When the Los Angeles Clippers acquired J.J. Redick and Jared Dudley over the summer via trade, many around the league felt that the team surrounded Chris Paul and Blake Griffin with the perfect pieces: solid role players with exceptional touch from the outside to provide great spacing for both stars. Paul would pick defenses apart with so many options to choose from, while Griffin would have all the room he could ask for to operate in the low block.
For the most part, those things have come to fruition. Redick had been terrific for the team prior to his hand injury, while Paul and Griffin have averaged a double-double so far on the season. The one piece that has yet to pan out has been the play of Dudley, as the small forward has been less than stellar for the team. He has averaged 8.2 points on a career worst 43.3 percent from the field and just 32.1 percent from beyond the arc. He has also grabbed a career worst 1.7 rebounds despite playing nearly 29 minutes per game.
After scoring just four points on one-of-seven shooting against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, Dudley felt the need to apologize to the Clippers fans for his poor performance:
I just have to apologize to all clipper fans by my play this season! I been playing like s****. It’s been downright embarrassing!
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) December 13, 2013
I will continue to stay in the gym and make the necessary adjustments.. I will play better, just going through a tough stretch.
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) December 13, 2013
This goes to show that when a player is struggling, no one knows about it more than said player. It’s not the easiest thing for a player to get into a great rhythm knowing they are the clear-cut fifth option on the team. Perhaps that’s part of the problem, but Dudley has gone through tough stretches in the past and bounced back from them. The swingman clearly cares deeply about his level of play, and that means extra time in the gym, as he mentioned. Extra time in the gym usually equates to better production, so it should only be a matter of time before he puts it together for himself. Until then, all you can do is preach patience if you’re rooting for the Clippers.
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James Park is the chief blogger of Sheridan Hoops. You can find him on twitter @SheridanBlog.
Just stay in the gym and don’t come out at game time, thanks.