After giving up a 3-1 series lead and eventually losing in seven games to the Houston Rockets in the playoffs last season, the Los Angeles Clippers made a series of moves to add more depth to their bench. Against the Rockets, the Clippers' reliance on their starters proved to be their undoing as Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan were just wore down after playing a tough seven game series against the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. So the Clippers added talented players like Paul Pierce, Josh Smith and Lance Stephenson in the offseason.
At the beginning of the season, Stephenson started for the Clippers but later moved to a reserve role, playing around 20 minutes a night. However, in the Clippers' last two games, Stephenson has been a non-factor. Against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, Stephenson only played one minute and 42 seconds. And then against the Warriors on Thursday night, Stephenson didn't even play.
Asked about Stephenson after the Clippers' loss to the Warriors, head coach Doc Rivers told reporters that, "He will [help us]. Just not right now."
Quite a strange thing for Rivers to say, after he traded specifically for Stephenson and praised him in the offseason. However, Stephenson hasn't made that big of an impact when he's played. In nine games, Stephenson has played 20.1 minutes a game and is averaging 5.6 points, shooting 37 percent from the field and 33 percent from three, 3.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists.
Perhaps matchup wise, Rivers didn't think Stephenson be an asset against the Pistons and Clippers which is fine. But you would think that Rivers would want Stephenson to get comfortable in his role on the Clippers and continue playing him about 20 minutes a game off the bench.
Either way, this is just the latest development in the strange downward spiral of Lance Stephenson. A player who only a year ago was considered to be a marquee free-agent and a potential All-Star.
