Clippers, Trail Blazers share lessons learned

In the NBA, they play it forward.

So the lessons All-Star defender Terrell Brandon imparted connected a young Chauncey Billups erstwhile they were some playing successful Minnesota? Billups passed that cognition connected to Eric Bledsoe erstwhile helium was an up-and-coming defender alongside him successful the Clippers’ backcourt.

Mr. Big Shot’s mentorship was “big,” Bledsoe told The Athletic’s Shams Charania successful 2018 erstwhile helium discussed his clip playing successful L.A. with Billups and Chris Paul.

“To spot them successful big-time moments, to beryllium astir them, they’re Hall of Fame players,” said Bledsoe, who has conscionable begun his 2nd stint with the Clippers this season, his 12th.

“To beryllium capable to beryllium successful the aforesaid gym with them, to spot however hard they work. They got connected the tribunal and competed. That’s what I took distant from them – nary substance what the people was. Down 20, up 20, they competed each azygous night.”

Billups – who spent past play with the Clippers arsenic an adjunct manager – said helium remembered his clip playing with Bledsoe fondly.

“I enjoyed playing with Bled erstwhile I did,” Billups said earlier Friday’s crippled successful Portland, erstwhile the Clippers and Trail Blazers were acceptable to conscionable for the 2nd clip this week, pursuing L.A.’s 116-86 triumph Monday nighttime astatine Staples Center.

“Just an unbelievable athlete, obviously. I spent a batch of clip trying to get him to spot the crippled and speech – unfastened up his mouth, actually. It’s benignant of akin to the aforesaid things I’m doing with (Portland’s) Anfernee Simons close present to beryllium honorable with you. Ant is truly quiescent too, similar Bledsoe. But I deliberation astatine that position, you person to beryllium vocal.”

Bledsoe got the message, large and clear, astir competing. But contempt that archetypal punctual from Billups – who spent respective years arsenic a tv broadcaster, getting paid to speech astir the crippled for a unrecorded viewing assemblage – Bledsoe hasn’t needfully upped his connection count.

Before a signifier earlier this month, Clippers manager Tyronn Lue said helium was amazed to find retired conscionable however quiescent Bledsoe is.

“Yeah, conscionable other quiet,” Lue said. “But sometimes it’s not a atrocious thing.”

Not truthful agelong arsenic helium competes arsenic helium learned to bash successful his archetypal mates years successful the league, particularly connected the antiaircraft end.

“It’s going to beryllium thing that’s important to america due to the fact that I deliberation helium gives a accidental for (Paul George) – benignant of similar Pat Beverley (did), gives PG a accidental to remainder disconnected the shot a small spot until the 4th quarter, wherever helium doesn’t person to defender the champion subordinate each azygous night,” Lue said of Bledsoe, a two-time All-Defensive Team enactment who inactive is uncovering his footing offensively this season, averaging 11.4 points portion shooting 40.5% from the tract and 15.4% from 3-point range.

“PG’s going to request that level of remainder with Kawhi being out, truthful I deliberation it’s precise important for us.”

So excessively was the proposal that Brandon, a Portland native, gave to Billups, the caller Portland caput coach, successful the aboriginal 2000s.

“He taught maine truthful galore things that I ended up teaching a batch of different guys, and I’m truthful grateful for him,” Billups said. “I don’t cognize what my vocation would’ve been without having spent clip with Terrell Brandon, truthful that’s wherefore I took truthful overmuch pridefulness doing that to different young guys.”

SHORT-HANDED STILL

The Clippers continued to run without respective cardinal members of their squad Friday. That includes the large names, Kawhi Leonard (anterior cruciate ligament), Serge Ibaka (back) and Marcus Morris Sr. (knee).

Also missing: L.A.’s 3 rookies.

Jason Preston is retired indefinitely aft undergoing ft country earlier this month, Brandon Boston Jr. didn’t travel the Clippers to Portland due to the fact that helium was assigned to the team’s G League affiliate successful Ontario, and Keon Johnson has yet to marque his authoritative NBA debut, having been stuck connected the sideline with an illness.

Lue said Johnson wasn’t progressive Friday, but “he is feeling better.”

When helium yet gets a accidental to get connected the court, Lue said helium volition beryllium looking for antiaircraft effort from the 21st wide pick.

“As a young player, the archetypal happening you got to absorption connected is playing hard,” Lue said. “And him being a antiaircraft guy, conscionable coming successful and making things hap defensively, the discourtesy volition instrumentality attraction of itself.”

As for Boston’s Agua Caliente assignment, Lue said the erstwhile Chatsworth Sierra Canyon High standout stayed successful California for the one-game travel northbound due to the fact that his clip would beryllium amended spent connected the court.

“Just springiness him an accidental to play,” Lue said. “To play the NBA benignant of basketball, larn the rules. With having a squad with immoderate seasoned guys, he’s truly not getting an accidental close now. I deliberation it’s conscionable bully for him to get down to the G league, play, and compete, and proceed to enactment connected his game.”