During the latter stages of the preseason, it was mandatory for the Clippers’ second unit to arrive early for practice sessions.
Day after day over a six-day period, the reserves worked with a purpose to become a reliable group.
So when it was time for those substitutes to lift up the floundering Clippers starters in the first regular-season game Thursday night at Portland, the bench delivered in a resounding way.
The Clippers probably would have been hard-pressed to defeat the Trail Blazers if it wasn’t for the work put in by Austin Rivers, Jamal Crawford, Raymond Felton, Marreese Speights and Wesley Johnson.