LA Clippers coach Doc Rivers says he isn't planning on Patrick Beverley being able to play in Game 5.
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00:00The LA Clippers have struggled defensively in their first ground series, the Dallas Mavericks,
00:04and some of that has to be chalked up to the absence of Patrick Beverly. The star defender
00:09has missed three consecutive games due to injury, and unfortunately it looks like he
00:12won't be available for Game 5 either. During his media availability on Monday, coach Doc Rivers
00:18said he isn't planning on having Beverly available for Tuesday's contest, saying,
00:21quote, I haven't heard one thing that he might play. It doesn't mean he might not. Right now,
00:26I'm not planning on it, and so because of that, we have to make tough decisions at the end of
00:30every game. That's just the way it is. Shortly after Monday's media sessions were concluded,
00:34the Clippers officially listed Beverly as doubtful to play in Game 5. That said,
00:38LA Times reporter Andrew Greif shared a video on Twitter of Beverly warming up before today's
00:43practice. It looked like Beverly's moving pretty well in that video. Rivers has previously said
00:48that Beverly's injury isn't serious, but the team is exercising caution with his return,
00:51and obviously don't want to not have Beverly be available for later rounds of the playoffs. If
00:56Beverly does miss Game 5, expect Landry Schammett to start in his place once again. The second-year
01:01guard had a career performance off the usual starters in Game 3 of the series, and has played
01:05better with that group than Reggie Jackson has so far. Of course, the most ideal situation is
01:10having Beverly play in Game 5, and so on, you know, if he's able to. Not only is he one of the
01:15team's best players, best defensive players, that is, but he's made a strong case to be considered
01:20the leader of this group as well. During the regular season, the Clippers went 38-13 when
01:24Beverly played, and 11-10 without him. What the Clippers miss most right now, though,
01:29is his communication. Clippers have looked lost on defense on several occasions throughout the
01:34series, which rarely happens when Beverly's on the floor. L.A. and Dallas took the floor
01:38for Game 5 on Tuesday, August 25th at 9 p.m. Eastern Time, with or without Magic Beverly.