Prior to the LA Clippers handing the Boston Celtics a miraculous, meaningful win, it was obvious that Yanic Konan Niederhauser would be limited to minutes with the first unit, given that Ivica Zubac was available. This suggests that, although he was phenomenal, Tyronn Lue played him forcefully because the front court was short-staffed.
Niederhauser would have never seen 10+ minutes in five straight contests as a rookie, and it may not reach this point again if Brook Lopez and Zubac remain healthy. This hurts, but it aligns with what Lue believes as a head coach and with his priorities.
He does not trust rookies, even if the said name helped save the season from drowning beyond the reach of a lifesaver. This is the most concerning of his red flags, as players should not have their years of experience held against them; impact is all that matters at the end of the day.
Yanic Konan Niederhauser will prove himself once again when the inevitable opportunity arises
Tyronn Lue may have a nature that is unfair towards rookies and youngsters, yet true talent always comes to light. Fans of the LA Clippers, and more importantly, Yanic Konan Niederhauser, should not be stressing over the Ivica Zubac and Brook Lopez-led front-court, as the rookie will what is deserved in the end if he stays ready.
He averaged 5.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in a 5-0 stretch while shooting 61.1% from the field. His offensive rating of 128.3 and defensive rating of 103.2 were also exceptional.
Furthermore, Niederhauser ultimately had the fourth-best net rating in all five of these games. With every circumstance he faced being taken into account, all of his numbers, traditional and advanced, are special and will hold weight in decision-making moving forward.
The Clippers know they have a rookie who proved himself in his first opportunity, which speaks volumes.
What is crazy is that his opportunities would not have been cut short on both sides of the ball had he not experienced the commonalities of the rookie foul-trouble woes. He accumulated 18 in the portion of the win streak he partook in, which was a team-high.
That said, Niederhauser is special, and it will take a few more opportunities for Lue to be convinced. Once he sees what the fans see in the first-round pick, the championship head coach will go out of his way to ensure his minutes are guaranteed.