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LA Clippers: Patrick Beverley’s dive was a basketball play

By Ryan Snellings

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. 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: 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. 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) /
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During the fourth quarter of last night’s loss to Oklahoma City, the LA Clippers’ Patrick Beverley dove for a lose ball. It wasn’t a dirty play.

Patrick Beverley and Russell Westbrook have some beef. It’s no secret and their history predates last night’s match-up between the LA Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder by years. When the two play, you can almost guarantee animosity. This rang true last night when both were called for technicals after Beverley dove after a loose ball, taking Westbrook out in the process. Despite their history, it wasn’t a dirty play.

The referees did review the play and assessed Beverley with a Flagrant One foul, which does not warrant ejection. According to ESPN, Bev believes this is in part due to his reputation.

"“I went for a loose ball. What you think happened?” Beverley said. “Somebody walked to our bench doing all that cappin’ stuff; I don’t know what that is. Walked to our bench doing this, and all that, and things went kind of haywire from there. Two competitors, no one’s going to back down, no one did, two technicals, continue playing.”"

He is probably right. Once someone gets the reputation of being dirty, it’s hard to shake. Bev will have to live with that label for the rest of his NBA career and realize that normal basketball plays for him may not look that way for others.

Still, I will die on the hill that this play was just that – a normal basketball play. Check out the play below.

In the video, you can see Bev react as soon as he sees the loose ball. Call me crazy, but I don’t see him having the time to stop, see the ball, realize Westbrook is the one there and then decide to go after his knees.

He sees a loose ball, makes a move towards it and tries to pull up slightly after realizing someone else has already recovered it.

Reddit (in typical Reddit fashion) was all up in arms about this play. However, they only posted the slow-mo view of the play. Slow motion is going to make almost any play look bad. Many on the thread even said that they hadn’t seen the play in real-time. Makes a lot of sense to jump to conclusions, right?

Is the play reckless? Yes.

Is it dirty? No.

dark. Next. Clippers fall apart in 3rd in OKC

Beverley needs to be more conscious of the situation and his reputation, but this gamble wasn’t a a dirty play. Don’t suspend him NBA. Don’t even fine him.

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