The Los Angeles Clippers were 7th in the NBA last season with 98.4 possession per 48 minutes of play. That total has dropped off to 96.5 possessions per 48 minutes, good for just 12th during this 2014-15 campaign.
“It definitely felt like we played at a faster pace last year,” JJ Redick said on Friday, via Janis Carr of the OC Register.
One major roster difference that has likely had an effect on the team's pacing is the loss of point guard Darren Collison in free agency this past offseason to the Sacramento Kings.
Can't get enough Clippers news? Follow our Los Angeles Clippers team page today!
“We miss his pace for the second unit,” head coach Doc Rivers said. “We don’t have great pace. They’re playing better, but we still don’t have the same pace as the first unit. Last year, the second unit was sometimes faster than the first unit. This year, it’s slower and I don’t like that.”
Redick seconded that, saying that Collison was “an absolute warrior for us last year and was a big reason we won 57 games.”
Collison is currently averaging 16.6 points and 5.9 assists per game with the Kings after averaging 11.4 points per contest as Chris Paul's backup last season.
Back to the Los Angeles Clippers Newsfeed