Rowan Kavner
In this series, Clippers.com’s Rowan Kavner analyzes the new additions of the Clippers’ roster, taking a look back at last season as well as what may be in store going forward. The next edition is on guard/forward Lance Stephenson.
Key Numbers:
25
Stephenson’s age after celebrating his birthday a week and a half ago. It’s easy to forget with as many ups and downs throughout his five-year career he was only 24 years old last season. Stephenson adds youth, athleticism and versatility, but he also adds experience despite his youthfulness, having been to two Conference Finals during his career. Stephenson was only 23 when he led the league with five triple-doubles two seasons ago.
61
The number of games Stephenson played in last season. For Stephenson to contribute at his highest level, he has to stay healthy. Admittedly, last season in Charlotte was an off year for Stephenson. But it was also an anomaly for the 6-5, 230-pound player who had played in 78 games each of his previous two seasons as a key cog on Indiana teams that made lengthy playoff runs.
35.2
Stephenson’s 3-point percentage two years ago, which he’ll try to get closer to this year after shooting 17.1 percent from behind the arc his lone season in Charlotte. Two seasons ago, he set career highs with a 49.1 percent shooting mark from the floor and a 35.2 percent clip from long distance. Those long-range numbers got even better in the postseason, shooting 35.8 percent from 3-point range that year. The Clippers will try to get him more open looks, and the spacing the Clippers create would ideally create similar numbers to what Stephenson was putting up in Indiana.
Synopsis
Stephenson was in his first season in Charlotte last season, averaging 8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. For his career, Stephenson’s averaged 8.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Last season turned out to be his only season with the Hornets, as the Clippers traded for Stephenson in exchange for Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes.
Stephenson played in 61 games last year, making 25 starts. He dealt with injuries while playing on a Charlotte offense that finished with the third worst offensive rating, the second lowest field goal percentage and the worst 3-point percentage in the league. He went from being surrounded by stars in Indiana to a squad with few outside shooters and a struggling offense, and it’s a year Stephenson admittedly wants to move past. But he still had his moments showing his potential, scoring at least 16 points six times and pulling down double-digit rebounds five times, including two double-doubles in a three-game span last season.
He also showed his passing abilities by notching his third straight season with at least 2.9 assists and eight points per game. It was also his second straight season with at least 4.5 rebounds per game.
Highlight Moment
There’s no doubt about this one. While teammate Paul Pierce’s off-the-backboard game-winner might’ve been the more memorable shot last year, Stephenson had one as well during the regular season.
In a stretch where Stephenson had two double-doubles in three games, the first came Nov. 7 against the Hawks, when Hornets coach Steve Clifford put the ball in his hands on an inbounds play with 2.7 seconds remaining in a tie game in double overtime.
Stephenson inbounded the ball, had it handed back to him, and without a second thought put up the shot with a hand in his face, watching it go off glass and in for his first made 3-pointer of the year and the three-point win.
He ran straight to the sideline and jumped on the scorer’s table to celebrate before his teammates swarmed him. Stephenson finished the game with 17 points, 13 rebounds and four assists.
Looking Forward:
There was a reason the Hornets gave Stephenson a multi-year contract, and despite a down year, he has the potential to be a difference-maker surrounded by the talent the Clippers possess. He’s already shown what he can do when he’s on his game, averaging 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game two seasons ago with the Pacers.
After what Stephenson described as a tough season he wants to put behind, he feels he can do just that in Los Angeles. Head coach Doc Rivers said he wants to get Stephenson back on the move, pushing the ball up the floor when he gets it and playing with better pace, closer to what he was doing in Indiana. Stephenson scored more than a quarter of his points in transition three years ago in Indiana, but last year he was playing for a much slower-paced Charlotte team.
The Clippers will hope getting Stephenson on the move will get him better looks and in a better groove offensively, leading to more shots from close range. He has the ability to handle the ball, and if he does end up shooting 3-pointers, the hope is that better spacing will get him better chances, specifically from the corner.
If nothing else, Stephenson’s presence as a wing defender capable of guarding multiple positions should help the Clippers with their perimeter defending, regardless of what Stephenson brings at the offensive end. Two years ago, Stephenson finished sixth in the league in Defensive Win Shares.
What They Said:
Lance Stephenson – “I play to win, and I do whatever it takes to win. I’m just happy to be with a group of guys that are going to be behind me with great leaders and All-Star players who I can follow behind.
“I’m very excited. I think we’ve got the pieces that can get us our ring. You’ve got Coach Rivers behind us. I think the sky’s the limit for us. We’ve got the talent, we’ve got the vets.”
Doc Rivers – “When Lance gets a rebound, I want him going coast-to-coast. When you think about him in Indiana, I think that’s one of the things he did so well…With our second unit to have that, it’ll be great. If he’s with the first unit, it’ll be great. We’ll figure all that out.”
