Since the start of the preseason, Tyronn Lue has been looking for the Clippers’ starting power forward, to accompany Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac in his major five.
In three matches, the coach tried three different combinations. Once with Robert Covington, another with Terance Mann, finally a last one with Nicolas Batum. Which one is ahead of the competition? What if the Clippers started the season without an indisputable starter?
“I considered both scenarios”replies Tyronn Lue for OCR. “I think it will be a position where we can alternate players, depending on our opponent. So it could change every night. »
“If it’s me, then great. If it’s Covington or Mann, that’s fine too”
The luck for the coach is that the three Clippers have different profiles. Terance Mann is a pace player, Robert Covington more of a defender capable of helping under the circle when Nicolas Batum is a Swiss army knife. The important thing for Los Angeles is the defensive level.
“These three bring different things to the defense,” continues the Clippers coach. “Mann can defend on a point guard one night, then an interior the next. Batum too. Covington is more into interceptions, deflected balls and assisting defense. Afterwards, many deserve to play, but we cannot make them all play. You have to have a constant dialogue with them. »
What does Nicolas Batum think, faced with this constant uncertainty?
“The question of the holder is a decision of the coach. Holder or not, I don’t care”, dismisses the Frenchman, more comfortable in the role of replacement. ” It is not a competition. Lue is trying to find the right combination and if it’s me, then great. If it’s Covington or Mann, that’s fine too. I will do what I am asked to do. I’m at a stage in my career where I no longer need to start matches. »
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Kawhi Leonard | 52 | 33.6 | 51.2 | 41.6 | 87.1 | 1.1 | 5.4 | 6.5 | 3.9 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 23.8 |
| Paul George | 56 | 34.6 | 45.7 | 37.1 | 87.1 | 0.8 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 5.1 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 23.8 |
| Norman Powell | 60 | 26.1 | 47.9 | 39.7 | 81.2 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 17.0 |
| Russell Westbrook | 21 | 30.2 | 48.9 | 35.6 | 65.8 | 1.4 | 3.4 | 4.9 | 7.6 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 15.8 |
| John Wall | 34 | 22.2 | 40.8 | 30.3 | 68.1 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 5.2 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 11.4 |
| Marcus Morris | 65 | 28.1 | 42.6 | 36.4 | 78.2 | 0.4 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 11.2 |
| Eric Gordon | 22 | 24.9 | 46.3 | 42.3 | 84.2 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 11.0 |
| Reggie Jackson | 52 | 25.7 | 41.8 | 35.0 | 92.4 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 10.9 |
| Bones Hyland | 14 | 19.0 | 40.1 | 35.1 | 75.0 | 0.7 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 10.8 |
| Ivica Zubac | 76 | 28.5 | 63.4 | 0.0 | 69.7 | 3.1 | 6.8 | 9.9 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 10.8 |
| Terance Mann | 81 | 23.1 | 51.9 | 38.9 | 78.0 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 8.8 |
| Luke Kennard | 35 | 20.7 | 46.4 | 44.7 | 95.0 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 7.8 |
| Mason Plumlee | 23 | 19.9 | 72.7 | 0.0 | 77.2 | 1.8 | 5.1 | 6.9 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 7.5 |
| Bj Boston, Jr. | 22 | 11.3 | 41.8 | 41.4 | 76.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 6.5 |
| Nicolas Batum | 78 | 21.9 | 42.0 | 39.1 | 70.8 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 6.1 |
| Robert Covington | 48 | 16.2 | 44.5 | 39.7 | 75.0 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 6.0 |
| Moses Brown | 34 | 8.5 | 63.5 | 0.0 | 45.8 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 4.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 4.6 |
| Amir Coffey | 50 | 12.5 | 38.6 | 27.5 | 77.8 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 3.4 |
| Jason Preston | 14 | 8.8 | 43.9 | 27.8 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 2.9 |
| Moussa Diabate | 22 | 8.9 | 51.1 | 50.0 | 62.5 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 2.7 |
| Xavier Moon | 4 | 4.9 | 33.3 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.8 |
