Jordan Clarkson Will Benefit From Increased Minutes
Richard Mackson – USA TODAY Sports
If Kobe Bryant is truly done for the season, then the Los Angeles Lakers will likely give more playing time to their younger players. The team is already struggling and well out of the playoff race, and will likely want to keep their pick in the upcoming draft. In order to do so, they will need the pick to remain in the top five, meaning that they will benefit from having a poor record. This, along with all the injuries, means that players such as Jordan Clarkson will see an increase in minutes.
Clarkson started for the team on Friday night against the San Antonio Spurs, and played surprisingly well. The Lakers were clearly outmatched, and were never really in the game. However, the coaching staff has to be impressed with the way Clarkson played throughout the night. He had to match up against one of the top point guards in the league, which is no easy feat for a rookie. He was able to put up solid statistics on the offensive end, and never backed down on defense.
Clarkson should continue to see consistent minutes, especially with all of the injuries. The team was extremely happy when they were able to take him in the second round, and surely will want to see if he has what it takes to play in the league. He has showed promise in the limited amount of time that he has seen the court, although it is clear that he has a long way to go. The experience will be good for him, as he will have plenty of opportunities with the ball in his hands. He will also get to go up against some of the better guards in the league, which should challenge him to become better.
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