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LA Clippers: What Austin Rivers can do against the Utah Jazz

By Adrian Rivera

Mar 9, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) leads a fast break in the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) leads a fast break in the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 26, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans (32) guards Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) in the first half of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans (32) guards Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) in the first half of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Career Year

Austin is undoubtedly in the best stretch of his career so far. He is becoming more consistent and improving defensively. He has developed into a true threat behind the arc, and is a versatile defender to add to his resume.  Proving that his recent contract extension is paying off, the numbers speak for themselves.

The LA Clippers need Austin Rivers healthy, especially early on the first round. Ryan Snellings, also from Clipperholics confirms Austin is improving on every stat having a career year this season. Adding on to that, he is scoring more effectively than Blake Griffin. To top all of that off, Rivers is responsible for 2.5 win shares this season. All are career highs for the improving young guard.

Rivers is averaging his highest 28 minutes per game pairing with his career high 12 points per game. More importantly, he is shooting an impressive 44% from the floor and 37% from three. He has also been playing scrappy defense on a nightly basis. LA needs Austin Rivers to be his usual spark off the bench; his two way style of play arguably ranks him as the Clippers best bench player.

Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, spoke with head coach Doc Rivers on his son’s progression.

"“He’s been playing well. He’s played well all year for the most of the part. Its tough to take him out of the lineup.” Also discussing, “Where I’m most happy is that every night, he gives a defensive effort. I thought his biggest thing is that. He just keeps playing defense whether he’s scoring or not, doing other things or not. I think that’s the biggest difference.”"

For the third consecutive year with the Clippers, Rivers has improved in all scoring, field goal percentage, and three-point percentage. It only gets better.

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