A unique trend among fans of the LA Clippers is the high volume of whistles Benedict Mathurin receives from officials. He’s quite literally a master at drawing fouls, which is the result of his anticipation, and it’ll help the Clippers stay afloat during scoring droughts. This is rare for a player of his caliber and age, leaving opponents around the league jealous that LA has a sneaky advantage up its sleeve.
The Clippers’ most recent contest versus the Indiana Pacers, his former squad, is a great example of his expertise. Mathurin scored 17 points on two made shots. How is this even possible? Well, this is what happens when you shoot 15 times from the charity stripe.
Additionally, as crazy as it sounds, Mathurin is ninth in the NBA in the month of March in regards to his attempts from the line. Every player above him has been an All-Star at some point in their career, which speaks volumes about his veteran skill set.
The rest of the league wishes they had Bennedict Mathurin
The common assumption around Bennedict Mathurin getting to the line so easily is that the LA Clippers will never truly struggle amid a scoring drought. In the event they do get stagnant and go possessions without points, Tyronn Lue can instruct Mathurin to do what he does best. Just like that, the Clippers will have ignited some momentum.
It’s impossible for the other 29 teams around the league to go a game without wishing they had a sixth man like Mathurin on their roster.
However, the deeper help the Clippers receive behind Mathurin's free-throw shooting is that the game slows down for the rest of the team. Everyone gets a breather, the staff has a second to hit the drawing board, and Tyronn Lue can pull a player to the side to talk if needed.
In the same breath, it’s not rocket science on how Mathurin does it. The 23-year-old simply plays with an aggressive, hard-nosed mindset when the rock is in his hands, and understands that nearly every time he drives to the cup, there’s contact.
If there isn’t, and Mathurin goes untouched, he is rewarded with a free basket. It’s a win-win that favors the Clippers.
This, as one might expect, will be of immense assistance in the playoffs.
As it’s happened to the Clippers in the past, games within a series are decided by a few points. Therefore, a crucial difference-maker could be Mathurin’s sixth sense, and with time, the world will realize his value on a contending roster.