3. Develop the Young Guys
This is imperative. I’ve written in the past wondering if Doc had learned his lesson in playing his younger players last season. In year’s past, when Doc had control in the front office, he drafted poorly and never played the young guys. He let first-round picks Reggie Bullock, C.J. Wilcox, and Brice Johnson languish on the bench and stunt their development. That absolutely cannot happen this season.
Last year, Doc had no choice. With the litany of injuries that the Clippers succumbed to, he was forced to turn to guys like Ty Wallace, C.J. Williams, Jamil Wilson, Montrezl Harrell and Sam Dekker. Except for Dekker, they all produced and genuinely helped the Clippers win games.
This season, young talent abounds on the Clippers roster. Rookies, SGA and Robinson, need to be key cogs in the lineup from day one. In re-signing Wallace, they now have a trusted point-guard who plays hard nosed defense and can hit floaters like no one’s business. Harrell is a beast and looks to have another impressive season after being one of the most efficient bench players in the league last season. Mix in defensive hound Sindarius Thornwell and two-way player Johnathan Motley and you have some serious potential.
As I’ve mentioned time and time before, the Clippers are in an odd air right now. They have a win now mindset with a focus on the future. Playoffs will be tough to find in the even-tougher 2018-19 Western Conference so this focus on the future should probably take precedence. This means that developing the young players on the roster is imperative for future success.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_pqktIqSqg
SGA should be the starting point guard by the end of the year. Beverley is good but is only under contract through this season. At 30, he will most likely not be apart of the big picture plan moving forward. Thus, SGA, who the Clippers traded up for in the draft, needs to become a lead guard for this team sooner rather than later.
If Robinson can shoot the deep ball consistently and become a go-to playmaker for the second unit, I can see him being an important piece to the squad this season and beyond. I am higher on him than most because he reminds me of our own “professional scorer” in Lou Williams and absolutely balled out in the ACC last year.
If Doc can manage time for everyone and continue to tinker with lineups like he did last year, I think the Clippers can not only keep surprising teams, but also make sure our young players are ready for the future and present. I look for some impressive games from the young guns this season.
Next Up: Goal 2
