Here’s The Players That The Clippers Should Depend On In The Playoffs
Mar 27, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) looks back over his shoulder after scoring against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Clippers won 119-98. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
It’s a real shame that DeAndre Jordan often times can’t be on the court when the going gets tough due to his free-throw shooting (39.3 percent on the season) because he is an absolute freak of athleticism. His inability to create for himself is masked by his off-ball movement and play finishing prowess. A perfect compliment to Blake Griffin defensively, and a scary weapon for Chris Paul to utilize offensively, Jordan’s one shortcoming is why he is, in my mind, a situational presence on the court when it comes down the last few minutes. If the Clippers are leading by a slim margin, then he should absolutely be on the court. His shot blocking and rebounding (2.2 and 14.9 per-game respectively on the year) are invaluable to this team.
Should the Clippers find themselves reeling for points late in a game however, Jordan’s presence on the court could be costly, as he would essentially create a 4-on-5 situation for Doc Rivers‘ squad: aside from setting screens, his value offensively would be minuscule, as opponents would eagerly await him to touch the ball, at which time they would immediately foul him on a shot attempt. This tactic could be negated by Jordan simply flying high for an alley-oop slam like he so often does, but in the playoffs is that a risk worth taking?
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