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New Years Resolutions for Kawhi Leonard, Paul George & the LA Clippers

By Logan Rapp

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 19: A view of the court at Staples Center during the game between the LA Clippers and the Houston Rockets on December 19, 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 - DECEMBER 19: A view of the court at Staples Center during the game between the LA Clippers and the Houston Rockets on December 19, 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) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 13: Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers shoots a free throw during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 13, 2019 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 13: Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers shoots a free throw during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 13, 2019 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Ivica Zubac – Get More Minutes

…because Zu just deserves more minutes, dammit. Doc has only barely experimented with Zubac-Harrell minutes, and while I’m not sure that combination is a good one, I can see the thought process behind it: Zubac deserves more minutes, but it’s hard to justify it at the cost of losing Harrell minutes.

The reality is I’m okay with Trezz dropping a few minutes per game to bring Zu in more, or to experiment more with Trezz ostensibly at the 4 with Zubac at the 5 for some matchup situations. Again, I’m positive on both Trezz and Zubac, and it’s an embarrassment of riches when we’re struggling to find enough minutes for both of these guys.

In 2020, I’m hoping Doc figures out a way to get the best out of Zu, because the team simply needs his size and rim protection, and I don’t think conditioning is a question anymore.

Patrick Beverley – Man, What?

What more could you possibly ask of Pat Bev? He’s stayed relatively healthy and has been an important part of the lineup. Patrick Beverley is tricking no one, Russ. Sorry.

It’s hard to really gauge based on last season’s averages, because, well, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard weren’t on the team last season, and no one’s numbers are affected quite as much as the LA Clippers starting point guard. His percentage from behind the arc is actually down, with more attempts on average, so I suppose that’s what we could focus on.

That said, I mean, the reason why it’s probably down is that Pat Bev isn’t really in catch-and-shoot situations anymore. If he’s hucking up a three, it’s largely because a) it’s late in the shot clock, and b) other options have been blanketed. But we know that Pat can shoot better than that.

Early in the season, I would’ve said that Beverley needed to seriously work on his fouling problem, but in the last few weeks, that issue has disappeared, aside from the occasional tech that you just have to live with as a cost of having a dog like Pat Bev on your side.

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