LA Clippers: How Doc Rivers will prepare team for mental challenge

Crafting the Perfect Team

While the Clippers did not know this would happen during the offseason they have crafted a perfect roster for this situation. They have efficient shooters, superstars that are comfortable with the ball in their hands and tough vocal leaders that will show how valuable on and off the court they are.

Rivers talked about one of these vocal leaders in Joakim Noah. Noah was signed to a contract recently after arriving earlier in the year via a 10-day del. He will be a big help to some of the younger players through this tough time.

“He’s a great addition to our team,” Rivers said of Noah. “Not just on the floor but off the floor with his energy and his basketball IQ. I think he’ll be an amazing help for Zu (Ivica Zubac) in general in terms of his mental approach to the game.”

Noah has a high motor and he uses that to impose his will on the game. With him teaching Zubac the starting big man will learn how to have a little more juice when he plays.

Little things that Noah knows like defending the basket and how to clog the lanes to make it hard for defenders to make it to the hole are invaluable lessons to a young big man.

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are the greatest talents that Rivers have had to work with. Now he is in another position to win a championship. Leonard and George are the reincarnations of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in 2020, and Rivers utilizes their defensive ability along with their offensive ability.

Along with Patrick Beverly and Marcus Morris Sr. every player can play offense and defense in the starting lineup. Noah will help Zubac get up to speed.