Yahoo Lifestyle Doc Rivers unbothered by title talk surrounding Clippers: ‘Why run from expectations?’
Doc Rivers and the Los Angeles Clippers are sitting in a prime position heading into the 2019-20 NBA season, thanks largely to the summer additions of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
In the eyes of many, the Clippers are the leading favorite to take home the NBA title next June.
While that prospect can be intimidating for some — especially coming before the season has even started — Rivers is unbothered.
“I’m not going to be out in the front saying we’re going to win it,” Rivers said, via USA Today. “But I’m fine if that’s what everybody thinks. Why run from expectations? I’ve never understood that.”
The Clippers signed Leonard to a three-year, $103 million deal in free agency this summer, and traded for George just hours after reaching a deal with Leonard in exchange for a massive amount of draft picks — something owner Steve Ballmer actually had to be convinced to do.
Though the team’s success will largely depend on those two, Rivers does have a solid supporting cast — including Maurice Harkless, who they landed in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers, Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell and Patrick Beverley, among others.
Rivers still has a long way to go to live up to the lofty expectations placed on his team, and is well aware of that fact.
In the meantime, though, he’s taking full advantage of the perks that come with being at the top of the NBA.
“I got a couple of free meals out of it,” Rivers joked, via USA Today. “You also know if you don’t win it, you have [to] pay for the rest of them.”
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