Austin Rivers Responds to Criticism.

"Look at my numbers from when I started here until now," Rivers said. "Every year I've gotten better and I've done it with people throwing s--- in my face. I never responded. I've never come out publicly and said I'm this or that. But at some point I'm a human being.

"I got offended [this week, in the wake of the ugly situation with the Rockets] when people started talking about my character. Judge me all you want as a player. Some people think I'm a great player, some people don't. That's fine. Numbers don't ever lie. I know what I'm doing and I know what this team is doing."

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22141790/austin-rivers-unloads-critics-says-more-doc-rivers-son-nba

Team Austin

I like what Stephen A said about Austin: Basically, he's always been this way. In HS he was cocky arrogant player. In College, he was a cocky arrogant player. It's lazy to believe that he's only cocky and arrogant because he's playing for his dad or that he's only in the league because of his dad, but there's no denying the whole situation looks fishy from the outside.

Regardless of everything I'm appreciative of everything Austin Rivers has brought to this team. The cloud of nepotism is more so Doc's fault than anything, Austin is just being who he is. He's played some tough basketball for us and worked hard to improve every season just like he said. He's been an underdog since he's come into the league and he's really embodied that genuine Clippers spirit that we're all so familiar with, more so than just about any other player. Despite all the negativity, he's still continuing to come into his own, and I'm excited to see what he does in the future. I was rooting for him before he came to the Clips but he's really earned my respect in his time here. I feel like I can't blame him for wanting to play and prove that he can be one of the best. I'm glad he's not content with being labeled a scrub or coach's son or bust. He's still young so if he continues to improve, he'll continue to prove his haters wrong.

"Some people think I'm a great player". A great player? I don't think so, and I don't know who else would think that. Lebron James is a great player, so is Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. Austin- a solid/good player who was improved.

"Some people think I'm a great player". A great player? I don't think so, and I don't know who else would think that. Lebron James is a great player, so is Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. Austin- a solid/good player who was improved.

In the basketball world, there are people who have never played a game in the NBA who are thought of as great players. It's not easy to make it to the NBA, and literally the worst player on the worst team is better than just about anybody you'll ever meet or see. No he's not Lebron James or anything close to that, and he's not saying or implying that. But he can play, and he can play at the highest level of competition in the world which is the NBA. You have to be a great player to do that.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, we just need to get rid of the whole father/son dynamic on the team. Even if nothing was done with nepotism or whatever, it opens the door to that criticism, and it's just not helpful.

It's not the kind of publicity a team needs. This isn't even against Austin or Doc, but for this kind of professional situation, it's just such a delicate situation to manage.

he is averaging heavy minutes and under 16ppg and under 4 APG while shooting terrible from everything outside 3 point land. His numbers don’t lie, he’s not a good player. He is serviceable if he would fit into a bench role but it sounds like he thinks he is better than that.

how cute nobody thinks you're a great player LMAO

In the basketball world, there are people who have never played a game in the NBA who are thought of as great players. It's not easy to make it to the NBA, and literally the worst player on the worst team is better than just about anybody you'll ever meet or see. No he's not Lebron James or anything close to that, and he's not saying or implying that. But he can play, and he can play at the highest level of competition in the world which is the NBA. You have to be a great player to do that.

Lol I tried.

Austin should just shut the f--k up and play ball. No one cares if his relationship with Doc wasn't healthy or how he had to struggle growing up as a coach's son, blah, blah, blah. Accept the hand that was given you and move on. His arrogance though is uncanny for someone that in my opinion is an improved player, nothing special except maybe for the Clippers. Just concentrate on playing your best basketball and forget what we think about you. My opinion of Austin will never change, I know he was afforded more opportunities than most rookies. Aside from that it wouldn't hurt if Austin would humble himself a little bit more.

Austin should just shut the f--k up and play ball. No one cares if his relationship with Doc wasn't healthy or how he had to struggle growing up as a coach's son, blah, blah, blah. Accept the hand that was given you and move on. His arrogance though is uncanny for someone that in my opinion is an improved player, nothing special except maybe for the Clippers. Just concentrate on playing your best basketball and forget what we think about you. My opinion of Austin will never change, I know he was afforded more opportunities than most rookies. Aside from that it wouldn't hurt if Austin would humble himself a little bit more.

I agree with all of this until the last sentence.

