The Los Angeles Clippers find themselves in a stunning hole against the Dallas Mavericks after losing the first two games of their first-round series at Staples Center. The Clippers have had zero answers for Luka Doncic and haven't gotten enough production outside of their two superstars in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
The Clippers are desperate and only one man can save them now: Rajon Rondo. Or, Playoff Rondo, that is.
Patrick Beverley has been totally ineffective so far in this series, with Luka Doncic sonning him over and over again and letting him hear about it over and over again. Beverley has always been a gamer who tries his ass off, but it just isn't working in this series.
In Game 2, Bev had just three points and three assists in 23 minutes. The Clippers were outscored by 11 points in those minutes. Meanwhile, Rondo came off the bench to deliver four points and seven assists in just 19 minutes. The Clippers won those minutes by 13 in a six-point loss.
Now, to be fair, Rondo wasn't able to save LA in Game 1 when he played during crunch time, but he was still more effective than Beverley for the game and has been the far better player overall in the series. We all know how Rondo raises his game in the playoffs, and the Clippers could use his smarts out there right now as they try to get back in it.
There has been plenty of debate about LA's need for a more traditional point guard to play alongside Kawhi and PG-13. While the Clippers have had an elite regular-season offense the last two seasons, the playoffs are once again showing how they could use a better option to orchestrate their offense and put more pressure on the opposing defense while creating looks for others.
Rondo has always been a flawed player, but he's a better option than Beverley right now (not just offensively) and should be playing more. He was huge for the Los Angeles Lakers during their championship run last season and could be the miracle worker the Clippers need right now. These moments are why they traded Lou Williams for him right at the deadline.
Give Playoff Rondo a chance to work his magic.
Follow Us
Subscribe