Montrezl Harrell could be the first to shake up the starters
When the LA Clippers rolled out their starting five on opening night, nobody really expected that it would be a permanent rotation. Player development aside, there were just some things (or players) that seemed out of place. One of them is Montrezl Harrell.
In his previous two games, Harrell is averaging 14.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in 23.5 minutes. His efficiency is obviously key, and his defensive ability could be the deciding factor in the decision to start him over Marcin Gortat.
Gortat, one of the league’s best pick-and-roll men, hasn’t been as effective an option on offense as many anticipated. His 4.5 points per 17 minutes look lackluster compared to Harrell’s line, and although he’s the team’s best offensive rebounder, his value elsewhere just doesn’t make up for the places he lacks quality contributions in.
Harrell doesn’t necessarily need to start, especially since he’s already getting more minutes than Gortat as it is. But with a defensive-minded starting unit, Harrell makes more sense.
The Clippers will meet the Houston Rockets on Friday. Perhaps LA will experiment against a team its already beaten once this season.