Before the season, Doc Rivers told Grantland, "You need luck in the West." The Golden State Warriors didn't have to play the Clippers or the Spurs. But that's a lesson for the Clippers, when they have a chance to close it, they have to do it.
The perception that he is not giving the Golden State Warriors due credit for their NBA championship, is not really because his words are unfair, it is because he is skillful in conveying a good impression.
According to NBA Digest, Doc Rivers is truly gifted in his way with words with a coherent idea, and even more adept at relaying that idea. When he talks about other teams other than the Clippers, he generally wants to keep the focus internal. When it comes to his team, he is always thinking ways to deflect attention where he wants it.
The impression that Doc Rivers wants to convey is that his team is worthy - and is not necessarily implying that the Warriors are not. But if Rivers wants to prop the Clippers up on their own and in the world's eyes, he can say that his team can be on the Warriors' level.
The two undefeated teams meet Wednesday night in Oakland in a game that is garnering added attention because they have been snipping at each other since the start of the season.
Bleacher Report said that the words of Doc Rivers consistently makes him believe that the Clippers could have beaten the Warriors. This is the thing that irks the Warriors who, just like the Clippers, suffered an inferiority complex from being long-time also-rans in a West Coast scene long ruled by the Lakers.
Doc Rivers never did call the Golden State lucky to have won, in the simplistic sense, but the issue of the Warriors' success is intended to show how the Clippers came close to it.
If the Clippers will win Wednesday night over the Warriors, Rivers' speechmaking will be justified no matter if it is part brainwashing or part grandstanding.
