Will J.J. Redick get to lose the warmups and play? (USATSI)
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The Clipppers are set to reach a decision on the future of wing shooter J.J. Redick and the result could determine whether LA can contend for a title this season. Redick has been out since early February with a bulging disc. It's been over a month without an update, and now the OC Register reports that the team is nearing the point where it's going to have to make the call whether to shut the veteran wing down for the year or not.
The team will determine in the upcoming weeks whether Redick is healthy enough to rejoin the team. If he's not, the club will likely shut Redick down for the rest of the season in an attempt to have him ready for training camp next year.
Redick, who hasn't played since Feb. 3 because of a bulging disc in his back, has recently ramped up a shooting program, though Doc Rivers said the team doesn't know when and if he'll be able to return.
via Decision on Redick coming: Clippers Blog: Orange County Register.
Redick has played in just 30 games this season, after being acquired in sign-and-trade this summer. Redick was brought in to be the reliable shooter the Clippers need to keep double teams off of Chris Paul an Blake Griffin. Without him, teams like Memphis scheme to funnel the ball to lesser shooters in Jared Dudley and Matt Barnes. (Barnes has been on fire for the last month but who struggled in the playoffs last season. He scored 30 points in the Clippers' blowout elimination loss to Memphis, but shot 7-of-19 in the three losses that set up the Clippers' exit in Game 6).
Losing Redick for the year would be devastating for the Clippers' hopes of making a run. As much as their interior defense needs work, their offense seems great in the regular season but needs a reliable catch-and-shoot guy. Jamal Crawford saw his playoff minutes disappear last season for a number of reasons, and Redick provides the plug-and-play type guy on both ends they need.
Redick has looked good while out on the floor, but back injuries are difficult and most often just need extended rest to heal. We'll see whether the Clippers can catch a break with the former Duke standout.
Basketball Hot News
Steve Nash responds to backlash on day team officially says he is done for season (VIDEO)
Steve Nash is honest — yes, he wanted that last year and $9 million.
Nash also says the obvious — every one of the people commenting on this site or calling talk shows saying he should not have played 10 games this season (too many to get a medial retirement), that Nash should have walked away, would have done the exact same thing he did if roles were reversed.
If you comment that you wouldn’t have, you are lying, at least to yourself. And you don’t love the game. Because if you get one thing out of this great Grantland series of Steve Nash comeback videos it’s that he does love basketball and doesn’t want to leave. Not this way. He wants to leave on his own terms.
That will come next season as the team has shut him down for the rest of this campaign. That was expected.
Nash has the same drive to get back from injuries, the same passion for the game Kobe Bryant has, he just doesn’t choose to wear it on his sleeve. It’s the kind of passion Laker fans should want on their team, in their locker room, he is the kind of player they should embrace. That some choose not to is sad and disingenuous.
But Nash in this video answers his critics far better than I can.
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