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Marreese Speights could be the LA Clippers’ missing piece

By Leonard Saldana

December 22, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center Marreese Speights (5) reacts after scoring a basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
December 22, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center Marreese Speights (5) reacts after scoring a basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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November 19, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LA Clippers center Marreese Speights (5) shoots the ball against Chicago Bulls forward Bobby Portis (5) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
November 19, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LA Clippers center Marreese Speights (5) shoots the ball against Chicago Bulls forward Bobby Portis (5) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

How Speights spreads the floor

Speights spreads the floor in a way that the LA Clippers have not had from a backup big or even a big in general. They’ve tried to find a big in the past (Spencer Hawes and Josh Smith, for example) with enough range to clear out the paint and stretch defense to find easier shots and space for those inside. With those other players not working out it’s a great thing to see Doc “The GM” Rivers with a good signing that is actually paying off.

Speights has a pretty quick trigger and his release point is high enough that it’s unlikely to be blocked by opposing players. It also helps that he brings out defending centers to the three-point line which opens the paint for drives and dishes from the likes of Raymond Felton, Austin Rivers and Jamal Crawford.

He does give up some on the defensive end and is poor when drawn away from the basket, but his 9.9 points per game and 38.2 percent three-point shot (with a major career-high of 1.3 makes per game, too) helps make up for that. He’s not Aldrich and he is not Jordan, he is Marreese Speights, a player that give you what the league is moving toward as a stretch five that can (and will) shoot from just about anywhere.

He can even put it on the floor when a close out comes and put it down with authority.

Not that such dunks happen too often, but more offensive punch is always needed from the bench. And a player of his skill set at center is something the Clippers have been looking for.

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