The LA Clippers are missing four of their five starters and just came off a stretch where they lost nine games in a row for the first time since 2011. During that rough stretch, the Clippers saw rookies play meaningful minutes and very winnable games being lost in the final minutes. As the losing streak began to pile up, more and more people started to call for Doc Rivers to be removed as head coach.

Just before Wednesday afternoon's practice session, Rivers spoke with reporters about the latest injury to hit star Blake Griffin, and also discussed the latest heat surrounding him and being the target of that criticism amid difficult times.

“That's the part that is very difficult,” Rivers said of the criticism. “I don't care [about it]. When you take the job as a coach, you're going to be a target. If players get hurt and you start losing, it's the coach's fault.”

Rivers has been the subject of constant criticism over the last couple of seasons for not mixing up his rotations or staggering his stars better, not playing rookies much, and not adjusting well enough to the opposition. To be fair, his Clippers teams have been absolutely hammered with injuries over these last couple of years, with guys like Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and J.J. Redick missing time.

This season, not only did the team have to integrate nine new players, but the injury bug has somehow been worse with Patrick Beverley out for the year, Danilo Gallinari out about a month, Milos Teodosic likely out for two months, and now Blake Griffin out up to two months.

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“Look, I've been on this rodeo a long time, so I know what I can do,” added Rivers. “I believe in the guys here and it is what it is. There's not much I can do about it though. It'd different than it was 15 years ago. Now people want to place blame right away. It's the way it's going to work anyways so who cares. That doesn't bother me.”

Rivers will likely continue to be the subject of criticism as the season goes on. At this point, it's tough to see the Clippers' competing for a playoff spot like they wanted to if the rest of the Western Conference starts picking it up.