The LA Clippers listed Patrick Beverley and Paul George as questionable for Monday’s game against Memphis but should they even consider playing?
Both Paul George and Patrick Beverley missed Saturday’s loss to the Sacramento Kings. Today, as the team prepares to try and break their three-game losing streak, the LA Clippers have listed both players as questionable to play. The team has no reason to play them this quickly though.
After losing three games, Clipper Nation is seeing doubt creep in. Having PG and Bev back would obviously help but at what cost? Bringing any player back too early is worrisome but two key starters need to be treated even more carefully.
George has already reaggravated his hamstring injury this season. That alone is reason enough to be extremely cautious with George. Why not load manage him for the rest of the season as Kawhi Leonard has been?
Tonight’s game and Wednesday’s contest against Phoenix are winnable on paper even if Beverley and George don’t play. Granted, this team has dropped other supposedly winnable contests (Saturday being the most recent) but at some point, things have to click. Why not use tonight as another rest day for both? If you want to bring them back this week, let that happen on Friday when the team faces another Western Conference powerhouse in the Denver Nuggets.
I get that there is the whole chemistry argument. Beverley has not yet played a game with Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson at some point will have to learn what his role will be with the second unit. If that is how the team is approaching the situation with 26 games left, then sure. Suit them up. They absolutely must be on a minute restriction though.
Fans have been worried that these losses without our key players are going to drop us down in the seedings. That may be true but seeding won’t matter what so ever if the Clippers are not healthy when the postseason rolls around. Health should be valued over all with concerns about building chemistry being secondary.