The Clippers’ players didn’t believe that was an excuse, but it was hard for head coach Doc Rivers to ignore, watching a two-point halftime lead crumble, going just 4-for-18 in the third quarter.
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Anthony Davis will also be missing the 2016 Olympics as he will undergo a shoulder surgery as part of the recovery process.
Per ESPN, the Pelicans have used 33 unique starting lineup variations, which is the most in the National Basketball Association this year. But Davis stressed that his knee had started bothering him well before that play, causing him on some occasions to attempt lay-ups instead of dunks. “It’s been hurting for a while, but [the knee injury is] something that I can play through”, Davis also added about his left knee injury. This offseason will look much different than the last: the front office may experience a shake up, the roster will nearly certainly be retooled (unlike the move to bring the same team back last season) and a lottery pick will be selected (of course, there is still time for Demps to trade the pick).
“We’ve got to plan for the future, and I think we’ve got a bright future here”, Gentry said.
“Obviously he has an injury on his knee and something with his shoulder”, Gentry said. It’s already a lost season for the Pelicans (26-43) as the team has not been able to recover from a 1-11 start. “First play of the game, I airballed a layup”.
But make no mistake: Davis is a franchise player still in search of a franchise.
Now that the playoffs are out of reach, is it time for Gentry and the Pelicans to shut down Davis with 14 games left this season?
“It was just that a lot of people were going to have to step up again”, said Holiday, who had eight assists and scored six points in the final four minutes to make up for the absence of Davis and forward Ryan Anderson, who missed the game with a double groin strain.
Davis has only missed seven games this season, but has been removed early from five more.
The Clippers have faced Davis in two of those games, holding him to a combined 31 points and well below his average of 24.3.
“We don’t ever talk about the guys that are not there, we talk about the guys that are there”, Gentry said.
When asked whether the injuries could impact Davis’ potential participation in the Olympics this year, Gentry said he wasn’t sure, “but if I was a betting man, probably so”.
In the long run, if their is a long-term risk for Davis, it would be wiser for him to shut it down, but if there is not a long-term risk, he should play.
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Davis last played in the first half of the Pelicans’ loss to Portland last Friday.
