LOS ANGELES – Doc Rivers inherited a Los Angeles Clippers team that won 56 games and set franchise records last season. Now it's up to him to get the veterans and a mix of newcomers to do what the franchise has never done — make a sustained playoff run.
Rivers took over in late June, replacing Vinny Del Negro as coach and adding the title of senior vice president of basketball operations. He'll get to know his new team starting Tuesday when the Clippers spend a week in San Diego for training camp, or as Rivers calls it "a bonding trip."
Rivers' immediate emphasis with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and the rest of the team is on improving the defense, whether it's guarding the 3-point line or in transition.
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