The Clippers lost Game 1 of their playoff series with the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. It was a game they should have won, at home, while the Jazz played without center Rudy Gobert. The Clippers tied the game at 95 with 13 seconds remaining but Joe Johnson came down the court and hit a game winner at the buzzer. Needless to say, Doc Rivers was not happy in his post game press conference when asked if the Clippers shot too soon on their final possession.
Doc Rivers calls reporter’s question about Clippers’ final shot ‘dumbest thing I have heard’
Whew!
“Who would do that? Why would you ever do that? So if you miss, the game is over. That makes no sense. That is like the dumbest thing I have ever heard. When you’re down two, you try to score. You don’t wait. No, you score. If you can score in one second you score.”
The Clippers had the ball with 18 seconds left and Chris Paul made a great drive to the basket, leaving 13 seconds on the clock and tying the game at 95. It was the right call and thing for Paul and the Clippers to do. The reporter suggested the Clippers wait to make a move with only five seconds remaining on the clock but as Rivers stated, if the Clippers miss, they don’t get another chance. Hopefully Doc can get the Clippers back on track because Saturday’s loss to a depleted Jazz team was ugly.
