Isaiah Jackson started only 45 times in 219 career games. Jackson, which was acquired by the company Clippers in Ivitsa Zubak traded to Indiana last season, will get the starting nod at center when the Clippers open their season against Sacramento on Wednesday. Jackson came off the bench in all 17 games for the Clippers last season.
“I think any player’s goal is to be a starter in the NBA.” Jackson said Janice Carr of the Orange County Register. “I mean, I feel like you dream of growing up and getting a chance to prove yourself. Again, I’m not going to walk away from that or back down from that. I think the work that I put in last year, at the end of the year, then this summer is what ultimately got me that starting role.”
Here’s more from the Pacific Division:
- How will it be Lakers cope with adversity? This is a big problem for a head coach Jay Jay Reddickaccording to ESPN’s Ben Golliver. “It’s different for every team,” Reddick said. “Maybe it’s different from how we deal with adversity in November to how we deal with adversity in March. Hopefully there’s growth throughout the season so we can handle adversity the right way and that ultimately sets us up for a deep playoff run.” Austin Reeves confident that the team will be stable once the updated roster becomes familiar. “We’re good enough to win a lot of games, but I don’t think we’re as good as we can be.” Reeves said. “With (the reps) and the competition in the game and going through adversity, it’s only going to help us get better in the long run.”
- Graham Ike will have a role with Warriors earlier this season, according to the coach Steve Kerr. The former Gonzaga big man has earned the trust of Nick Friedel’s coaching staff tweets. with Charles Bassey fight against tendinitis of the knee jointKerr won’t hesitate to play Ike if Bessie has to miss games. The Warriors will need depth in the middle Kristaps Porzingis goes out indefinitely and Al Horford not playing back-to-back, Friedel notes. Ike signed two-way deal last month.
- Devin Booker hopes that the sun which did not make many major changes other than the acquisition Miles Bridgescould turn the streak into a long playoff streak, he said Dwayne Rankin of the Arizona Republic. “I know you hear it all the time, but with a new group, I say we’re in our second year with new guys, we just have to get better every day,” he said. “I’ll use the (New York) Knicks as an example last year. I don’t know how many people made them win a title early in the season, but you can push a button at the right time. You need a lot of things to go your way. Everybody knows that. People who’ve done it a few times will say that, too. You just want to keep the aura. Keep the right workspace. Everyone thinks together, and I think that’s your best chance.”
- Brandin underground will not play in warriors opening Wednesday because of lower back pain, Brett Siegel of Clutch Points tweets. The underground world signed five-year extension earlier this month. He didn’t miss a single game last season.