Rowan Kavner
NEW ORLEANS – Austin Rivers paused and smiled, calculating his response.
Rivers knew the feelings he would have going back to New Orleans, where he was drafted and spent his first two-plus seasons, for the first time since the trade two weeks ago that led to his joining the Clippers.
When asked about the return, though, his first response – through a grin that would suggest something different than what he uttered – sounded rather bland.
“It’ll be exciting, another opportunity to get a win,” Rivers said.
But he knew it was more than that. He composed himself and reworked his answer.
“Listen, obviously anybody plays their old team, there’s something there,” Rivers said.
That’s not to say Rivers looks back at his time in New Orleans with disdain.
He said he parted ways in a positive light, and it led him to what appears to be a perfect landing spot with the Clippers. He liked his former New Orleans teammates, particularly Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson, two players he’d developed a close relationship with.
The player he was closest with early in his NBA career, Anthony Morrow, was one of his best friends. It was when Morrow went from New Orleans to Oklahoma City that Rivers realized just how much of a business the NBA was. A year later, Rivers would be playing for a new team as well, one that has him finally feeling like himself again.
“You just go out there, you shoot it, be aggressive, look for your shots,” Rivers said. “That’s how I’ve been my whole life. I haven��t been used to playing this free. I haven’t been this free since I was at Duke or in high school, and people know what I did there.
“It’s one of those things where when I got here, it feels nice. Now I’m back just playing basketball. Guys are moving the ball and helping each other out.”
There was never any easing in for Rivers, who played a game for the Clippers before his first practice with the team. At that point, he only knew two plays. But he’s building comfort, thanks to both a firmer grasp of the playbook (it only took one practice for him to get 10 plays under his belt) and the players around him.
“This is just a better situation for me,” Rivers said. “I felt like (in New Orleans) I wasn’t able to play like me. I still had good games…but I feel like I could be better.”
Rivers continued to reference his affinity for being allowed to play more freely with his new team and to get to play with veterans. He believes what he brings to the table, attacking the basket and playing defense, should help open things up for Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul, Jamal Crawford and others.
He said he’s never backed up anyone like Paul, and the comfort level is building, both for Rivers and his teammates.
“I just love his aggressiveness on offense and his willingness to attack the ball,” Griffin said. “Defensively on the ball, he’s a dog. He’s tough to get around.”
With so little time to prepare with his new team, it wasn’t going to click to perfection off the bat. Rivers was disappointed in himself after his opener for the Clippers for playing too tentatively, because that’s not his style.
He went 0-for-7 from the floor his first two games, but as his comfort’s picked up, so too have his numbers. It seemed to begin defensively for Rivers, pressuring the ball against the Kings and forcing turnovers in his second game with his new team.
The offense picked up from there, hitting his first field goal in his next game against the Celtics. One game later, he scored nine points, dished out six assists and pulled in four rebounds while stealing a pass against the Nets.
As he continues to get more relaxed and adjusted to his new group, he’s beginning to provide off the bench just what the Clippers had hoped for.
Rivers is 12-for-23 from the floor in his last four games, with his best output coming Wednesday night against the Jazz. Jamal Crawford was forced into the starting lineup with J.J. Redick sidelined, and the Clippers needed someone off the bench to surprise. Rivers would go on to score all 12 of the Clippers’ bench points.
As the production increases, the trust and communication of his teammates has followed suit. Paul told Rivers against Utah that the Clippers needed him to get to the basket more often, and Rivers delivered.
“He’s still finding his way, but we just keep telling him to be aggressive,” Paul said. “The biggest thing he did was defensively he was all over the place. His energy was something that we need. It’s great, because it’s a change of pace. I’m nowhere near as fast as Austin.”
The Clippers are excited to see the burst of energy off the bench, and Rivers feels just as rejuvenated to be around veterans taking off much of the load.
“It’s just getting better and better,” Rivers said. “It’s exciting for me. I’m at the point where I’m not thinking, I’m just going and playing.”
