"Patrick Beverley in the playoffs is an issue" — Iman Shumpert speaks on Patrick Beverley's value to the Los Angeles Lakers
Patrick Beverley
© Gary A. Vasquez - USA TODAY Sports
Since retiring from the league, former NBA swingman Iman Shumpert has provided a fantastic insight into the inner workings of the Association and its players. “Shump” has used his various social media platforms to discuss his career in detail, as well as the mental side involved in a long and productive career - and one player who caught his eye is Patrick Beverley.
Shumpert understands the rarity in Beverley
The feisty defender has come under the microscope this season with the Lakers, struggling to shine in his role and significantly underwhelming on the offensive end.
Despite Beverley’s slow start, Shumpert recently sat down to discuss his value and what he can bring to the table come playoff time.
“Patrick Beverley in the playoffs is an issue, he had that quote like ‘nah they’re playing with me I made it to the playoffs last year’, but most don’t understand there are certain people that in the playoffs they get it, they know how to beat somebody four times. That’s a very important thing that you know how to do if you’re in the league, like you have to know how to beat somebody in the playoffs. They have a team that knows how to win in the playoffs.”
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Shump understands what it takes to win
It’s worthwhile putting stock into what Shumpert has to say, as he’s one of the few players that has graced the league and collected an NBA championship along the way.
What’s more, Shump would understand better than most as he and Beverley share similar traits in what they offer on the floor.
Both players earned their reputations on the defensive end and made a name for themselves being irritants and disrupters on that side of the ball. In addition, Shump and Beverley are limited offensively and sparingly used as secondary ball handlers but mostly deployed as floor spacers with the ability to connect from beyond the arc.
The biggest similarity, however, is their competitive fearlessness and not being afraid to take the toughest defensive assignment on a nightly basis.
As it stands, Beverley is averaging just 4.1 points, 2.9 assists, and shooting just 26% from the field. On the bright side, the season is still young, and it’s likely sooner rather than later that the 34-year-old will figure it out and find a way to contribute to the team consistently.
Beverley possesses the winning intangibles that are paramount to team success, and the Lakers will need him if they want to make any noise when it matters most.
