LA Clippers: Examining the Team’s Three Biggest Risks in 2019-20
3 – No Backup Point Guard
As of the date this posted the Clippers have a single point guard on their roster in Patrick Beverly. Of course, you could do a lot worse, but what happens when Beverly rests? Ryan Snellings has explored the possibility that the team has solutions for backup PG already on their roster here. In short, he presents solid arguments for both Jerome Robinson and Terance Mann.
Go read that article. I’ll wait.
Good stuff, right? Personally, the thought of Mann at 6’6″ getting time at the point position in exciting. He averaged 5.7 assists over three games in Summer League play. In one game, in what the Clippers hope is a foretelling of things to come, he had 15 pts, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Numbers like that make losing Shae Gilgeous-Alexander a little less painful.
The problem with both Robinson and Mann is that they are young. That is not to say that a 22 year old can’t run point. A 21 year old did a pretty good job of it just last season for the Clippers. Most teams can’t rely on a young point guard to take them far in the playoffs however. Unless your PG is Magic Johnson the chances of your team making a long playoff run with a young point guard are slim.
But to be clear, the Clippers have a veteran PG in Beverly, their weakness may be in not having a veteran backup for him. The presence of Beverly makes this less of a doomsday risk/gap. Additionally, the fact that the PG position has changed since the days that Magic Johnson ran the point also mitigates some concern. Today a backup point guard can be more of a ball advancer. Someone with handle who doesn’t crack easily under pressure.
The “heavy lifting” can be the responsibility of the starting point guard. The backup can concern himself with ensuring he gets the ball past half-court under eight seconds then getting the ball to Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrel.
Ok, the job entails a bit more than that, but the strength of the Clippers bench unit does take the edge of whoever gets minutes as the backup to Beverly. While this does look like a legitimate risk on paper, the overall maturity of the team along with the fact that the point guard position in the NBA has changed makes this less of a potential problem for the Clippers.
dark. Next. JaMychal Green's Decision Came With Help From Kawhi Leonard
Chances a lack of veteran PG hurts the Clippers in the 2019-20 season are low – 5%