The storylines that are produced and come to the light each and every NBA postseason never disappoint. This year, there have been many but few are as unpredictable as what has happened with Clippers guard Reggie Jackson.
Jackson was pretty much just “another piece” for the Clippers at the outset of this season. He was signed on a veteran minimum contract, a deal that helped LA with the salary cap and offered Jackson a sort of “prove it” scenario.
While Jackson showed a couple of flashed during the regular season, at the beginning of the year it was hard to even figure out what his role would be with the Clippers. There were a handful of games in December and January where Jackson wouldn't even see the floor for more than ten minutes a night. Now, he's a No. 2 option for an LA team trying to come all the way back from what was a 3-1 deficit in the Western Conference Finals.
When Kawhi Leonard went down for the Clippers in Game 4 against the Utah Jazz in round two, the assumption was LA's season was toast. Instead, they have responded by taking out the Jazz and now forcing a Game 6 against the Suns in the Western Conference Finals. And Jackson has been huge in that process.
Since the end of Game 4 against the Jazz, when Leonard went down, Jackson has only scored less than 20 points in one game. That came in Game 2 against the Suns, when he still scored 19 points on 46% from the field and 42% from downtown.
His most recent act in Game 5 on Monday night was highlighted with some huge 4th quarter scoring and a confidence that was not seen from Jackson until these playoffs started. He poured in 23 points in the Clippers' decisive win in Phoenix and did so while shooting 8-14 from the field and 4-7 from downtown.
If there were questions about Jackson's future and what kind of a deal he will land once this ride is all said and done for LA this year, he has answered them in triumphant fashion. Reggie Jackson bet on himself and he will earn a lucrative payday as a result.
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