Clippers point guard Patrick Beverley is expected to miss a few games with a right wrist sprain, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets.
The pesky defender was injured during a layup attempt against Utah on Saturday. He left the court after falling on his right arm, returned to the locker room for X-rays, then played in the fourth quarter.
The Clippers have already ruled out Beverley for Tuesday afternoon’s game at Sacramento. Afterward the game Saturday, coach Doc Rivers said Beverley was having difficulty grasping the basketball.
Beverley, who is averaging 8.0 PPG and 3.3 APG, is in the first year of a three-year, $40MM contract he signed in July.
Beverley is often the last option on the floor and doesn’t put up big numbers but his impact goes beyond the stat sheet. He sets the defensive tone for a team with championship aspirations. The Clippers have been missing at least one rotation piece in all but one game this season due to either injuries or load management.
Beverley has been injury prone his whole career. Last season the Clippers were extremely lucky to get 78 games out of him after he missed 71 the previous year. Their defense will suffer without him.
Luckily they have 4 really easy home games (NY, GS, Detroit, and Memphis) after traveling to Sacramento on New Year’s Eve.
Dana is a writer because a talent evaluator they are not. Beverly is a dog…very valuable member of that team. Plays mean ass defense on harden,LBJ,steph….he rebounds…scrapes for loose balls. I want that guy on my team. Watch him in playoffs. Jerry West/ clippers front office know ballers…Patrick is there for a reason.
Wouldn’t “his impact goes beyond the stat sheet” and “he sets the defensive tone” imply that he is a very valuable member of the team?
To be fair, the writer did refer to him as a “pesky defender” and “…”doesn’t put up big numbers but his impact goes beyond the stat sheet. He sets the defensive tone for a team with championship aspirations.”
Writing that he sets the defensive tone for an entire team with the likes of defensive stalwarts like Kwahi and PG is very complimentary. I didn’t get the impression that he doesn’t belong.
He is a lot like PJ Tucker, except Beverley is less durable.