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What we learned from the LA Clippers’ victory over the Shanghai Sharks

By Garrett Chorpenning

HONOLULU, HI - OCTOBER 06: Maurice Harkless #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers and Cai Liang #1 of the Shanghai Sharks joust for position during a free throw attempt during the first half of the game at the Stan Sheriff Center on October 6, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii. 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 Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
HONOLULU, HI - OCTOBER 06: Maurice Harkless #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers and Cai Liang #1 of the Shanghai Sharks joust for position during a free throw attempt during the first half of the game at the Stan Sheriff Center on October 6, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii. 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 Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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HONOLULU, HI – OCTOBER 6: Maurice Harkless #8 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Shanghai Sharks on October 6, 2019, at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Jay Metzger/NBAE via Getty Images)
HONOLULU, HI – OCTOBER 6: Maurice Harkless #8 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Shanghai Sharks on October 6, 2019, at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Jay Metzger/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Maurice Harkless shines on both ends

When the LA Clippers took on the Houston Rockets last week, Maurice Harkless didn’t look his best. And again, that’s to be expected. After all, it was his first time being back on the floor since May, and he was making his Clippers debut.

Against Shanghai, he looked more like the player we expected him to be.

Harkless spent less than 12 minutes on the floor Sunday but finished with a stat line reminiscent of someone who played 30. He finished with 16 points, three rebounds, an assist and two blocks, all while shooting 7-7 from the field.

Like we said before the preseason began, Harkless is an incredibly smart shooter. He knows where his hot spots are and where they aren’t, as well as which shots are the most valuable. He demonstrated that against Shanghai, as all seven of his field goal attempts came either within the paint or beyond the three-point line. Four of his five attempts in the paint were dunks, too.

https://twitter.com/LAClippers/status/1181033217899581440

Those are the areas in which Harkless will excel this season, whether he’s coming off the bench or starting in place of (or alongside) Kawhi Leonard or Paul George.

The LA Clippers intend to utilize a “sliding” lineup this season per The Athletic‘s Jovan Buha, and it could feature Harkless depending on the opponent. Putting him in a lineup with Patrick Beverley, George, Leonard and Ivica Zubac, for example, would provide the Clippers with plenty of length and could possibly be their best defensive five.

Regardless of the lineup he’s in, he’s rarely going to be asked to be a main contributor on offense. The instant offense he provided against Shanghai is the kind of complementary style that will work wonders alongside LA’s stars, and it’s exactly what we wanted to see him do. He plays perfect off-the-ball basketball.

Assuming he keeps this up, Harkless’ value — especially as a starter — will be on the rise.

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