NEW YORK -- Doc Rivers doesn’t allow his assistant coaches to speak to reporters.
In an effort to maintain one public voice, every request to speak to Los Angeles Clippers assistant coaches is quickly declined. Rivers made an exception on Wednesday.
Before the Clippers took on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Rivers stepped aside to let Mike Woodson take the spotlight with the media. After the Clippers blew out the Knicks 111-80, Rivers suddenly came down with a "stomach ache," allowing Woodson to address reporters again.
Woodson was fired as the Knicks coach last April after Phil Jackson took control as team president. Woodson guided the Knicks to a 54-win regular season and a division title in 2012-13, in addition to their first playoff series win in 13 seasons, but the team's 37-45 record last season fell well short of expectations.
Then again, 37 wins would be a massive improvement over the 14-57 Knicks, who not only have the worst record in the league but are nearing the end of the worst season in franchise history. At least the Knicks ended last season on a 15-6 run and missed the playoffs by one game.
Woodson said that if he were still coach of the Knicks he wouldn’t have changed the roster. Shortly after Jackson fired Woodson, he traded Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton to Dallas for a package centered around Jose Calderon.
That trade hasn’t worked out well for Jackson, as the Knicks are well on their way to the first 60-loss season in franchise history.
“Had I stayed on board I probably would have pushed to keep Tyson and keep that core group together because that’s what won the 54 games two years ago,” Woodson said. “But people change and you’ve got to live with it and it’s what it is.”
Woodson, however, wasn’t in any mood to gloat at the current state of the Knicks even after they let him go last year.
“I’ve kind of moved on,” Woodson said. “Two years ago was a great run for our ball club and a lot of things have changed since then. All I can say is that I wish them nothing but the best, and I truly mean that when I say that. I don’t wish losing on anybody as a coach, as a general manager, president, Mr. [James] Dolan especially, who gave me an opportunity to come here and coach. So I’m just happy I’m in the position I’m in to be able to continue to coach.”
Woodson deflected questions about Rivers giving him a platform to speak before and after the game on Wednesday saying, “This is not about me, this is about the Clippers and the fine team that Doc put together.”
Clippers players said Woodson’s homecoming to New York did mean something to them.
“Absolutely, we’re all sticking up for each other,” Griffin said. “It was probably not how everybody wanted it to end here. So, it’s good to get wins like this to help support guys and get rest for everyone.”
Chris Paul smiled when he learned Woodson addressed reporters postgame instead of Rivers. “Woody is an amazing guy. He’s a great coach. I’ve enjoyed playing for him," Paul said. "Obviously, we’re family here. He’s with us. Obviously it was an unfortunate situation here in New York. So, it was good to get this win.”
About three months after being let go by the Knicks, Woodson joined Rivers’ staff in Los Angeles after Alvin Gentry left for Golden State and Tyronn Lue left for Cleveland. Rivers and Woodson had never coached on the same staff, but just two years ago Woodson eliminated Rivers’ Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.
“Things change quickly,” Rivers said. “I’d love Woody to still be coaching. He is, but with me. He’s a head coach, and he’ll be a head coach again. We know that. Things have changed here. They had to make a decision. You do. If you’re building in the right direction, you keep building. If not, you try to tear it up and get it right. I think that’s what they’re doing and that’s what they’re going through. It was probably the right decision.”
While Woodson believed he deserved to keep his job, he knew Jackson was going in a new direction when he took over. He was going to bring in his coach -- Derek Fisher -- and take the team in a new direction. That direction hasn’t been a positive one in the short-term but Woodson doesn’t hold any ill will toward Jackson for what he did.
“I think when Phil came in, he had his mind made up based on what he wanted to do, and I can respect that,” Woodson said. “There’s nothing I can say bad about Phil. Phil has had a hell of a career as a coach and he had other ideas in terms of the direction he wanted to go, and I respect that.”
As Woodson spoke to the assembled New York media, calling individuals out by name as he did ushers and security guards he walked past at the arena, he still smiled when talking about the 2012-13 season. His tenure with the team didn’t go as planned but that season will go down as not only his best but the best the Knicks have had in more than a decade.
“I’m not going to downplay what we did,” Woodson said. “I mean, I’m pretty happy about our play and the style of play we had here. It’s not easy winning 54 games in this league and the fact that along with Glen Grunwald and Mr. Dolan to put a solid group together that year ... you can’t take anything away from that team. That team was very competitive and won a lot of games for us.”
Woodson is used to experiencing disappointment after success. He finished his six-year run as the Atlanta Hawks coach by leading them to three straight playoffs and was fired after a 53-win season and a berth in the conference semifinals, the best season the franchise had enjoyed before this season.
“I had an opportunity here and I didn’t get it done, I guess, so I had to move on,” Woodson said. “I’m happy as hell to be in L.A. with Doc, a friend of mine who I’ve known for many, many years. He’s given me an opportunity to help him try to get the Clippers to the [NBA] Finals and perhaps win a title. That’s what it’s all about.
"It was a good three years for me. I was blessed to be able to come in here and get an opportunity. This is where I was drafted and played my rookie year and to be able to circle back and be given an opportunity to be a head coach of the team, it was fantastic. I just tried to make the most of it and sometimes things work out and sometimes they don’t. I have no hard feelings toward anybody in New York. I mean, it was a good run."
As much fun as Woodson is having this season in Los Angeles, his goal is to become a head coach again, perhaps as early as next season.
“Absolutely,” Woodson said if he wants to be a head coach. “I’ll push in that direction one day. We’ll figure it out and see if I’m able to get back in the driver’s seat again."
Ian Begley of ESPN New York contributed to this report