Clippers-Lakers: Paul Pierce (ankle, knee) doubtful to play

After suffering a knee and ankle injury against the Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce is still doubtful to return for the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday against the Lakers.

In the Los Angeles Clippers’ recent 114-90 win over the Boston Celtics, an ageing Paul Pierce took a fall to the court and clutched his knee in a way that’s more worrying now than it was when he used to wear the green and white of the opponents. He’s never been an athletic small forward, instead relying on his IQ and footwork to create space, but this season it’s clear that age has caught up to him regardless.

Besides the dismal shooting percentages and weakness on defense, Pierce has missed 12 games including the last three due to the knee and ankle injury he sustained against the Celtics. He left the game early after 11 minutes, and is still doubtful to return a week later.

While Pierce did partly aggravate his knee, it’s primarily the right ankle sprain that’s the problem. According to Rowan Kavner of Clippers.com, Doc Rivers’ latest word on the matter is that it’s doubtful Pierce will suit up against the Lakers, a smart decision seeing as Kobe Bryant and Co. really don’t have much going for them right now.

Well, apart from the unbelievable 112-95 win against the Golden State Warriors on March 6.

As much as it may hurt for basketball fans to admit the truth about The Truth, this season has clearly been his worst. He was an effective weapon for the Washington Wizards last season, averaging 11.9 points in 26 minutes per game while shooting 44.7 percent from the floor and an impressive 38.9 percent from three, his highest mark from deep since 2009-10. The clutch shots and buzzer-beaters in the playoffs were certainly appreciated by Wizards fans, too.

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However, since joining the Clippers, those numbers have plummeted.

Except for a few games where Paul has heated up and buried a few threes, he’s averaged out at a career-low 35.4 percent shooting with a 30.4 percent three-point shot (the third lowest mark of his career). He just hasn’t been the player the Clippers and their fans were hoping for, even if he was going to be used sparingly through the regular season in the hope that he could deliver some more playoff magic.

Doc has kept playing him, though, giving him 17.8 minutes per game and a slight increase of 19 since Blake Griffin‘s injury. And in his time on the court, Pierce has managed to record a net rating of -4.4.

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They’re minutes that should really go to the other wings the Clippers have on their roster in order for the team to be more effective at both ends, but now that’s something Doc will be forced to accept until Pierce returns.