Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Rivers won’t commit to trimmed down rotation
Just because it has become something of an NBA custom, Doc Rivers said Sunday that he will not commit to trimming his postseason rotation to nine.
Ten, as a matter of fact, is not looking good, either.
“I’ll let everybody else talk about rotations and stuff,” Rivers said before a game in San Antonio. “We haven’t had one set rotation all year.
We’re not going to have one. We have 11 guys that I would say have a chance at playing every night. And we’re going to feel free to do that. It might even be 12. We’re free to do that, going by game circumstances. But we’re not going to be stuck in a rotation.”
That proclamation aside, Rivers played only nine Clippers in all 13 playoff games last year, with Reggie Jackson appearing 12 times. When he coached the Celtics to the 2008 championship, Rivers used only five players in all 26 games and played just 10 in 21 or more games.
Rivers’ announcement essentially means Tyrese Maxey will be his 11th man for the playoffs. Mike Scott or re-signed Anthony Tolliver could be No. 12.
Typically, coaches trim the playoff rotation for two reasons. One is to limit the action to only the players most capable of helping to win games of added importance. The other is to limit the possibility of dirty looks from the veterans asked to take more than a few minutes of rest in showcase games.
Depth, though, is a particular Sixers strength.
“I’ll let everybody else get stuck in what rotations we’re using this night or that night,” Rivers said. “We’re just going to try to win games. That’s what we’ll focus on. And whoever needs to play that night will probably play.”
••• As expected, the Sixers have signed Tolliver through the rest of the season. The 6-8 power forward had been on his second 10day contract.
Tolliver played just six games with the Sixers, but has been a valuable addition in the locker room, known to counsel younger players.
“That has really become a big focus for me, trying to bore into this next generation of guys.” he said. “Some of them are in situations that I already went through. Being undrafted, I am someone who has had to fight, scratch and claw for every single second that I’ve gotten on the court. So I have a much different perspective that I can lend to guys that are in those positions.”
Unless there is an injury, Tolliver is unlikely to win a spot in the postseason rotation. But he has been in the NBA since 2008, has played for 11 other organizations, and is a 37.3 percent career three-point shooter.
Whatever happens, he does not plan to be a disturbance.
“The camaraderie on this team has been really, really, really good,” Tolliver said.
“From the outside looking in, it’s hard to tell that with any team. But this team has a bunch of guys who are really, really out there playing for each other. It’s fun to be with a group of guys who are really out here trying to win games.”
Despite his longevity in the NBA, Tolliver has been to the playoffs just three times, playing in 13 games.
His chances for a championship diminishing, he will do what he can to help the Sixers make a long postseason run.
“I am excited to be with the guys,” he said. “I have only been here a few weeks, but I have come to have great relationships with a lot of guys on this team. I am looking forward to making this run.”