Lakers: Jordan Clarkson Needs Time, Ronnie Price Doesn’t
By Jacob Rude
When Ronnie Price was brought in for training camp, it seemed more like the idea of having an extra training camp body than a player with a viable chance at competing for significant playing time.
22 games into the season and Price is the Lakers starting point guard, and he’s doing a horrible job at it.
Since being named starter three games ago, Price is shooting 15.4% from the field, 11.1% from the three-point line, averaging 3.7 assists, and has an atrocious 71 offensive rating. His true shooting percentage, which takes into account free throws and the added benefit of a three-point shot, is a blistering 19.2% in that three-game stretch.
His defense, which was the reason he was brought in the starting line-up, has been deplorable. Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday finished with 22 points and 8 assists while Kings point guard Darren Collison finished with 26 points and 6 assists. Last night, the Spurs’ Cory Joseph, who saw the majority of the point guard minutes with Tony Parker nursing an injury, finished with 16 points and and 5 assists, nearly double his averages in both categories.
Live Feed
Sir Charles In Charge
So if he can’t stop a nose bleed and his offense is non-existent, what’s the point of keeping him in the game?
And it’s not a rough stretch for him offensively. Over the last 15 games, he’s shooting 29.3% from the field and 25.9% from three-point land. He’s averaging just 3.3 assists and has an offensive rating of 86 and a defensive rating of 114.
Are you getting the sense of his limited ability? Sorry but your “leadership” talk won’t work here. He may be a veteran, but he’s completely ineffective on the court. The bigger problem lies on Byron Scott‘s refusal to supplant him from the rotation, specifically with the youngster Jordan Clarkson.
In his albeit limited playing time, Clarkson has showed promise. Over the only stretch of games where he had consistent playing time in mid-November, the rookie averaged 8.7 points on 50% shooting in 18 minutes over three games. Scott rewarded the youngster by playing him just three times over the last 13 games.
During that 13-game stretch, Clarkson appeared with the LA D-Fenders, the Lakers D-League affiliate. In his first two appearances, he looked great, scoring 28 points in the first game and 19 points in the second. However, his most recent outing last Saturday, he looked rusty, going 4 of 11 from the field with 8 points and 5 turnovers.
At this point, Clarkson needs consistent playing time. The only way for him to develop is with consistent playing times and growing pains. Considering the Lakers are starting Price, they are clearly capable of dealing with limitations. Clarkson is a better shooter, better at getting into the lane, and certainly has played as well defensively as Price has in recent games.
It’s time to make the move, Scott. Out with the old, in with the new.