With Josh Smith on bench, Cole Aldrich plays well for Clippers

Cole Aldrich

Cole Aldrich/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

 

Coach Doc Rivers wouldn’t go into detail when asked why reserve forward/center Josh Smith did not play Monday, other than, “I just thought Cole (Aldrich) would give us more energy.”

But before the game, Rivers intimated there is at least one player not buying into the Clippers’ program. And since Rivers is not crazy about it when Smith starts jacking up 3-pointers, and since Smith has already had a heated shouting match with an assistant coach as well as a beef with Rivers during a game, one can surmise Smith may be that guy.

Smith played just six minutes in Saturday’s loss at Houston. His DNP on Monday gave Aldrich a chance to get some real minutes – meaning not in garbage time – and he came through. He scored five points, grabbed four rebounds, made three steals and blocked two shots in under 14 minutes.

Blake Griffin praised Aldrich, and in doing so may have taken a shot at Smith without mentioning him by name.

“The way he played with the second unit, setting screen and rolls, he was just out there to do his job,” Griffin said of Aldrich. “I think that is a huge quality for him. That was a prime example of being a star in your role and not trying to reach outside of that.

“He just did what we needed him to do and that was huge.”