LA Clippers guard Patrick Beverley is approaching this upcoming 2019-20 season with plenty of excitement, aware of the huge opportunity ahead now that the franchise has signed two impact players in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Together they're capable of a three-pronged defensive nightmare for teams, as all three players have garnered All-Defensive selections at some point of their careers.
Beverley wants to make sure people don't forget about how good the Clippers will be on defense:
“Just because of how close we are and that we play defense,” said Beverley, according to Mirin Fader of Bleacher Report. “People keep forgetting that part.”
Beverley is especially incentivized by the fact that George and Leonard — two high-octane scorers — have not forgotten what brought them into this league. George finished second in the league in scoring with 28 points per game, while Leonard was tied for sixth with Devin Booker, though Beverley didn't forget to note that “when they first got to the NBA, those were guys that held their hat on defense. If we keep getting stops and no one's scoring, then we can win every game.”
The 6-foot-1 point guard has always been a rugged customer on defense, but most importantly one that is extremely motivated by the sticky notes he hangs on his bed:
“Remember your goals,” reads one. Another next to his bed: “First Team All-Defensive Team.”
Beverley fell short of either All-Defensive team last season, and that's something that has been searing his flesh ever since:
“People thought I forgot,” said Beverley. “I ain't forgot. I go to bed a lot thinking about that.”
Two defensive stalwarts in George and Leonard already make for a scary proposition, but add an uncaged dog looking to prove himself again, like Beverley is? Now that makes for one scary proposition for teams playing the Clippers.
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