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NBA: Best player and coach pairing from each team’s history

By Tony Pesta

LOS ANGELES - MARCH 2: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs talks with head coach Gregg Popovich during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 2, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Spurs won 106-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - MARCH 2: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs talks with head coach Gregg Popovich during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 2, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Spurs won 106-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Best coach/player pairing in LA Clippers history: Doc Rivers & Chris Paul

For most of their existence, the LA Clippers have been the laughing stock of the NBA. Making the playoffs only once from 2000-2010, the Clippers were desperate to land a star.

With a little bit of luck and solid drafting, the Clippers acquired both Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. Shortly after the birth of this dynamic duo on the court, Doc Rivers joined the team as head coach to lead the new era of Clippers basketball.

Rivers delivered a championship pedigree that the franchise had never seen before. His coaching style helped bring out the best in his team while Paul acted as an extension of Doc on the court.

Together, this duo initiated the most successful run in Clippers history.

The Clippers recorded three straight 50-win seasons with Rivers and came excruciatingly close to reaching the Conference Finals in 2015 after knocking off the defending champion San Antonio Spurs and holding a 3-1 lead over the Houston Rockets.

Sadly, Paul and Rivers had their story together end in disappointment. Within a few seasons, the team fell apart and was blown up. Still, they were a dominant pairing and nearly pulled off something special.