The Los Angeles Clippers have not been playing well lately as they have lost five of their last six to drop below .500 at 6-7. On Sunday afternoon the Clippers played particularly poorly when they lost to the Toronto Raptors by a score of 91-80 and after the game frustration was reportedly setting in in the locker room. Josh Smith and an unspecified coach reportedly got into a heated argument in the locker room after the loss, according to Dan Woike of The Orange County Register.
The report states that right before head coach Doc Rivers' post-game press conference yelling could be heard through the cement walls in the locker room which is next to the media room. Smith and the coach were reportedly yelling at one another and there were also some profanities thrown in there, a situation which Rivers downplayed.
"It's like any locker room after you lose and play like that. Guys are upset. That's about it," said Rivers.
Like Rivers, most of the players also downplayed the incident and said that it's because the team is losing. The Clippers are a team that has championship expectations this season and they certainly have the talent to be able to get there but right now they aren't playing like it. This is the Clippers' worst start to a season since before Chris Paul joined the team and they are now at seven losses almost a full month before they hit that mark last season.
As for Smith he had a choice this offseason of staying with the Houston Rockets, where he had a huge impact last season, or signing with the Clippers and he chose L.A. because he thought they gave him the best chance to win. The Rockets have also not been playing well this season but Smith's role with the Clippers is smaller than he might have expected. Through 13 games Smith is averaging just 4.7 points in 14.8 minutes per game which are both career lows. Smith knew coming into this season that he would be coming off the bench as Blake Griffin's backup but he likely didn't expect to be playing so few minutes so that coupled with the Clippers poor start to the season is likely the reason for this verbal altercation.
