Inako ni Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers ang responsibilidad sa hindi pagkakausad ng kanilang koponan sa Western Conference Finals.
Ito’y makaraang masilat at gulatin sila ng Denver Nuggets sa makapigil-hiningang Game 7 kanina.
Ayon kay Rivers, handa raw siyang saluhin ang lahat ng sisi dahil sa hindi nila na-meet ang mga expectations ng marami.
“We didn’t meet them,” wika ni Rivers. “That’s the bottom line. I’m the coach, and I’ll take any blame for it. But we didn’t meet our expectations, clearly, because if we had, in my opinion, we’d still be playing.”
Sinabi naman ni Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard, mag-move on na lamang daw sila at magsasanay para maging listo bilang isang team.
“We just couldn’t make no shots,” ani Leonard. “That’s when it comes to the team chemistry, knowing what we should run to get the ball in spots or just if someone’s getting doubled or they’re packing the paint, try to make other guys make shots, and we gotta know what exact spots we need to be.
“And you know, just gotta carry over and get smarter as a team. Get smarter. Basketball IQ got to get better.”
Sa laro kanina, nakabuo lamang ng malamyang 24 points ang tandem nina Leonard at Paul George para sa Clippers na mistulang baldado sa laro.
Paborito rin sanang manalo sa NBA Finals ngayong season ang Clippers ngunit ikinagulat ng fans na sila pa ang nadispatsa sa semifinal series.
Bunsod ng pagkatalo, inaasahang uuwi na ang Clippers at lilisanin na ang bubble matapos malasap ang tatlong sunod-sunod na pagkatalo na naging sanhi upang malaglag sila sa playoffs.
