Rowan Kavner
SAN FRANCISCO – Coaches have praised Austin Rivers’ defensive abilities early this year, and it’s an area of Rivers’ game he’s taken more pride in recently.
Before playing the Kings for a second time this season, assistant coach Mike Woodson said the staff saw Rivers’ abilities defensively when he arrived last year. Once the guard saw what Doc Rivers wanted from a defensive standpoint, Woodson said Austin started to settle in.
Austin Rivers said he believes he’s improved his perimeter defense since arriving in Los Angeles, and he’s now willing to put his defense against anybody’s.
What’s changed for you from a defensive mindset?
AR: “I took pride in it. I’ve always been quick. I have gotten stronger, I’ve gotten better, I’ve gotten wiser. But at the end of the day, I just take pride in it. I want to be a two-way player. I want to be a guy that can go out there with high energy, go out there and be a defensive stopper, somebody who makes it extremely tough every night. Every night this season, every game, you’ll see me play defense.”
Have you always had that mentality?
AR: “No, that’s something that’s grown, that’s grown, that’s grown…My coaches tell me every day, they’re like, ‘You could be one of the league’s best defenders,’ because people are starting to notice it now. That’s how it starts. People don’t play defense because they don’t get notoriety for it and they don’t care…First off, I play defense to help my team win. That’s the only reason I play. It’s a way for me to help my team win. I’m making it tough on somebody. Whenever I’m in the game, I’m guarding the best player.”
What are the toughest aspects about adjusting to a new defense, and is that something that takes time?
AR: “Absolutely. It’s just communication. Everybody has different defensive schemes and ways of rotating. I already know all that. That’s behind me. That’s way behind me. Now it’s about being elite, the elite defender. I want to be one of the best defenders in the league this season.”v
What position do you prefer to cover?
AR: “One, two three, whatever they put me on, I’m going out there and trying to guard them. I don’t care. I’m not saying I can guard anybody, I’m saying whoever they put me on, I’m going to try my best to do whatever I can to stop them or irritate them or whatever. I know my abilities as a defender, and from what my coaches tell me, they’re like, ‘Listen, you can be one of those guys in the league that are two-way players.’ There’s starting to become more of them.”
Has Chris Paul taught you anything defensively?
AR: “Chris just charges me up, like, ‘Hey man, go get it. Chris is getting older, and Chris is like, ‘Some nights, I want you to guard this guy.’ I’m like, ‘I will gladly do that,’ because I take pride in defense now.”