I hate his arrogance(which is here with or without Doc, it is who he is as a player). I hate the nepotism and father/son dynamic. I hate that he plays out of his capabilities at times, and we have to endure it because he plays more minutes than he deserves.

But I also know, that there have been critical games, where he has single handedly kept us afloat. All the things I hate about him, help in timely situations - be it playoffs, or important games, or marquee matchups. The dude is an X factor that bails the entire team out sometimes.

If sometimes was a lot of times, I would love the guy... but his sometimes is enough times where I am curious to keep him and see how he does in these big games. Let's not forget the time we beat the Rockets with Harden and no Paul, IN HOUSTON... Rivers was the reason for that.

I do not see Wallace being able to play THIS well consistently, so mixing up Wallace and Rivers might be a nice change up... but I do not want to see Austin come and completely take over Wallace's minutes.

Regardless of everything I'm appreciative of everything Austin Rivers has brought to this team. The cloud of nepotism is more so Doc's fault than anything, Austin is just being who he is. He's played some tough basketball for us and worked hard to improve every season just like he said. He's been an underdog since he's come into the league and he's really embodied that genuine Clippers spirit that we're all so familiar with, more so than just about any other player. Despite all the negativity, he's still continuing to come into his own, and I'm excited to see what he does in the future. I was rooting for him before he came to the Clips but he's really earned my respect in his time here. I feel like I can't blame him for wanting to play and prove that he can be one of the best. I'm glad he's not content with being labeled a scrub or coach's son or bust. He's still young so if he continues to improve, he'll continue to prove his haters wrong.

Well said.

The kid is never going to be an NBA legend, but nobody can fault his effort.

Given the choice, I'd keep him over his dad.

"Some people think I'm a great player". A great player? I don't think so, and I don't know who else would think that. Lebron James is a great player, so is Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. Austin- a solid/good player who was improved.

I think it was Webber who called him an up and coming super star, but then again CWeb has to say something to avoid dead air time. Good or not Austin has eaten a lot of **** over the years. Every day somebody else rags on him. Why? Because he sprang from Doc's testicles. Did he ask for extra minutes or even to be on the squad? Who knows but he has never whined and complained that everybody was picking on him. He shut up and took it.

CP is gone and it's a new universe. Let's change his name to Austin Rios and evaluate him objectively. He may still be bad but let Rios be bad. Forget the coach is his dad. It's an unchangable fact that we have to live with. Was Rios given extra minutes he didn't deserve? Yes but, why you might ask. Answer Who cares, we can't fix it and it makes no difference. Whining about something you can't change will only give you a headache

Great read and good to hear Austin side finally. I’ve been really tough on Austin but still hope he can provide the style of basketball he had been before his injury. Dude plays with heart and has unfortunately been the scapegoat for a lot things.

"Some people think I'm a great player". A great player? I don't think so, and I don't know who else would think that. Lebron James is a great player, so is Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. Austin- a solid/good player who was improved.

Lavar Ball said he can beat Michael Jordan in a one on one, and Few years ago Austin said he is better than some player in US team, I guess that's what make Lavar and Austin great lol! (self proclaim)

Jamal has won games for us in the past as well and so your point is what? No one was saddened on his departure to the Timberwolves. Frankly, I don't miss Austin not playing!

Jamal NEVER showed up in the playoffs, let alone win us a game. Can’t say the same for Austin

Jamal NEVER showed up in the playoffs, let alone win us a game. Can’t say the same for Austin

I only remember Jamal hitting one or a couple of clutch shots for us in the playoffs. When teams turned up the defense in the playoffs, he usually disappeared.

He’s a big game player, maybe our best when looking at playoff games he’s had where he has literally carried us, big regular season games when he was sensational in the game in Houston and so on. He’s been good and is improving by huge strides. His comments were spot on. I love his swagger and as a team we absolutely need his toughness and mental fortitude. If we trade him we should get a good piece in return because of his improvement.

He had the big playoff game in Houston which we won (by 25 so technically if he hadn’t scored at all we would have still tied jk of course) and the good game against Portland which we lost. Remind if these other big wins he has provided in the playoffs? He has some good moments but you have to be realistic of his play as a whole. Highly inefficient, mediocre defender, and poor rebounder but when he is hot can score in bunches. His 3 point shooting has been very nice this year but when he plays with the starters he kills ball movement

Jamal has always been a killer in meaningless games, when the D is turned up in the playoffs, he disappears.

