Stubbornness is a dish best served with karma. Finding success while being stubborn is fools gold. Yes, it can work for some (Steve Jobs, I guess), but sticking to a designated plan for years without adaptation can lead to downfall. And, for both good and bad, the Clippers currently possess one of the more stubborn coaches the NBA has ever seen in Doc Rivers.
Basketball is different now. The best players play no matter their age. Data, analytics, and numbers play just as big a role as the “eye test.” While Doc’s loyalty to players is admirable, we have seen countless examples of Doc sticking with rotations that weren’t working just because he liked the player even when every piece of data screamed otherwise — and this year has been no different.