Clippers coach Doc Rivers on in-game challenges: 'I hate the rule'
NFL coaches aren't the only ones upset with their league's apprehensiveness to overturn challenged calls. Just ask Doc Rivers.
The Los Angeles Clippers coach declared Wednesday following his team's 129-124 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks that he is not a fan of the NBA challenge rule the league implemented during the offseason.
Rivers' comments came after Lou Williams was called for an offensive call, apparently hitting Eric Bledsoe with his arm while driving to the basket with 7:18 left in the game. Rivers challenged the call, believing replay would absolve Williams.
The play was upheld.
"That was awful," Rivers told reporters after the game, per ESPN. "It was. They should've overturned it. That's why I hate the rule. Nobody wants to be wrong. Let me just say that. You have to overturn that. Unless Bledsoe fouled Lou with his face, there was no foul on that play."
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Through the first two weeks of the NBA season, 25 of the 70 challenged calls have been overturned, according to ESPN. Thirteen offensive fouls have been reviewed, with just three overturned.
When Houston Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni beat Rivers to the draw by challenging a play first during a preseason matchup between the two teams, Rivers said, "it's going to be something that is going to take a little bit for us to get used to."
Now, he knows where he stands on the challenge rule.
"There was a flop," Rivers said. "I think it (would have) been more of a chance that Bledsoe got a letter from the league about flopping than Bledsoe got fouled.
"That was awful. I don't like the rule anyway. I said it up front. And now I like it even less."