NBA Playoffs: LA Clippers miss Conference Finals, Doc Rivers Focused on Next Season

The Los Angeles Clippers have a lot of reviewing to do.

Many people thought the Los Angeles Clippers would advance and face the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference finals after the Clippers dominated the Houston Rockets early on in the series. However, instead of advancing to play for a shot at the 2015 NBA Championships, the Clippers became the ninth team in the history of the league to lose a best-of seven series after holding a commanding 3-1 lead.

After the Game 7 loss, Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, delivered a touching and optimistic speech.

Rivers said, per ESPN.com's Arash Markazi:

"I told them I was a player for 13 years, and I had my heart broken for 13-straight years. I told them, every night I prayed, every single night, my only goal was to win a world championship. Every year, I'd give my heart completely to the team, and every year, it got completely broken. I told them it was worth it. I told them it's so worth it to buy in and give yourself to a team. And, this is part of sports. Only one winner, if we didn't win this round or the next, it wouldn't have mattered. But, it's worth giving yourself to the team. It's worth getting your heart broken and taking all the criticism. It should excite you. It does to me. I told them that. I'm broken up right now, but in my mind, I'm already thinking about next year. You just have to get back on. That's going to be us, and that's what we're going to do."

The Clippers will now focus on the roster for next season. DeAndre Jordan, whose defense has been vital throughout the season, will become an unrestricted free agent. The Clippers are expected to offer Jordan a max contract.

Rivers said after the disappointing loss, "Our first priority is DJ. That's obvious. I don't know how much I can say there. Can you tamper with your own guy? If that's true I'm going to go tamper right now."

Even if the Clippers offer Jordan a max contract, it does not guarantee that Jordan will accept. He is expected to receive offers from several teams, such as the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakes and even the Portland Trail Blazers.

"This is what I'm used to [being a Clipper] but, like I said, I'm not thinking about that right now," Jordan said about his impending free agency status.

Aside from getting Jordan to stay, the Clippers will have to figure out a way to improve the depth of their roster.