DeAndre Jordan packs a punch for Clippers

Clippers center DeAndre Jordan entered Thursday’s game against the Lakers leading the league in rebounds per game (14) and field goal percentage (66.1).
If he finishes the season leading those categories, he’d be only the third player in NBA history to do it. Wilt Chamberlain did it eight times and Dwight Howard matched the feat in the 2009-10 season.
Jordan has continually given credit to Coach Doc Rivers, who not only challenged Jordan to become the defensive captain, he fulfilled his promise of keeping Jordan in the game during the fourth quarter despite his troubles at the free throw line.
While Rivers has been one inspiration, at least one of his teammates has pushed Jordan to punch up his game.
“I think it’s amazing,” forward Matt Barnes said of the year Jordan is having. “DeAndre being a close friend of mine ever since last year, I just told him ‘Start modeling your game like (Mike) Tyson. You’re more athletic, you can control the game more than he can. Model your game like him and you’re going to be all right.’
“He’s gone above and beyond the call of that and his numbers speak for themselves. He’s an anchor of our defense and it’s huge having him on the court in the fourth quarter, knocking down free throws now, but definitely protecting the paint.”