Clippers’ Winslow getting acclimated to versatile role
Justise Winslow’s motivational morning Instagram post on Monday was succinct: “Any fool can know, the point is to understand.”
Like clockwork, for 106 days and counting, the Clippers’ new forward/ wing/guard posts those sorts of messages — each written by hand on a white board — every morning at 7 a.m.
The versatile 25-yearold’s execution on the court with his new teammates isn’t quite like clockwork yet, but with their help, he said he’s working hard to not just know — but to understand — the nuances of coach Tyronn Lue’s offensive and defensive sets.
“Guys are helping me if I don’t know a play, just communicating that,” Winslow said after the Clippers’ preseason game in Dallas last week, when he had five points and three assists and defended Luka Doncic full court.
The 6-foot-6 Winslow said he bonded with those guys over a round of golf at training camp in San Diego
“I went golfing and that (stuff) was fun!” Winslow said. “I’m not the best, I can’t drive — but I can drive a nice golf cart and I can putt. So that’s when I made all my friends, when I went golfing.”
“Off the court, they’ve been really good,” Lue said of Winslow’s acclimation. “On the court has been a little tougher, because guys are playing out of position. We got guys out, with no point guard and Marcus and Nico missing games, it’s just been tough.
“But they’re learning, every day, picking up things every single day, so just gotta continue to just keep getting better.”
Winslow’s long, winding route to L.A. has been littered with injuries, including one that required hip replacement surgery and others that included a sore left wrist and a back strain to a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
The Houston native arrived in the Clippers’ training camp feeling healthy, he said, and eager to help however necessary — whether that’s at center or point guard.
“I didn’t know he was as good a passer as he is,” Lue said before the Clippers’ fourth and final preseason game Monday at Ontario’s Toyota Arena. “I know he played a little point guard in Miami and with our point guard situation, with Jason (Preston) going down, he’ll be playing a little backup point, he been playing the four, he been playing the five . ... so we just gotta keep learning the plays, different positions and I think he’s gonna be really good for us.”
Starting with a daily dose of morning inspiration.
About those, Winslow said: “I just felt like with COVID and everything, we’ve kind of been through as a community, past two, year and a half, I just felt like myself included, but just the people in general just need it, need motivation, need positive things to look forward to, inspiration, motivation from our peers.
“So as much as I’m trying to spread it to other people and try to uplift them and help them push through, it’s also a good message for me,” he added. “To help me find that balance to start my day. It’s just been a hectic year and a half with the Black Lives Matter movement and COVID, going to the bubble, lot of people losing their jobs so just trying to spread some inspiration.”
T-Wolves’ Beverley has early impact
Former Clipper Patrick Beverley spent time pregame chatting with former teammates and Clippers staffers and officials — including embracing Lawrence Frank, the team’s president of basketball operations, in a warm hug.
Traded this offseason to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Beverley has made an early impression on his new team that isn’t unlike Winslow’s early messaging: positively inspiring.
“Unique thing about Pat is having been with him when he came into the league, he had that chip on his shoulder that’s kind of been everything that he is about,” T-Wolves coach Chris Finch said before tipoff on Monday.
“And he still has it as a vet who’s had quite a bit of success in the league for somebody who went undrafted, went to Europe and did all the things he had to go through to make it here in this league. So with that chip on his shoulder, people understand he’s a self-made NBA guy and that alone carries a lot of weight.”