The Biggest X-Factor On Every NBA Playoff Team
Los Angeles Clippers: J.J. Redick
J.J. Redick, once the man at Duke, has gone relatively unnoticed for much of his NBA career. Everyone knows he can shoot, and everyone’s aware he’s improved dramatically since first entering the league to make a career for himself. But on the Los Angeles Clippers, his superb shooting almost always goes under the radar.
That’s no surprise given the nature of Lob City’s 2014-15 season. Blake Griffin‘s absence with that staph infection in his elbow shifted the attention to how Chris Paul was playing like an MVP candidate or how DeAndre Jordan was suddenly Bill Russell reincarnated.
J.J. Redick could be the x-factor; 20.4 PPG, on 50-45-97 shooting since March. But D. Green and K. Leonard aren't your average wing tandem.
— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) April 16, 2015
But Redick has kept the Clippers dangerous, helping them spread the floor with his hyper-efficient 43.7 percent three-point shooting on nearly six attempts per game. He’s averaged nearly 20 points per game over the last two months and could be a thorn in San Antonio’s side if he keeps that production up.
Gregg Popovich is no fool; he knows he might have to alternate Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green on guarding Chris Paul to try and stifle the Clippers’ top ranked offense. That means Redick will have to capitalize on matchups with Tony Parker or Green on that end. If he can make the most of that advantage, CP3 will be able to feed him even with Kawhi trying to lock him down.
Next: Cleveland Cavaliers