Against the Sacramento Kings, head coach Tyronn Lue tried something a little different with the rotation, by moving John Collins to the bench and finally playing Kobe Sanders, and to say the least, it worked. The LA Clippers had one of their best wins of the season, 29 points, and because Lue made this change so close to the playoffs, it’s something fans should keep an eye on with the possibility of it being cemented permanently.
Collins had 25 points (tied for a season-high) in 24 minutes, along with four rebounds and two steals; meanwhile, Sanders chipped in with 17 points and four steals. Both pieces left a massive impact on the Clippers’ second unit.
It’s also worth noting that Nicolas Batum was a DNP. This was needed, as he had become unplayable, and Lue, rightfully so, gave his minutes to Sanders.
The Clippers may have just found the secret for succeed
Although the LA Clippers’ bench has had problems all season, against the Sacramento Kings, they looked better than good. There was actual production from more than one or two players, which is the usual, and they contributed to the overall outcome of a blowout win.
What was the catalyst? Moving John Collins and adjusting Kobe Sanders’ minutes, who played his highest since March 23.
They each dominated, and on top of that, Jordan Miller had 13 points, and Bennedict Mathurin stuffed the stat sheet with five points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
Additionally, the bench recorded a net rating of 16.8. This stat is impressive and should be kept in mind moving forward.
To some, this may seem like a complete group effort that yielded success, but to Clipper Nation, it’s much bigger, as the stars, particularly Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland, had a source of help to depend on in the scoring department.
In fact, Garland only played 24 minutes. Though he still had 17 points and six assists, his playing time hints at how easy of a night he had when there is an entire unit behind him that is a legitimate threat to the opponent.
So, Tyronn Lue deserves his flowers for drawing up this change late in the season. It was not something that was seen coming. Now, it could be why the Clippers remain the eighth seed or make a strong push for seventh, which is the difference between who gets home-court advantage in the Play-In Tournament.