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It’s Time For the Clippers to Stop Playing Avery Bradley

By Joseph Raya-Ward

NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 23: Avery Bradley #11 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: Avery Bradley #11 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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The LA Clippers have followed a 9-1 stretch with a 2-7 one. Their weakest link may be the one to blame for their recent struggles.

When Avery Bradley signed a two-year $25 million contract this off-season, the move seemed mutually beneficial. Bradley would be given a year to rebuild some of his value after struggling throughout his six games with the team last season before being lost to injury. The LA Clippers, on the other hand, would be given a solid veteran that could help keep the team competitive on a deal that allowed them flexibility to chase some of the stars in the upcoming free agent class, as the second year of his deal was partially guaranteed.

The results have been far from ideal for both sides.

Avery Bradley is averaging nearly 30 minutes per game this season while only shooting 37.2% from the field and 27.6% from deep. He is also averaging less than one free throw attempt per game. But, even with his great offensive struggles, during the Clippers’ most successful stretch of the season, he was a part of the best 5 man line-up in the NBA.

During that November run, the current starting line-up of Shai-Avery-Gallo–Tobias–Gortat had an incredible 135.8 Offensive Rating and a stingy Defensive Rating of 93.9. The team ended that month on a 9-1 run that vaunted them into the top seed of the Western Conference.

December, however, has been a completely different story. During this current 2-7 stretch, that same lineup has produced a Net Rating of -25.3, both bleeding points and being completely stymied on offense. It has also been the most used line-up during this stretch, playing 78 more minutes than any other five man line-up the Clippers have used in the month of December.

Avery during this stretch has actually seen an increase in minutes from his season total while producing a Plus/Minus of -12.1. The line-up has seen both their Effective Field Goal Percentage and True Shooting percentage plummet nearly 10 percentage points during the slump.

Doc insists on sticking with more of a line change rotation for his starters, with no other five man line-up getting more than 32 minutes together during the month of December. In fact, the top four most used line-ups used this month all include Avery Bradley, with only one of them (the starters with Pat Beverley subbed in for Marcin Gortat) producing a positive Net Rating.

Bradley has also played the most minutes alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in December at 201. That’s more than 150 more minutes than Shai has played alongside any other guard. That combination has produced a Net Rating of -20.

During the November success, however, the current starting line-up was not actually the most used line-up. The starters with Patrick Beverley replacing Avery saw the most minutes together and were generally successful, posting a positive Net Rating. That line-up has only seen one minute together in December.

Beverley has only played 45 minutes with Shai since the start of this month despite the pairing being successful in that small sample size, producing a Net Rating of +18. Beverley’s Offensive Rating is also nearly 30 points higher than Bradley’s during the team’s slump.

The Clippers’ coaching staff has to adapt if they want to keep the team afloat. Stubbornly standing by a player that has clearly not been a positive addition throughout the season is unacceptable. While the team may not be as good as it’s torrid start to the season suggests, it definitely has the pieces to continue to be a playoff caliber team. The first step to staving off a total collapse should be the benching of one of the team’s least productive players. Simply, Avery Bradley has rendered himself unplayable. It is time for Doc to send him to the bench indefinitely.

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