Having Lou Williams on this team is proof of how awful Jamal was in his years with this team. I was quite happy when he left. I was afraid Lou would be more of the same, but he's been anything but.

Lou Williams strikes quickly. Jamal had to dribble and dribble.

Lou Williams gets his within the flow of the offense and keeps his teammates involved. Jamal stopped the offense and reduced his teammates to observers.

Lou Williams gives a good defensive effort. Jamal slept through the defensive side of the game and got beat back door at least twice a game.

Lou shoots a solid percentage. Jamal shot a poor percentage.

Lou is a team player. Jamal played as an individual.

Agree on everything except their shooting % over their career is actually pretty close. But yeah it’s crazy how different they are as players but to the casual fan they are the same “instant offense”

Agree on everything except their shooting % over their career is actually pretty close. But yeah it’s crazy how different they are as players but to the casual fan they are the same “instant offense”

I don’t think even the causal fan could even remotely think what Lou is giving us and what Jamal gave us are even in he same stratosphere:

Jamal gave us streaky hot games that followed by lots of awful games.

He was inefficient chucker for the most part.

Lou is going to be an all-star this season.

Before this season that’s what everyone seemed to think, Lou has always been a different player than Jamal this is the first time he is really getting a chance to start and showcase it

Also we are 3-5 when Austin has scored 20 or more which does include a loss too the warriors (to be expected) but also a loss against the lowly grizzlies (his career high). Austin just doesn’t help us quite as much as people attribute.

Also we have won 8 of our last 10 games without Austin. It’s been nice without him. Any the game against Sacramento right before he was injured he only score 8 points while playing 25 minutes and somehow we were able to overcome that and blow them out. Not saying he is worthless, he helped a ton against Houston (won us the game) but our team plays better when he is a 4th, 5th or 6th fiddle or not on the court at all

Austin was born with a silver foot in his mouth. Dear ole dad must have lavished praise on him all his youth. Now as an adult he suffers from diarrhea of the mouth. He thinks he's the greatest. Thanks to dad giving him minutes he can be a serviceable 6th man. But he has no fear of running his mouth from the bench. Has no fear of repercussions. He must think his dad owns the team. I just wonder how quick he would be given the boot on another team. I mean even the Kings got sick of Boogie's antics and he is a much better player.

For 2-3 years, we had old role players and Austin was needed since he was the only athletic guy coming off the bench. The way this team is constructed now, he is no longer needed especially if Pat Bev is healthy. It would be excellent if Austin doesn’t pick up his option and test the market elsewhere

Perfect. Anyway he may get more $ somewhere else. For those who don't believe in greed, he might value being higher in the pecking order on another team.

For 2-3 years, we had old role players and Austin was needed since he was the only athletic guy coming off the bench. The way this team is constructed now, he is no longer needed especially if Pat Bev is healthy. It would be excellent if Austin doesn’t pick up his option and test the market elsewhere

Agree with that. Crazy how bad our bench was the last few years! So nice to finally be developing young talent again

Team Austin

NVMD

What amazes me about Austin is that he's able to shoot 40% from 3 with that ridiculous between the legs stepback being the main way he shoots his 3s. The fact that he's able to hit that shot so consistently makes me really ponder about his level of talent. Every time he shoots it, I think "wtf is he doing" but it goes in so often, it's actually a good shot for him. Only Curry and Irving really have that ability, though Austin is nowhere near as skilled as those 2.

Austin can still get better if he continues to work hard like he has been. We've seen Victor Oladipo make the huge jump into borderline superstar once given the opportunity. I'm not saying Austin will do the same, but how would you feel if he did once we let him go?

Don't think you are wrong... sure the potential might be there. But when you have a cheaper and younger option like Ty Wallace it helps to replace Austin. For all his faults, Austin has also had great performances. But as many people here say, the father son dynamic is NOT helpful.

Minutes allocation when he was healthy was frustrating. Although it looks like him and Blake are buddy-buddy, I think it would be better off to move him.

I am really liking the performance of Wallace, and I think we can walk away from Rivers' contract.

It’s the one thing in his game he is doing very well. Unfortunately it comes at the expense of the flow of our offense, but his 3pt shooting has been impressive. Shooting better from 3 than from 2...

Wallace is cheaper. That could be a deciding factor. This may sound odd but when Wallace is in, I don't notice him. With Austin you always know he's there. Wallace is equal to everybody else in the flow of the offense so when he's in your eyes don't stop. When Austin is in he's the center of attention.