Report: Clippers Players Were ‘Scratching Their Heads’ at Doc Rivers’ Coaching Decisions in Playoffs

The Los Angeles Clippers shocked the world when they got upset by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the postseason.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Clippers players were confused by head coach Doc Rivers’ plans during the series.

“Several players had underwhelming postseason performances,” Charania wrote. “Head coach Doc Rivers had several strategic decisions that left players scratching their heads, such as the decision not to ride a bigger lineup against Nikola Jokic, choosing rotations that did not prioritize more minutes for JaMychal Green and various defensive adjustments. The team also never came together in terms of chemistry or camaraderie inside the bubble. These are all things Rivers and the Clippers will sift through for the entire offseason and into an unknown start date to next season.”

Rivers, 58, is one of the most respected coaches in the NBA.

However, his coaching performance against the Nuggets was underwhelming. Although the Clippers had a 3-1 lead in the series, they were unable to close out the Nuggets.

The Clippers did not properly contain Jokic, who helped the Nuggets storm back in multiple games. In the series, the international standout averaged 24.4 points, 13.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game.

Furthermore, the Clippers lacked chemistry and consistency in the NBA bubble in Orlando, Fla.

As a matter of fact, it was reported that some players were disappointed by Paul George’s attempt to motivate the team since he played below average in the postseason. George collected 20.2 points, 6.1 boards and 3.8 assists during the 2020 postseason run.

The Clippers were among strong favorites to win the championship this year.