Los Angeles Clippers: Danilo Gallinari back after injury plagued year

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 30: Danilo Gallinari
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 30: Danilo Gallinari
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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 12: Danilo Gallinari
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 12: Danilo Gallinari

WEAKNESSES

While Gallinari has been lauded for his all-round offensive package, his health remains a sizeable concern. Aggregating a subpar 54 games a season for the last decade, his durability will be a decisive factor in the Clippers’ aspirations of staying competitive.While furnishing the team with a chief scoring threat, his shot selection demands amelioration. Being a score-first player, he gravitates towards the undesirable habit of attempting heavily contested looks. Moreover, while he possesses high intellect on the floor, he falls short as an off-ball cutter hence hindering him from attaining easy looks.

Besides, his deficiencies on the defensive end leap out. Noted to be a shoddy defender, he could constantly be singled out by opposition wings on isolation plays. Further, with rumors surfacing on the possibility of him featuring as a 5, he possesses inferior rim protection in contrast to fellow small-ball bigs indicated by his poor blocks/game ratio of 0.4. While he poses adequate proportions, his shortfall in physicality and athleticism hinder him from operating as a satisfactory rebounding presence substantiated by his substandard rebounding numbers (career 4.7 rebounds/game). Alongside mediocre defenders in Tobias Harris and Marcin Gortat, the Clippers could encounter shortcomings in front-court defense from the start. This could render superior defensive prospect, Luc Mbah A Moute significant minutes in defensive possessions.

Likely to compensate for his superlative offensive skill-set with a net negative impact on defense, he could be deemed a one-way player.

SEASON PROJECTIONS

MINUTES/GAME: 34 minutes

BOX SCORE/ GAME (Points/Assists/Rebounds): 20/3/6

STEALS/GAME: 0.8

TURNOVERS/GAME: 1.5

BLOCKS/GAME: 0.5

EFFICIENCY/GAME (Field Goal %/ 3 pt %/ Free Throw %): 44%/38%/90%

EFFECTIVE FIELD GOAL %: 50%

If Gallo can return to form, he will be a massive help for this Los Angeles Clippers team.