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Analyzing the LA Clipper’s small forward curse

By Farbod Esnaashari

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Danilo Gallinari
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Danilo Gallinari /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: Detroit Pistons Forward Stanley Johnson (7) guards Los Angeles Clippers Forward Danilo Gallinari (8) during an NBA game between the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Clippers on October 28, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: Detroit Pistons Forward Stanley Johnson (7) guards Los Angeles Clippers Forward Danilo Gallinari (8) during an NBA game between the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Clippers on October 28, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Danilo Gallinari

The jury is still out for Gallinari in this early season, but he doesn’t look so great right now.

Whether it’s from injury or a slump, Gallo is playing some of his worst basketball this season. Gallo is averaging: 12.8 PPG, 35% FG, and 26% from three. Hopefully I’m wrong by putting him in this list, but he’s currently following the same trend as the ‘Small Forward Curse’.

Final Thoughts

I have faith in the small forward rotation for the 2017-2018 season. Gallinari stated his injury was so bad he could barely walk, so when fully recovered he should be playing back to his averages. Wesley Johnson seems to be playing with a renewed sense of energy that was missing last season. Sam Dekker has barely scratched the surface, and is going to have opportunity to shine with Gallinari’s injury.

The small forward history of the team causes some concern, but I believe they simply picked the wrong players over the years. Every player the team picked was about to exit their prime, and never had a steady track record. However, if this current crop of guys fail, then the “Small Forward Curse”, is true.

Do you believe the Clippers are cursed at the small forward position, or have they simply picked the wrong players?

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