New Orleans Pelicans: Doc Rivers brings culture, but do they want it?
Culture
Currently, the most overused term in the NBA is culture. Whenever teams like the Denver Nuggets or Miami Heat win, pundits come out to praise their “culture” of winning and how they only choose players who fit their unique ecosystem.
It’s strange that only teams who win have this culture and how culture seems to thrive around the best players. Culture is a buzz word that means nothing but also means everything.
Pro: Doc Rivers is one of the most respected coaches and humans in the NBA. He is one of the leaders of the league on issues both on and off the court. Players seem to love playing for him, he connects with his guys and the young Pelicans would instantly look up to him.
Doc has won every place he’s been, with a .581 winning percentage overall. In his 20+ years of coaching Doc Rivers has won 60 games twice and at least 50 games eight times..
His teams have failed to win 40 games only three times in his career, so Doc definitely brings a culture of winning.
He’s been outspoken on social issues, immediately would become a fixture in the community, the players would look up to him and it would mark New Orleans as a legitimate franchise who can land one of the league’s best coaches.
Players like to play for Doc so he could help in recruiting free agents to small-market New Orleans. He’s known for holding players accountable and would be able to put together a top-notch staff.
There’s a lot to like about the “culture” Doc Rivers could bring to New Orleans.
Con: For all the talk of “culture” Doc Rivers has only won one title and one Eastern Conference championship. He has had really good teams in Los Angeles but failed to make it to the Western Finals.
Rivers had two of the best players in the league, the two best bench players and more depth than just about anyone this year, and still couldn’t get past the Denver Nuggets. The Clippers were favorites to at least make the Western Conference Finals and maybe knock off the Lakers.
Doc’s teams have now blown 3-1 leads three different times in his career, which is troubling for a guy who has a reputation for keeping teams focused. Doc’s overall playoff record is just .506 and he’s coached some really good teams.
Doc had a winning record in the playoffs just once with the Clippers, this season, when they went 7-6 overall. On one hand, his teams almost always make the playoffs, but on the other, they don’t usually win.
Doc Rivers would bring stability and credibility to the New Orleans Pelicans. He would improve their “culture” and get the respect of the young players, but he hasn’t won in the playoffs in a while, which could give the Pelicans pause.