Daniel Theis willing to help Clippers any way he can
The fanfare was reserved for the return of their celebrated star player. The other Clippers player making his return, the one who went down six games into the season with a sprained medial collateral ligament, sat quietly on the bench, watching. Waiting.
Center Mason Plumlee was on the active roster Monday night for the first time since suffering his knee injury on Nov. 6, but he didn’t budge from his seat, where he watched Kawhi Leonard lead the Clippers to a 121-104 victory against the Miami Heat.
Leonard had missed four games because of a bruised hip and his return was highly anticipated.
When Plumlee will return to action isn’t set. Coach Tyron Lue wants the backup center to participate in more scrimmages – the reserves playing against the coaching staff – to improve his conditioning while getting used to wearing a knee brace.
“He is available, but we still want to make sure we are doing the right thing and making sure that we’re taking the slow (road) and ease him back in,” Lue said.
When Plumlee does come back in earnest, it will give the Clippers two centers to back up starter Ivica Zubac, three options who give the team different looks on both ends of the court. The Clippers signed Daniel Theis in November to fill the void after Plumlee went down, seamlessly moving into the rotation.
In 21 appearances, the 6-foot-8 German big man has averaged 7.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and nearly one blocked shot per game. He scored six points (2 for 3 from the field and two free throws) in 16 minutes against Miami. He said the coaching staff has not told him what his role will be once Plumlee returns.
“We’ll see what will happen,” Theis said.
While Plumlee is a solid offensive and athletic center, Theis gives the Clippers an extra offensive dimension – he can shoot from midrange and launch 3-pointers when given the opportunity.
“When I pop or space for the 3, the floor is more open for everyone else to drive,” Theis said. “They tell me, if I’m open, I shoot it. They pass me the ball, so I just have to do it.”
Theis, who agreed to a contract buyout with the Indiana Pacers to sign a free-agent deal with the Clippers, said it’s been a smooth transition playing alongside stars such as Paul George, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Leonard.
“They’ve been doing this for so long, so for me, my game has been just screening, getting those guys open, running the floor, space the floor, so I think that’s what has made it pretty easy,” Theis said.
Theis isn’t a stranger to talent-laden teams. He started his NBA career with the Boston Celtics, playing with Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier, along with rising stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
“I was fortunate to have had a lot of great (teammates) over my years and, like I said, I’m not a guy who needs the ball in my hands on the court. My game is just setting screens, getting those guys open. That’s what I learned in the NBA over my first couple years in Boston with Jayson, Jaylen, Kyrie, Gordon – all those guys and that’s why I was able to fit in easily here,” Theis said.
“We have a couple of players, with Paul coming offscreen as a big screen and with James in the pick-and-roll, he gets so much attention that sometimes they are blitzing and sending it to his right hand. So (it’s me) just adjusting and reading the game. Like I said, I don’t need the basketball in my hands to help the offense.”
CLIPPERS AT PHOENIX
When: Wednesday, 6 p.m.
Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix
TV/radio: Bally Sports SoCal/570 AM