LA Clippers: Grading each player’s first-round performance

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 26: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers stands for the National Anthem before Game Six of Round One against the Golden State Warriors during the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)(EDITORS NOTE this image has been converted to black and white)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 26: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers stands for the National Anthem before Game Six of Round One against the Golden State Warriors during the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)(EDITORS NOTE this image has been converted to black and white)
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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 18: Sindarius Thornwell #0 of the LA Clippers shoots the layup against the Golden State Warriors in Game Three of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 18: Sindarius Thornwell #0 of the LA Clippers shoots the layup against the Golden State Warriors in Game Three of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

After falling to the Warriors 4-2, the LA Clippers season is over. How did each player fare in the first round? We grade each players performance.

Despite losing 4-2 in the first round versus the Golden State Warriors, fans have to be pleased with the LA Clippers success in the playoffs. No one expected this team to win a game, let alone two.

A historical 31 point comeback in Game 2 sparked hope and the team dominated Game 5 at Oracle. As a whole, the team played excellent given the circumstances. Today, we’ll break it down individually though and take a look at each player’s performance against Golden State.

First, we’l start with players that will receive “incompletes”. These are the guys who were only on the court in non-meaningful minutes. Each player will have the games they appeared in listed, along with the minutes played per game. All stats are their per game averages.

Incomplete

Sindarius Thornwell – 4 games, 2.9 minutes, 1.3 points, 1.0 rebounds

Tyrone Wallace – 2 games, 5.5 minutes, 2.0 points, 1.5 assists, 0.5 rebounds

Neither of these young guys were able to stay on the court. Technically, Thornwell did have some “meaningful” time on the court, but it was only in very specific last second situations at the end of quarters to play defense. He didn’t really do anything of note there though, so he gets an incomplete on the series.

Neither player is guaranteed for next year, so not getting in the postseason might be a bit of an omen for them. If the Clips do get a superstar, one or both of Thornwell and Wallace could be on the way out in order to save money.