NBA: Doc Rivers, Doing Less With More

Doc Rivers the basketball player wasn’t too bad. At times he was a very exciting and fun watch. During his playing career he made stops in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, and San Antonio. As a coach in the NBA, he’s done pretty good for himself also. He is a very good coach. We all thought he was teetering on the edge of being a great coach. I don’t think that’s going to happen now though. During his coaching career he’s been the head guy for the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, and most recently the Philadelphia 76ers. He won an NBA Championship leading the Boston Celtics and the Big 3 in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen in 2008. Rivers was also named NBA Coach of the Year in the year 2000. However, with only one NBA Title having the talent on his rosters that he has had, has Doc Rivers done less with more than anyone else?

Let’s start where he did in Orlando. This is where he won his coach of the year award. He really was into proving himself worthy of the sideline during this time. It was his first NBA head coaching gig and he joined the Magic after the Shaq and Penny Hardaway era. So, this is actually a time when he maxed out what he had in personnel. Then he was able to get Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady for a few, but couldn’t get anything really going with them.

Rivers’ next stop was his longest and the one with the highest success. He took over the bench for the Boston Celtics in 2004, and after he got the Big 3 signed on; off and running he coached them to the trophy in 2008. However, with all that talent, he only got one. Most people, even though the big names were getting up in age believed he should have at the least gotten another one. One of the most storied franchises in the history of sports expects more than that. He did win 6 Division Titles and 2 Conference Titles while there. Still, he should have been able to do more with what he had there.

Now we move on to his next to jobs, and this is when it really became apparent he does less with more than almost anyone in history. The Los Angeles Clippers time was next. While here, Rivers had the likes of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford, DeAndre Jordan, and host of other “Lob City” role players, finishing first in the Pacific and coming away with nothing. Then we was handed Patrick Beverly, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and a handful of amazing cast members. Finishing 2nd in the Western Conference and again, coming away with nothing. A few of those Clipper teams were favorites at one point or another to win the NBA title. Nothing. Next, and most recent his is time in Philadelphia which as come to an end also. Again, a few times sitting as the favorite to win it all. He came up empty again getting easily handled in some of the biggest games late in playoff series with guys like Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, Dwight Howard, James Harden, and again, a very nice compliment of role players. Nothing. He’s had at least 2-3 rosters that should have won titles, but for one reason or another, him and his teams couldn’t get it done. This is why I say he’s done less with more than most in the history of the league.