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Ranking the most surprising players on the West’s most surprising team

Garrett Chorpenning|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers and teammates Mike Scott #30 and Tobias Harris #34 react to a call during the game against Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on November 17, 2018 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers and teammates Mike Scott #30 and Tobias Harris #34 react to a call during the game against Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on November 17, 2018 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 17: Danilo Gallinari #8 and Lou Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Clippers react during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on November 17, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 17: Danilo Gallinari #8 and Lou Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Clippers react during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on November 17, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)

No. 3: Danilo Gallinari

Danilo Gallinari‘s ranking is less based on his performance, and more on the fact that he’s actually suited up for all but one game this season. It’s certainly still based on his performance though, because, wow.

At age 30, Gallinari is doing things he’s never done before in an NBA season. His 19.2 points per game are second only to the mark he set with the 2015-2016 Denver Nuggets, his 6.0 rebounds are a career-high by a considerable margin, and his 46.2 percent shooting from three-point range has him ranked just behind Stephen Curry on the leaderboards.

His consistency has been key for the Clippers, too. He’s scored 11 or more points in all but two games this season, propelling Los Angeles to a 15-6 record in those matchups.

Arguably the most surprising feat of Gallinari’s so far this season has been his defense. Long regarded as an offensive specialist, Gallo has looked the part of an elite defender on the perimeter and in the paint. He isn’t close to his career-highs in steals or blocks, but the eye test has shown that he’s a versatile presence on defense.

It’s hard to talk about Gallinari without mentioning his ability from the stripe, too, which has been expectedly superb this year. He’s connected on over 94 percent of his attempts so far, including three huge ones that came at the end of LA’s matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies that sent it to overtime.

Down 95-98 in the closing seconds, Gallo pulled up from deep and got fouled by Marc Gasol, sending him to the line with a chance to tie. Now, it doesn’t matter who you are — free throws in clutch time are about as difficult as they come. Especially when you’ve got three of them coming your way. But Gallo looked as cool as ever as he sank each in succession, guiding the Clippers to an eventual win over their Western Conference rivals.

Considering his relationship with the basket is so great, though, I guess we shouldn’t be so surprised by what Gallinari has been able to achieve this year.

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