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LA Clippers: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shines and other takeaways

By Ryan Snellings

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 17: The LA Clippers stand for the National Anthem during a game against the Denver Nuggets on October 17, 2018 at Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 17: The LA Clippers stand for the National Anthem during a game against the Denver Nuggets on October 17, 2018 at Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 17: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the LA Clippers drives past Mason Plumlee #24 and toward Juan Hernangomez #41 of the Denver Nuggets in the first half during the season opening game at Staples Center on October 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 17: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the LA Clippers drives past Mason Plumlee #24 and toward Juan Hernangomez #41 of the Denver Nuggets in the first half during the season opening game at Staples Center on October 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

The Good

Shai Shines

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Clippers top draft pick this summer, absolutely shined in his NBA debut. He played for 28 minutes off the bench, scoring 11 points on 83.3% shooting. He drove to the rim with ease and hounded the Nuggets guards despite only getting one steal.

His play had fans already calling for him to be inserted into the starting lineup. You can check out his full highlights here.

Shai already has an incredible feel of how to use his length on the drive and how to play with pace. He even knocked down a jumper which is promising given that his shooting was one of his biggest knocks entering the draft. The sky really does seem to be the limit from Shai and with only one game under his belt, he has every Clipper fan in his corner.

Boban Time

Boban Marjanovic dominating the Nuggets looks to be a tradition at this point. The Serbian played seventeen active minutes and helped the Clippers earn their biggest lead of the game. He was so dominant that not even the basket could stop him resulting in a stoppage of play to fix it after one of his dunks.

The efficiency god scored 18 points in his short time on the court while also pulling down 8 rebounds. The Nuggets had no answer for him yet again and were luckily put out of their misery when Doc Rivers decided to sub him out late in the fourth quarter.

Speaking of late game subbing, let’s take a look at the bad.

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