LOS ANGELES — When Austin Rivers came up big against the mighty San Antonio Spurs on April 26, scoring 17 points in Game 4 of the first round to help these Los Angeles Clippers find their way to the second round, his father who doubles as his coach had a message he had heard countless times before.
"Keep playing," Doc Rivers would say.
When Austin did it again in Game 1 against the Houston Rockets in these Western Conference semifinals, helping the Clippers get ahead while Chris Paul and his hamstring rested on the Toyota Center bench, Doc's postgame talking point remained the same.