STAPLES Center was nearly empty on Monday afternoon, but a 20-year-old rookie filled it up. Brandon Boston Jr., the Los Angeles Clippers’ 51st pick in the 2021 draft, always had a knack for scoring. In the Agua Caliente Clippers’ 130-97 win against the Salt Lake City Stars, Boston Jr. scored 46 points. A performance in which he shot 75% from the field, including 9-12 from deep. “I would describe myself as a bucket,” Boston Jr. said in media availability. And he is not wrong. With the Clippers’ offense struggling to score this season, it’s become even more apparent that Brandon Boston Jr. should play.
Brandon Boston Jr. Should Play
The offense needs it
After dropping three consecutive games, it’s become evident that the Clippers need some extra juice to get them back on the winning path. Ranking only 25th in the league in offense, the Clippers struggled to consistently score outside of Paul George. Due to Kawhi Leonard’s absence, George is tasked with carrying the offensive burden that Leonard provided. Consequently, it’s not only put a lot of pressure on George individually to play well but for the entire supporting cast.
Reggie Jackson, the team’s second-leading scorer, is averaging 17.3 points a game. But only on 39.9% shooting from the field and 33.5% from three. Unfortunately, consistency has plagued Jackson this season. Jackson’s play dictates the Clippers’ offense as the team seems to click on all cylinders when he gets going. In contrast, when he struggles, the team’s offense starves for offensive creation.
Luckily for the Clippers, Marcus Morris Sr. returned to the lineup. And has looked great physically. The challenge for Morris is to regain the shooting touch that he displayed so well last season. After missing a month to condition his knee, Morris is still trying to get into a rhythm offensively. The Clippers need his scoring to diversify the offensive attack with his mid-range and three-point shooting. But only time will tell how quickly he can shape back into form.
With the variability of Jackson’s play and the tuning up for Morris, Boston Jr. can provide instant offense off the bench with his three-level scoring. His shooting touch, off-the-dribble capability, and aggression towards the rim add a new weapon to the offense, as Lue can open up more of the playbook to get his young guard off the bounce. The team desperately needs more scoring, and Boston Jr. is clearly capable of filling it up when given the chance.
Additional juice off the bench
The Clippers rotation does not feature many players with youth and athleticism. The most athletic players that play include George, Eric Bledsoe, and Terance Mann. Even then, George does not exert his explosiveness often, Bledsoe probes more than he explodes, and Mann lacks the isolation game needed to improvise on the ball.
Boston Jr.’s combination of pace, athleticism, and scoring ability make him a viable option to be the sparkplug off the bench. Though Luke Kennard may be the best offensive player in the second unit, defenses have done a good job of closing the gap when he catches to prevent him from getting a shot off. Kennard also boasts a decent off-the-dribble game, but at times lacks the pop to create enough separation to get his shot up. With Boston Jr. added to the second unit, Kennard will have less attention drawn to him. Therefore, creating more good looks for the sharpshooter and other players.
With two shooters in Kennard and Boston Jr. coming off the bench, it also aids backup center, Isaiah Hartenstein. The big man is having a sensational season for the Clippers. Whether it’s creating for others with his passing, blocking shots, or crashing the offensive glass, he’s done it all to help the team win. Boston Jr. gives Hartenstein an additional weapon that the defense has to worry about. The shooting will space the floor better, thus forcing defenses to stay at home and steer help away from the paint. Additionally, dribble hand-offs will be tougher to guard due to Hartenstein’s screen setting paired with the threat of Boston Jr.’s perimeter jumper and speed to get downhill. This would put more pressure on the defense and could lead to more paint touches. A point of emphasis for Lue.
Brandon Boston Jr. is ready
There aren’t many young players that come out of college with a polished offensive game. In Boston Jr.’s brief appearances for the Clippers in the preseason and G-League, he has displayed a diverse offensive arsenal that some veteran players lack. Not only does he have range from deep, but he is able to get those shots off thanks to his step-backs and sidesteps to create space. And unlike most players, his mid-range is a strength. So far, he has shown the ability to score off curls within offensive sets, as well as in isolation situations in which he gets downhill or moves laterally off the bounce. And we haven’t even talked about his athleticism.
Sure he may be attacked on defense early, but he needs the reps to get comfortable with the speed and physicality of the game, in addition to the mental aspect of where to be on defense. His length and athleticism prove to be a good sign of potential that he can be a good defender in the future. And this can only come to fruition if he is given the chance to play.
Boston Jr. is more than capable on the offensive end to make an impact. His defense needs work, but there is something there that can be serviceable in the near future thanks to his athleticism and 6″11′ wingspan. But overall, the Clippers should definitely look to adding Boston Jr. to the rotation and hopefully, he can help get the team back on track.
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