When the Los Angeles Clippers first acquired point guard Austin Rivers in a three-team deal in the middle of the season, it appeared that Rivers was only brought in to reunite with his father, head coach Doc Rivers. However, the third-year player’s role on the Clippers turned out to be bigger than previously expected.
Rivers was drafted 10th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Hornets with great expectations. Rivers was highly touted coming out of high school and college, and with that, came a great amount of pressure. Despite his previous success, he hadn’t lived up to the hype at the professional level. During his time in New Orleans, Rivers only averaged 6.9 points, 2.3 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game.
When Rivers was shipped off to Los Angeles to play under his father, he hoped for a fresh start. His time with the Clippers has been very much so up and down. Rivers’ play was inconsistent, although he did show some flashes of what he’s capable of, most notably a 28-point performance against the Sacramento Kings. At times, it seemed as though Rivers was only out there because the Clippers needed someone to spare Chris Paul when he needed some rest.
It wasn’t until the postseason that Rivers actually looked like he belonged in the Clippers’ rotation. Just like in the regular season, Rivers’ play fluctuated on a game-to-game basis, but something was different. He seemed to be much more confident. In Game 4 of the first-round series with the San Antonio Spurs, Rivers went 7-8 from the field, scoring 16 points in just 17 minutes on the floor. His play off the bench helped lead Los Angeles to a big win, which quite possibly could have saved their season.
What may have changed the perception of Rivers, at least temporarily, was his performance in the the Western Conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets. In Game 1, Paul was unable to go because of a hamstring injury and Rivers was called upon to slide into the starting lineup. He responded well in his first career playoff start, scoring 17 points and draining four three-pointers. In Game 3, Rivers exploded for 25 points on 10-13 shooting. His play declined in the rest of the series, but so did the play of the rest of the team, so Rivers gets a pass there.
By no means is Rivers the answer to the Clippers’ need at backup point guard, but he did prove that he is a solid rotation player. If anything, he is better suited as a 2-guard. Yes, Rivers takes bad shots and doesn’t see the floor very well, but he’s young, athletic and booming with confidence. That’s what coaches love to see.
Re-signing Rivers would certainly be a wise decision for Los Angeles, especially in the event that the Clippers are unable to find a better replacement. Not only is Doc the coach, but he’s also the GM, so expect Rivers back in Los Angeles next season.
Brandon Austin is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @BMoreThanGreat, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.