The LA Clippers' 2023-24 season thus far has been decorated by a couple of statistical oddities.
There's Kawhi Leonard, who knocked down 61.3% of his field-goal attempts, 50% from deep and nearly 96% from the foul line in the month of December. On the other end of the spectrum, there's Terance Mann. The Florida State product missed 62 of his first 77 three-point attempts of the season.
Shooting below 20% from behind the arc is bad in its own right. The statistic belonging to a wing player who converted on 38.9% of his three-point shots last season makes things worse. And it doesn't help that Mann player is a starter on a deep, star-stacked team with a legitimate shot at winning it all.
But what were once honest worries are now long forgotten and at the back of most people's heads. One can go so far as to say that Mann has become a glimmering highlight to the Clippers' recent success.
Terance Mann has turned his shooting slump around
In the Clippers' blowout win against the Phoenix Suns, The Brooklyn, N.Y. native sunk three of his six looks from downtown en route to an efficient 14-point game. He has made 10 of his last 18 three-point attempts overall, and is shooting a stunning 55.6% from three in January.
After the game, Kawhi Leonard had some words of encouragement for his teammate. "He’s just got to keep shooting the basketball and making open shots, and he will do that," Leonard said in the post-game press conference. "Everybody has slumps and it’s about fighting and keeping shooting it."
For Clippers fans, there is plenty to smile about. The team's four stars are healthy and playing well. LA has won 20 of their last 26 games. And Mann looks comfortable knocking down three-point shots once again.