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

By Ryan Snellings

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 26: JaMychal Green #4 of the LA Clippers is introduced 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)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 26: JaMychal Green #4 of the LA Clippers is introduced 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) /

The Bigs

Both of these two started for the LA Clippers during the series. Both had very different performances in the series.

Ivica Zubac – D

Ivica Zubac is getting the lowest grade on the list, but it’s only partly his fault. The big man has been suffering from injured hands all season, so he came into the playoffs not at 100%. That, coupled with the fact that the matchup didn’t favor him led to him being benched entirely.

Zubac may have looked better had DeMarcus Cousins not gone down, but once the Warriors switched to smaller lineups, he just looked lost. This matchup just was not made for him in any way as the Warriors would just switch him onto one of their perimeter scorers. In four games, Zubac put up 5.0 points on 50% shooting, 0.3 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 0.5 blocks.

Zubac will be a restricted free agent this summer, so as long as no team offers him major money, he should return to the Clippers healthy and ready for a big year.

JaMychal Green – A

Once Doc Rivers realized Zubac was unplayable, JaMychal Green was inserted into the starting lineup. He did not disappoint. Green averaged 11.0 points on 53.5% shooting, including an astounding 52.2% from deep on 3.8 attempts per game. He seemingly couldn’t miss and his injection into the starting lineup helped the Clippers get that crucial win at home in Game 5. He also helped on the boards, grabbing 5.3 per game.

Green was one of the better pickups at the trade deadline and will be entering free agency this summer. The Clippers should do whatever they can to bring him back. The mid-level exception seems one possible way to go, but it may have to be split between him and Beverley.

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