In the 2015 NBA playoffs, Doc Rivers, coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, expressed his frustration with the officiating during a crucial first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs. The 2015 season was widely expected to be the Clippers’ breakthrough year, with San Antonio showing signs of age, Golden State not yet dominant, and Houston still developing. However, the Clippers lost momentum after a controversial Game 5, which Rivers believed was influenced by questionable calls from the referees.
The Clippers nearly crumbled in the first round as they struggled to contain San Antonio’s bench, particularly Manu Ginobili, Patty Mills, and Boris Diaw, who combined for 37 points. Despite this, Rivers was more focused on the officiating, criticizing several key calls, including a travel on Blake Griffin and a goaltending on Matt Barnes, both of which he disagreed with. Rivers acknowledged that these calls were not the sole reason for their loss but emphasized their significance in a tightly contested playoff game.
Rivers typically refrained from blaming referees, but the Game 5 loss deeply affected him, as he knew it would be challenging for his team to recover in the series. At that point, the Clippers were on the brink of elimination, trailing 3-2 to the seasoned Spurs. With Chris Paul struggling and the Clippers unable to contain a young Kawhi Leonard, the odds favored San Antonio.
Despite the setback, the Clippers rallied and delivered one of the most exciting series of the tournament. They secured a crucial Game 6 victory, forcing a decisive Game 7 on their home court. In the final moments of that game, Paul made a dramatic off-balance shot over Danny Green and Tim Duncan with just one second left, securing a 111-109 win for the Clippers. This victory propelled them to the second round, where they faced the Houston Rockets.
