LA Clippers head coach Doc Rivers wanted his second team to do better defense this season as the Clippers come with an equally strong roster this season. They are off with a good start, defeating Damian Lillard’s led Portland Trail Blazers.
The Clippers enter the 2016-17 season with a good confidence, since all their main players are in good condition. Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and J.J. Griffin are in top condition. Therefore, coach Rivers expected his second team to do better, especially in defense this season according to Los Angeles Times.
Coach Rivers said they already have four good defenders off the bench with Alan Anderson, Raymond Felton, Austin Rivers, and Brandon Bass. He expected Marreese Speights and Jamal Crawford to be also equally consistent.
Nevertheless he said his excitement to open the 2016-17 season against Portland Trail Blazers, the team that knock them off in the last season’s playoff as reported by FOX Sports. During the 4-2 loss against Trail Blazers in the first round playoffs last year, Griffin and Paul were out due to injury. Now as the team is complete, the Clippers were excited to start the game.
"It's going to be a fun environment considering that's the team that knocked us out last year,” coach River said. “We have our whole team back. So do they. It's going to be a fun game.”
LA Clippers defeated Portland Trai Blazers 114-106 on the Oct. 27 opening game. The two big men of Clippers works well in the defense and offense. Griffin made double-double with 27 points and 12 rebounds, while DeAndre Jordan contributed 6 points and 12 rebounds.
The team statistics looks promising on the offensive part, as their two bench players scored double digit, Crawford and Speights with 15 points each. But as what coach Rivers said, the bench players need to work on the defense.
Watch the highlight of the Clippers opening game against Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center, Portland, OR.
