Before their contest against the New Orleans Pelicans, the LA Clippers were on a seven-game losing streak. They needed a win as badly as anyone in the league, and it wouldn’t be easy, as the Pelicans were on a roll, having won four of their last five. Things got tougher when Isaiah Jackson joined the Clippers’ lengthy injury report with groin soreness. Baba Miller, a rookie drafted in the second round, stepped into the spot.
This would be the first official test of Miller’s young career, and how did he respond? 12 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks, positioning the Clippers to end the night with a 16-point win.
A performance like this, at a crucial time when the Clippers couldn’t afford to lose, speaks volumes about Miller’s ability to raise LA’s ceiling this season and his potential for the future.
Baba Miller was phenomenal in the first test of his young career for the LA Clippers
Throughout the season, before the LA Clippers’ contest against the New Orleans Pelicans, we’ve seen flashes of how impactful Baba Miller can be. But with veterans like Brook Lopez and Isaiah Jackson soaking up the minutes in the center rotation, Miller never really got the green light to showcase what he can do.
When he did, Miller took the opportunity and ran with it. As mentioned above, he absolutely stuffed the stat sheet. However, the numbers don’t tell the full story.
Miller was truly unstoppable on offense. Beyond looking to put the ball in the hoop, he kept his eyes up and ready to make a play at all times.
In fact, one of his best possessions was when he pushed the pace, drew the eyes of two defenders, and found a cutting Gradey Dick for an easy layup. This is special stuff for someone with so little NBA experience.
On defense, the Clippers saw firsthand that they can trust him in the paint, despite his lack of strength. He repeatedly forced the Pelicans into tough shots, stayed aware on the help side, and slid his feet when needed.
Moving forward, Lue has to find a way to feed Miller as many minutes as possible. He’s far too talented to sit on the bench, and the more time he spends on the court, the faster he will develop into the star they drafted him to be.
Add us as a preferred source on Google