Should Doc Rivers add LA Clippers guard Milos Teodosic in the team’s rotation? And if so, should he feature as a starter or a bench piece?
Everything changed for the LA Clippers when they lost reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams a few weeks back. He only missed four games, sure, but the Clippers looked more lost in those games than we’ve seen them all year. Had it not been for an early return, the Clippers could be on the outside of the playoff standings right now.
While Tobias Harris, Danilo Gallinari and Williams have shouldered majority of the offensive burden, there has been a deficiency in consistent production among role-players with the exception of rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Montrezl Harrell. Further, the injury setbacks to elite defensive presence Luc Mbah A Moute have made the Clippers flounder defensively as of late.
The pair of Avery Bradley and Patrick Beverley have stepped up recently, but their poor offensive production necessitates an upswing. With low shooting percentages across the board, the veteran duo are proving to be more of an Achilles heel than anything else. Because of this, Doc Rivers may want to consider making changes to the starting rotation in 2019.
While the second unit possesses a playmaking guard in Williams, the starting lineup faces a shortfall in playmakers. Gilgeous-Alexander may possess tremendous poise in his game and high playmaking potential, but expecting a rookie guard to feature as the primary playmaker in the starting lineup for a playoff contender is far from ideal. In order to eliminate some pressure from the former Kentucky guards’ hands, the team could use the assistance of another floor general alongside the rookie.
A member of the franchise who fits this mold is Milos Teodosic. A savvy passer and a consistent shooter from beyond the arc, his presence could boost the team offensively.
With him in the lineup prior to this season, the franchise had amassed an impressive 29 wins in 45 games and could repeat that performance by incorporating him in the rotation.
In addition to his basketball intellect, his experience and leadership skills could play a pivotal role on the floor in assisting the development of the Kentucky guard.
While his iso defense is still a big concern, his high basketball IQ helps him play reasonable team defense. Alongside a high-level defender in Gilgeous-Alexander, he could take on the easier defensive assignment while the rookie could occupy the more strenuous assignment.
Offensively far superior to Bradley and Beverley, Teodosic could lend the team a helping hand in the playoff race. Should the Clippers encounter another slump in the near future, altering the rotation and issuing the Serbian guard a starting role could prove to be the solution.