Rowan Kavner
HOUSTON – Jamal Crawford heard the critics all season.
He’s heard people criticize the Clippers’ bench, blaming them for being a burden to a stellar starting five, just as the rest of the reserves had heard but tried to tune out. In addition to winning games, it’s a small part of what’s making this series against the Rockets so rewarding for those often condemned reserves, who are playing significant roles in playoff victories.
“It’s been great, it really has,” Crawford said. “The bench has taken a lot of criticism all year from everybody – in town, out of town, whatever. We’re coming together at the right time, and I think it maybe caught some people off guard.”
The maligned Clippers bench has outscored the Rockets’ bench each of the last three games of the series, led by Austin Rivers, who’s back in a backup role after starting the first two games of the series for the injured Chris Paul.
It’s been a breakout series for Rivers, who’s averaging 16 points per game while shooting 55.8 percent from the floor and 55.6 percent from 3-point range, taking some of the scoring burden off Crawford for the second unit. All of those numbers are up for Rivers, who averaged seven points per game on 40.9 percent shooting from the floor and 29.8 percent shooting from 3-point range during the season.
“Our bench has been great, especially during this series,” said J.J. Redick. “Going back to Game 1, Austin filled in well when Chris was sidelined. Austin was great (Friday) and continued to play well (Sunday). Jamal was great. Big Baby (Glen Davis) provides us with a lot of energy. Our bench has been so good for us.”
Whether starting or coming off the bench, Rivers has made a difference while playing nearly the same amount every game. If the Clippers close out the series quickly, most people will remember Rivers’ performances, which caused an entire STAPLES Center crowd to cheer his name multiple times, when they look back on this series.
He’s scored in double digits all four games, while playing between 23 and 28 minutes each game, allowing Paul to further rest his hamstring the first two games of the series.
“It’s great to see him playing with that confidence,” Paul said. “You know, at times he second-guesses himself and I think right now he’s just playing with a lot of confidence, and we need that. He’s coming off being a big spark to our team, and not only on the offensive end, the defensive end.”
But he’s not the only player finding his confidence.
For Spencer Hawes, it’s been less about minutes or more about the production in those minutes. After only playing three games in the Spurs series, and never more than eight minutes in a game in that Spurs series, Hawes has played at least nine minutes each of the last two games against the Rockets.
“If we have a guy go down and we want to make a run, especially in the playoffs, we usually have guys step up and perform,” Hawes said. “In this case, we wanted everybody to step up because we knew Chris Paul was a little banged up. We just wanted to take some pressure off Chris the past few games.”
Hawes has combined to go a perfect 3-for-3 the last two games, scoring 10 points to go with four rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal without committing a turnover. He has a combined plus-24 mark the last two games while he’s on the floor.
“Austin has been huge, but not just Austin,” said Blake Griffin. “Obviously always Jamal – Jamal always brings a punch for us, Spencer has played great minutes, Big Baby has played huge minutes in this series and the Spurs series. I know he’s a little banged up, but when he’s out there he changes the game with his energy and his presence.
“It’s great to see guys kind of getting outside of themselves and just saying, ‘I’m going to do whatever it takes.’ It’s really shown. Even games like, even if the bench doesn’t come in and outscore a team 2-1, it’s their presence and their spirit on defense.”
And, as Paul noted, it makes things easier on Crawford, who doesn’t need to carry the load.
Crawford’s been able to quietly rack up double-digit points each game this series, with the Rockets having to deal with other backups in Rivers and Hawes. Crawford also has at least three rebounds in each game and at least three assists in three of the four games this series, while stealing six passes in Game 3.
He knows the reserves have to continue to keep it going, but it’s been an impressive showing for a group few believed in.
“For pretty much the whole year, we’ve been criticized for having one of the worst benches,” Crawford said. “But this is the most important part of the year and everybody has been stepping up.”