The narrative entering this season is centered on this being a “gap year” for the Clippers as they continue to build strong habits and wait for Leonard to return.īut don’t say that to the coaching staff. Related on : The Pessimistic Outlook For All 30 Teams What’s Coming As of now, Lue’s idea is having a 9-man rotation when healthy, with the 10th guy being decided later (spoiler: It will be Boston when the team is shorthanded). It was never anticipated that any of the three rookies would get much playing time, but the preseason has highlighted Boston as the only one with a real chance to be in the rotation. Preston had foot surgery after suffering an injury right before training camp, and Johnson is clearly a long-term project with very few offensive skills that could survive at the pro level right now.
drafted backwards, as Boston looks to be the most NBA-ready by a large margin. They also drafted rookies Keon Johnson (21st overall), Jason Preston (33rd), and Brandon Boston Jr. Lue also has stated his intention of playing Winslow as a small-ball five in certain lineups to maximize their speed and switchability.
Finally appearing healthy after a long absence following hip replacement surgery, he’ll give the team more of a playmaking presence in the minutes George is resting. He was given a two-year, $8 million contract with the plan of being a utility piece off the bench. The Clippers also brought in Justise Winslow, who signed using the majority of the taxpayer mid-level exception. In comparison to Beverley, the defense just won’t respect Bledsoe’s jumper when a game is on the line. They will certainly miss the spot-up shooting aspect of Beverley’s presence, there’s no doubt about it. Bledsoe is just a vastly better player and athlete than Rondo at this stage, so this experiment should be more successful. In theory, with more time to mesh with Ivica Zubac and surrounding shooters, this could provide the Clippers with additional north-to-south movement (and creation) the front office was eyeing last year when they made the Rondo trade. While not as quick as he once was, he easily snuck into the lane throughout the preseason and forced the defense to collapse.
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He has significantly grown as a defender, though, to the point where he’s among the NBA’s best at fighting through screens, funneling guards into the paint to take away clean looks from deep, and contesting from behind if a mid-ranger is taken.Īs a driver and paint attacker, Bledsoe clearly still has some zip.
The speed and athleticism aren’t on the same level, to be sure. But, he’s a slightly different player than he was a decade ago. They packaged Beverley and Rajon Rondo in a deal for point guard Eric Bledsoe, the youngest of the three and most viable option to fill their needs.īledsoe returns to the Clippers after starting his career with the franchise in 2010. was trading fan-favorite Patrick Beverley, the heart and soul of the team, the return needed to be worth it.
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They make their way to Justin's apartment to catch a Pride Basketball Association game, but the pull of the full moon is too strong.This past summer, Clippers president Lawrence Frank decided to bring in a ball-handler who could potentially mitigate the absence of Leonard. The men out front are dogs, but inside, he runs into a colleague. Justin hits up his local gas station on the way home from practice.
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Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings.