Cole Aldrich goes from DNP’s to key bench producer with Clippers

By Staff     Jan 19, 2016
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Los Angeles Clippers' Cole Aldrich, left, dunks past Miami Heat's Justise Winslow during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)

What has gotten into Cole Aldrich?

The sixth-year big man out of Kansas who spent most of November and December not even checking into games for his new team, the Los Angeles Clippers, has turned into a bit of a force off the bench.

The Clippers’ coach and general manager, Doc Rivers, [told the Orange County Register][1] the 6-foot-11, 250-pound Aldrich has helped give L.A.’s bench an identity.

> “Cole just knows who he is,” Rivers
> said. “He has this body, and he uses
> it. He doesn’t try to beat you
> athletically; he just gets his body in
> the right positions. He rolls to the
> right spot.”

Aldrich is doing more than just providing a large, warm body in the paint. The burly 27-year-old center, who has averaged 3.3 points and 3.5 rebounds while playing for five different franchises in his career, has actually been an effective piece of the Clippers’ offense, too.

Since Rivers began using Aldrich more, in a 1-point loss to Oklahoma City on Dec. 21, the Clippers are 11-2. In January, Aldrich is averaging 9.4 points and 6.1 rebounds, while making 54% of his shots in just 15.7 minutes an outing.

Aldrich’s recent success obviously has been a direct result of more minutes. But injuries to other Clippers played a part in his prolonged opportunity. All-star forward Blake Griffin hasn’t played since Christmas, due to a quad injury, opening up minutes in Rivers’ rotation.

Still, with the way Aldrich has taken advantage of filling in, it’s hard to see Rivers abandoning his newfound option down low. What’s more, L.A. point guard Chris Paul [told the L.A. Times][2] the team’s recent run of injuries should make the Clippers better when they’re fully healthy .

> “These guys missing games is giving
> other guys an opportunity to build
> their confidence,” Paul said, “and
> that way when they come back it just
> adds that much more depth to our
> team.”

On Saturday in a loss to Sacramento, Aldrich didn’t look so hot to start the game, missing 6 of his first 7 shots. But he showed Rivers and his teammates something by making his final 7 shot attempts, on his way to 19 points and 10 boards.

> “Well, he had to have it,” [Rivers
> said to the Los Angeles Daily News][3]
> of Aldrich’s strong finish, “because
> he missed some, as we did as a team,
> he missed some pretty point-blank
> looks, and so he’s been pretty
> persistent.”

Rivers praised Aldrich for his professionalism, and being ready to contribute to the team after not playing at all in 22 games earlier this season.

> “Never stopped working,” the coach
> added of Aldrich, “actually worked
> himself into better shape in not
> playing, which is hard to do. So I
> think that says a lot about his
> character.”

[Aldrich told the L.A. Daily News][4] he knows how to star in his role, by doing the most with his abilities.

> “I mean, I know that my role is to set
> screens, roll hard,” the backup big
> man said, “if given the opportunity to
> make some buckets, make them and then
> just defend the rim.”

The Clippers’ veterans love Aldrich’s professionalism. Paul said Aldrich shows up and works hard every day.

> “I mean, you couldn’t find anybody on
> our team that could say something bad
> about Cole,” Paul said.

Then again, when Aldrich lets his goofy side out, all of his teammates don’t mind telling him what an awful dancer he is.

Haha somebody help my boy Cole get some dance moves ??! Lol but way to play big fella. Clips going to keep this thing rolling ?

A video posted by Austin Rivers (@austinjrivers) on

At least Aldrich owns it. Just like he does his backup role.

—

*- Keep up with the production of all the ‘Hawks in the NBA [daily at KUsports.com][5]*

—

*- [Follow @BentonASmith on Twitter][6]*

[1]: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/aldrich-699981-prigioni-going.html
[2]: http://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/la-sp-clippers-20160115-story.html
[3]: http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20160118/la-clippers-cole-aldrich-showed-character-saturday
[4]: http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20160108/cole-aldrich-cant-dance-but-clippers-know-he-can-play
[5]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/mens_basketball/hawks_nba/
[6]: https://twitter.com/BentonASmith

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