Landry Shamet was playing Patrick Beverley’s role gracefully in his absence. Beverley came back to play in Game 1 against the Denver Nuggets and displayed why he was missed so dearly.
Jamal Murray (12 points) and Gary Harris (5 points) were shut down in the game. Beverley was able to provide another three-point threat. He went 66.7 percent from beyond the arc. It was just what the doctor ordered for the Clippers.
Doc Rivers talked about Beverley’s impact for the Clippers:
“We’re not a particularly loud team defensively, but Pat is the defensive captain with his voice. It just leaks over to the rest of the team.”
The vocal leader for the Clippers was just that in this game. The point guard position on this team is not a playmaker like on most teams. The point guard still has to lead though. Making sure your voice is heard at the point guard position on the Clippers needs to be done.
Beverley is the perfect player at the point guard position for this team.
Beverley talked about how he is the glue for this team:
“When you out with an injury, you come back after just watching it — I’m just humbled. Just fortunate to be out there. Can’t take nothing for granted, but it was good going out there with my brothers, competing. It was fun tonight.”
