 2008.  He is well known for his excellent defensive strategies and ability to diagram end-of-game plays to perfection.  Most people rank him as the second best NBA coach behind Gregg Popovich.  

The Clippers had a very good season last year.    Despite their relative success in the regular season, they fizzled early in the Playoffs.  For a team with as much talent as the Clippers, a first round exit is simply not good enough.  Del Negro did the best he could in the role, but I think he lost the respect of his team.  His offensive plays were predictable.  Everyone knew that the Clippers' offense boiled down to pick-and-roll basketball.  That works well when you have a post player who can actually score in the post.  Blake Griffin is simply not that guy.

Doc will bring toughness and grittiness to the Clippers.  They need a huge dose of both. Doc will be respected by the players because of his pedigree as a hard-nosed point guard in the NBA and for his championship pedigree with the Boston Celtics.  He will be able to demand effort and accountability from his players that Del Negro could only suggest.  I believe he and CP3 will have a great bond from day one.  That bond and mutual respect will elevate them both to new heights of excellence.  

What other moves will the Clippers make in the offseason?  One of the most discussed possible transactions includes Kevin Garnett.  However, David Stern made it very clear that he will not allow Kevin Garnett to be traded to the Clippers.  He said that coaches cannot be included in deals to acquire players.  That said, I think the only way the Clippers will be able to acquire Garnett is through a three- team deal.  Absent a third team, the Garnett deal is likely dead in the water.  

If I was a general manager for the Clippers, I would trade Deandre Jordan.  The guy earns a hefty paycheck, but quite frankly, he is an average NBA player with above average athleticism, and a basketball I.Q. on par with Harold Minor.  He is a terrible free throw shooter, which makes him a liability at the end of games.  And, despite being in the NBA for a number of years, he still does not have one decent post move.  

Blake Griffin is overrated and soft.  Those are two labels you do not want any of your players to have.  I have never seen a guy with his physical ability be tossed around like a rag doll.  I mean this guy is about the same size as Charles Oakley (a.k.a. "Oak Tree") when he was in his prime.  That said, how can Griffin allow Zach Randolph to physically dominate him?  He needs to get in the gym and work on developing post moves.  He needs to dig deep and find a mean streak or something that will make him develop mental and physical toughness.  If not, they need to trade him because he is not worthy of being the second best player on a championship caliber team.  Lemarcus Aldridge would be a perfect fit for the Clippers.

The Clippers improved their chances of success by hiring Doc.  However, they will still need to make a few more moves before they will be ready to compete for championships.  Stay tuned.


Peace