Glen Davis says Clippers' DeAndre Jordan needs more touches on offense
Glen Davis may not return to the Los Angeles Clippers next season, but he has some tips on how the team can use its starting center more effectively.
During a recent appearance on CBS Radio's "Gio and Jones" show with Gregg Giannotti and Brian Jones, the unrestricted free agent discussed how Clippers big man DeAndre Jordan was underutilized in the team's offensive schemes in 2014-15.
“I thought DeAndre needed more attention, because he’s a guy who dominates on both sides of the ball," Davis said. "He doesn’t have no plays run for him, and he gets every rebound, how about we give him some confidence?
"Throw him a couple of bones down there and see if he can get us a bucket. He can’t shoot free throws, but he’s getting people in the bonus, he’s making things happen out there. So you gotta show him some love because he’s a vital player.”
Jordan, who re-signed with Los Angeles on a reported four-year max contract worth $87.5 million this offseason, finished seventh on the team in shot attempts with just 6.5 per game, along with a usage rate (13.5) that ranked behind behind the likes of Davis (17.3) and Austin Rivers (19.3).
Those numbers didn't get any better during the Clippers' postseason run, with Jordan's attempts dipping to 5.8, while his usage rate saw the slightest nudge upward to 15.1, which was still only eighth out of players who appeared in at least 10 games.
Head coach Doc Rivers' reluctance to run the ball through Jordan could be his 39.7 shooting percentage at the charity stripe. The Texas A&M alumnus led all players with 11.7 free-throw attempts during the playoffs, after the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets deployed a "Hack-a-Shaq" approach in defending the 6-foot-11 giant.
This was never more obvious than during Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Rockets, when Houston sent Jordan to the line 34 times, with 28 coming in the opening two quarters (an NBA playoff record).
- With h/t to Pro Basketball Talk