Clipperholics
Fansided

LA Clippers: Ranking the team’s top five players through week one

By Garrett Chorpenning

NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 23: Tobias Harris #34 of the LA Clippers reacts during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on October 23, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 23: Tobias Harris #34 of the LA Clippers reacts during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on October 23, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
NEW ORLEANS, LA – OCTOBER 23: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers reacts during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on October 23, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – OCTOBER 23: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers reacts during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on October 23, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Patrick Beverley

The first player on this list might come as a surprise. After all, Patrick Beverley is shooting an extremely low 14.3% from three-point range, and has only scored in double figures once this season.

Offensive woes aside, Beverley has been a more-than-effective defensive option so far this season, as anticipated. Opposing starting point guards have converted just 18/68 (26.4 percent) of their attempts this season against Los Angeles, and Beverley is likely responsible for a majority of those misses — though rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is deserving of much of the credit as well.

Jamal Murray made three of his 12 attempts, Dennis Schroder made two of his 15, James Harden connected on 11 of his 26, and Jrue Holiday hit two of 15 as well.

Beverley has also recorded a defensive box plus/minus rating of 3.2 this season, more than doubling his previous career-high mark of 1.5. Of course, this isn’t always the most reliable metric, but the numbers here appear to back it up.

Beverley has been making a significant contribution on the boards as well. He’s pulling in 5.5 per game on the season, and grabbed 10 against New Orleans in his first double-double of his LA Clippers career.

Once he gets his shot going again, Beverley will be terrorizing opponents on both ends of the floor. Until then, we can at least look forward to him clamping down on defense.

Home/Clippers News