NBA Power Rankings: All 30 Starting Shooting Guards

11.  J.J. Redick — Los Angeles Clippers

Out of all the people you had on your “I have to feel bad about this guy” list last season, Redick needed some love in that department.

Playing just 35 games during his first season with Doc Rivers and the Clippers, Redick had double the trouble with his hands and back.  He broke his hand and had a torn ligament in his wrist, which kept him off the floor for 21 games.

Returning and lighting up the court in the process was easy for Redick.  Heck, he even dropped a 33-piece on Dallas during his second game back, while hitting 7-of-9 3-pointers.  The smile on his face was brighter than the Staples Center lights, but it only lasted another 11 games after that.

Redick went down with a bulging disc in his back that kept him out until the final stretch of the season.  Although he played with the Clippers through their two playoff rounds, you could ask him if he was satisfied with his health during the postseason and he would have a hard time saying yes.

Rivers brought a new dimension to the Clippers’ offense in his first year as their coach, showing how rousing ball movement could be when it’s not just off alley-oops at the rim.

Redick continued to do exactly what he’s been doing since his Duke era in 2005 — coming off screens, squaring up, and creating a storm.  Blake Griffin has had his share of screen-setting with pick-and-rolls between he and Chris Paul, but you have to think he loved getting Redick free off these beauties:

For half the season, Redick would be on the move, constantly finding ways to get inches of space.  It’s always been astonishing to me how guys can be moving without the ball at an absurd amount and still have the energy to fire off outside shots.  It’s not like they’re doing it for one or two possessions during a game … it’s 60-70 percent of the game.

Last year, Redick was an all-around phenomenal shooter, whether it was from mid-range, deep, at the rim, or getting to the line.  He finished 6th of all shooting guards in True Shooting Percentage, being slightly under 60 percent (59.8).

Injury luck is all the Clippers need to reach the coveted top two seeds in the conference.  With that, they’ll have a better chance at fixing those banner problems in Staples.