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Doc Rivers says teams made a mistake trying to be like the Warriors

By Nathan Beighle

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers reacts during the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 15, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers reacts during the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 15, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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Teams are trying to mimic the Golden State Warriors, and Doc Rivers says that it’s been a crucial mistake for their respective franchise.

The Golden State Warriors style of play ushered in an era of three-point heavy basketball. Teams like Houston dedicated their entire offense towards spacing teams out and letting one superstar navigate the floor.

The Warriors offense is far more intricate than just that, but the fact is that a three-point heavy, small-ball shooting lineup is still what has fueled much of the free agency decisions we’ve seen over the past few seasons.

That’s not how Doc Rivers, who stepped down as the Los Angeles Clippers head coach following the team losing their 3-1 lead and being eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals, views his roster.

“I think you have to be who you are. I think the mistake a lot of teams have made is that everyone wanted to be Golden State, but nobody can shoot like Golden State so, to me, everyone made a mistake,” recently-added Philadelphia 76ers head coach Rivers said.

Given he’s not with the Sixers, Rivers must adapt.

It’s not that the Sixers cannot shoot threes, but with Ben Simmons at point guard, they’ll have to figure out their best offensive style.

Joel Embiid, their second superstar, can shoot, but he’s not the best from deep. Josh Richardson and Tobias Harris also aren’t the most elite shooters either, although they certainly not shoot from deep.

The Sixers’ major flaw was allowing JJ Redick to leave in free agency. Players like Simmons and Richardson, who are solid on the defensive end, could have figured out how to cover any inability Redick has on that end.

But, they opted to give a nine-figure deal to Al Horford. That’s where they went wrong, and now with Richardson, Horford, Embiid, and Simmons, the Sixers must find a way to produce as the City of Brotherly Love is tired of quick playoff exits.

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What Rivers said is 100% correct. Not everyone can be Golden State, and that certainly won’t be how he constructs his next project, the Philadelphia 76ers.

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