LA Clippers: 3 players who have most to prove this postseason
By Evan Desai
Patrick Beverley talks a big game, and has a chance to back it all up real soon.
He has a nice reputation as a ballhawk, and the type of player he is defensively in general.
He strayed a bit from that in the postseason last year, averaging less than a steal per game in the second round of the playoffs.
If Beverley can bring it on defense this postseason the way he does on a consistent basis during the year, he can really raise his profile. Also, he needs to be more of a factor on offense.
Pat Bev’s not a scorer, but as a starting point guard, he needs to do a better job facilitating the offense as a passer.
He dropped 2.6 dimes per game in the Western Conference Semis last year. This year in the regular season, he’s averaging just 2.1.
If he wants to raise his game and his profile to the next level, he’ll have to improve upon that level of production.
Remember, ‘Playoff Rondo’ wears a Clippers uniform nowadays. He’ll gladly take Bev’s minutes if he has the chance, and he will have the chance.
If Beverley can hold his own and be a big-time difference maker in the postseason this year, he would deserve to be looked at as a rather major contributor to a championship run.
Next. Clippers best/worst playoff scenarios. dark
His playoff performance doesn’t have the all-time implications that Leonard’s and PG’s do, but he still has plenty to prove coming into crunch time.