Rowan Kavner
LOS ANGELES – A Clippers team that went two rounds last postseason added more depth this offseason with the hopes of winning its first ever championship in 2015-16.
The additions of Paul Pierce, Lance Stephenson, Josh Smith, Wesley Johnson and Cole Aldrich bolstered the depth, particularly at the forward spots, and added athleticism and versatility to the fold. This list provides some examples of what the new additions can bring.
Here are the top 10 plays of last season from the Clippers’ newcomers.
10) Smith denies Ross
The Rockets already held a commanding lead, but if they wanted anymore juice to finish off the win against Toronto, Smith provided it. Terrence Ross gets by Corey Brewer along the baseline and rises up with one hand, but Smith wasn’t going to let the dunk happen, stuffing Ross and gaining possession.
9) Aldrich stuffs Rookie of the Year
More playing time late in the year gave Aldrich, who finished the 2014-15 season with more than a block per game, the chance to deny more opponents. Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins found that out March 19, spinning on Aldrich and trying to go up with the shot in the lane before watching it fly back toward the perimeter, leading to an air-balled 3-point attempt.
8) Smith dunks on Mavericks
The Rockets didn’t have much trouble getting through the first round of the playoffs, winning in five games and getting double-digit scoring from Smith in every game against the Mavericks. He was strong from long range, but he was even stronger on this dunk in the lane, as Tyson Chandler watches Smith rise up and throw it down in Game 2.
7) Stephenson shakes Tolliver
Stephenson can do some damage with the ball in his hands, and Anthony Tolliver’s ankles suffered the consequences on this move, as Stephenson got his defender off balance and drilled the jumper in the fourth quarter.
6) Pierce rises up in OT
At 37, most of Pierce’s dunks may be in the rear view. But that doesn’t stop him from rising up on the occasion. Coming up big in crunch time is nothing new to Pierce, who made the dunk and drew the foul in overtime, helping the Wizards beat the Pacers.
5) Johnson goes baseline
With 35 dunks last season, any number of Johnson’s finishes could’ve found its way to this top 10. This dunk was one of his best, pump-faking in the corner before driving baseline, rising up, throwing down the dunk and drawing the foul against the Pistons. Even the Detroit crowd acknowledged the extraordinary finish.
4) Stephenson rises over Sanders
For the majority of this game Oct. 29 against the Bucks, there wasn’t much to applaud for Charlotte. Stephenson changed that off a missed jumper, receiving the pass from Al Jefferson, driving through the lane and soaring up for the jam over Larry Sanders.
3) Smith dunks on Kaman
The one-handed finish with his left seems to be a popular move for Smith when he throws down a dunk. Chris Kaman found that out the hard way as he tried to contest this slam unsuccessfully.
2) Stephenson beats the buzzer
No. 1 on this list may be the more memorable banked-in, game-winning buzzer-beater against the Hawks last season, but Stephenson did it as well during the regular season. He didn’t pick a bad time for his first 3-pointer of the year.
1) Pierce called game
With the series tied, 1-1, in the conference semifinals, Pierce gets the ball in a tie game with the clock winding down against the Hawks. He comes off a screen, lets the clock keep going down and with 1.4 seconds remaining fades away just in front of the 3-point line and banks in the game-winner at the buzzer. His shot was great, but so was his post-game answer when asked if he called “bank.” “I called game,” Pierce said.