LOS ANGELES — Clippers coach Doc Rivers took aim at Knicks management for not supporting ousted coach David Fizdale during the team’s long stretch of losing, even citing president Steve Mills’ ominous post-game press conference after 10 games as the wrong thing to do.
Rivers added he hopes interim coach Mike Miller gets the support from brass Fizdale did not have. Fizdale was fired last month after a 4-18 start.
“It was disappointing,” Rivers said before the Clippers faced the Knicks on Sunday at the Staples Center. “I thought he was in a tough spot. When you just see some of the comments that were made – that he didn’t make – before, he didn’t stand a chance. I’ve been very fortunate as a coach. I’ve been lucky quite honestly where I’ve had the backing through thick or thin. I told David that.”
Rivers also made it clear he was referring to the Mills and Scott Perry presser on Nov. 10 after the Cleveland shellacking when the president stated his unhappiness with the direction of the team. Fizdale was back in the locker room addressing his players, unaware of the press conference. Owner James Dolan, sources say, encouraged the press conference.
“That was bad,” Rivers said. “We all know it. Coaching is hard enough. It’s a hard job.”
Rivers joins several other prominent coaches and ex-coaches — including Rick Carlisle, Steve Kerr, Gregg Popovich, Erik Spoelstra, and Stan Van Gundy — who have ripped management for the move.
Earlier in his career with the Celtics, Rivers survived a dreadful 2006-07 season to go on to win an NBA title the following year.
“Boston, man, we were awful, lost 18 games in a row,” Rivers said. “Danny Ainge would come in every day and apologize to me and talk me into staying — not that I was leaving. That was important to me. That gave me confidence. It created a great team. It all worked out. More coaches need that to be good.”
That Celtics team that lost 18 straight, ironically, included Knicks broadcaster Wally Szczerbiak, who was in the press conference room.
Miller entered the Clippers game with a relatively impressive 6-7 clip, but none of the victories have come against a club currently with a .500 or better record.
“Mike’s done an amazing job, he really has,” Rivers said. “I hope now that he’s coaching, he can get that (support). I think it’s important for us. I really do.”
PG Elfrid Payton, who played in Phoenix after flying in after his girlfriend gave birth to his first child, won’t play against the Clippers and is not a sure thing for the Lakers game Tuesday. Payton flew back home to Louisiana after the Suns loss Friday night.
For more on the Knicks, listen to the latest episode of the “Big Apple Buckets” podcast:
Source: Read Full Article