Doc Rivers stoked about bench play, ball movement in win at Orlando

Jamal Crawford

Jamal Crawford scored a team-high 22 points in Wednesday’s 114-90 victory at Orlando/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers, NBA.com

 

Sure, Wednesday’s 114-90 victory at Orlando came against a team whose five victories had come against really lousy teams – except for Milwaukee – but that doesn’t mean coach Doc Rivers didn’t want to boast about about two things – his bench play, and ball movement.

“Yes, it was a great win,” said Rivers, whose 6-4 Clippers play tonight (Thursday) at Miami at 5 (on Prime Ticket, TNT). “Our bench out-scored our starters, which is a first. I thought in the first half they were great. Our starters got a long rest. And then in the second half, they came in and did the same thing.

“So when you play like that, like a whole team, it’s good. I think this is the best we’ve moved the ball this entire year. It’s hard to guard people when you move the ball that way.”

The starters scored 54 points, the bench 60. Jamal Crawford led the Clippers with 22 points off the bench, Jordan Farmar had 13 and Spencer Hawes 10. Blake Griffin led the starters with 20 points.

The Clippers had 24 assists, Chris Paul getting nine. The Clippers had only 20 assists in their 105-89 loss to Chicago on Monday night at Staples Center.

Griffin is leading the Clippers in scoring through 10 games with a 22.8 average. Crawford is next at 18.4.