LA Clippers: Predicting Every Player’s Stats for the Upcoming Season
Starting Guards
Point Guard #1, Patrick Beverley: 23.2 MPG, 9.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.8 SPG
Beverley would prefer to keep the stat sheets out of discussion. He’s never been one to boast ridiculous averages, rather he lets his defense speak for itself. Beverley ranked 2nd among 79 active point guards in Defensive Real Plus-Minus (DRPM) rating last season according to ESPN, behind only Chris Paul. Beverley is also a 2x All-Defensive Team selection, and won the Hustle Award at this year’s NBA Awards show. We can likely expect to see Beverley at either guard position. Doc could get crafty and start him along Teodosic or Rivers.
Shooting Guard #1, Austin Rivers: 34.0 MPG, 16.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.5 APG, 40.3 3P%
As a starter last season, Rivers averaged 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in 25 games, all which were better numbers than J.J. Redick’s. Who’s to say that those numbers won’t improve this year, when he is the full-time starting 2-guard? Oh, and Doc’s son shot a smoldering 42% from deep as a starter in that time. It’s no wonder Chris Paul reportedly wanted him to start over J.J. last season. Austin’s role this season will likely expand, however, he could also see it change from time-to-time. Rivers coming off the bench doesn’t seem too far out of reach, either.
Reserve Point Guards
Point Guard #2, Milos Teodosic: 31.0 MPG, 14.7 PPG, 7.4 APG, 2.3 RPG, 90.6 FT%
Our new Serbian guard won’t put up earth-shattering numbers in his first NBA season, but he’ll be sure to impress fans across the nation. The former EuroLeague MVP is known for his passing ability, and he’ll be sure to show it off when dishing out assists to Blake and DJ. He should fit in nicely with LA’s starting rotation, and will run an up-tempo offense that’ll finish among the league leaders in pace. Perhaps Teodosic’s much impressive stat though, is his free throw percentage. Milos is a career 86% shooter from the stripe, and completed his ’13-’14 season with a career-high 93%. At 6’5″, Teodosic is a tall, agile guard with tremendous ability to draw contact and get to the line.
Point Guard #3, Jawun Evans: 10.2 MPG, 3.4 PPG, 1.8 APG, 1.1 RPG
Having recently celebrated his 21st birthday, it’s hard to imagine Evans receiving significant playing time this season. He impressed in Summer League play, averaging 8.5 points, 4.2 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in roughly 17 minutes of action per game. His scoring high was 17, and he shot a nice 51.6% from the field. Given proper time to develop, Evans could become a starter in a matter of years. For now, though, he’ll likely be a common sight as a member of the Agua Caliente Clippers of the G-League.
Reserve Shooting Guards
Shooting Guard #2, Lou Williams: 26.1 MPG, 13.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.8 APG
Sweet Lou was brought in to do one thing and one thing only: score. Williams won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award following the ’14-’15 season, and has been among the league’s best sixth men since he was drafted in 2005. As a member of the Rockets last season, Williams put up nearly 15 points per contest in a mere 25 minutes of play. He will likely be relied on to have a very similar role that Jamal Crawford provided for the LA Clippers over the years, however Williams is much younger, more versatile, and most importantly, he comes at a cheaper price tag.
Shooting Guard #3, Sindarius Thornwell: 11.1 MPG, 4.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.3 APG
Similarly to Evans, Thornwell is another young prospect the Clippers acquired in this year’s draft. You may know him from watching the NCAA tournament, when he led the heavy underdog South Carolina Gamecocks all the way to the Final Four, and almost the Championship. You may also know him from his stellar performances in the Summer League, where he had several scoring outbursts. The Clippers rookie even made his first television appearance on Friday, when he appeared on Live PD. While Thornwell will likely be able to make more of a contribution than Evans this season, he should still be expected to play a majority of his games in the G-League.