When Bennedict Mathurin is on, he is borderline unstoppable and can single-handedly win games for his team. Unfortunately for him, there are two sides to his game. And the Los Angeles Clippers just saw firsthand how bad it can get with the former Indiana Pacers wing.
In his first five games as a Clipper, Mathurin averaged 22 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.8 steals while shooting 42.9% from the field (all off the bench). However, in his first start with the team on Thursday, he recorded 14 points on 4-for-14 shooting (including 0-for-4 from deep), six rebounds, two assists, one steal, six turnovers, and five fouls.
Los Angeles lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 94-88, and while Mathurin was far from the only reason, he certainly didn't help.
Everybody knows how talented Mathurin is, particularly as an iso scorer. But inconsistency has always been a big problem with him, and the Clippers are finding that out the hard way.
Bennedict Mathurin's inconsistencies continue to haunt him
During his entire time in Indiana, there was always a tale of two halves with Mathurin. And this was no different this season.
In his first 15 games of the season, he averaged 20.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 44.6% from the field and 41.1% from beyond the arc. But in his final 13 games as a Pacer, those numbers dropped to 15.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists on 41.6% shooting from the field and 31.1% from deep. Additionally, his defense and playmaking took a big hit as well during that stretch.
As he settles in with the Clippers and becomes more comfortable in their system (and naturally develops. It's important to remember he is still only 23 years old), he should be able to iron out a lot of his inconsistencies and hone his craft. But this was a problem throughout his entire career in Indiana, and early on, it looks like it could remain one in Los Angeles.
Mathurin is incredibly gifted. He is an exceptional shot creator who can score from anywhere on the court, and he can catch fire very quickly. Additionally, he's making strides as a more well-rounded team player, and there are reasons to believe he's going to be successful with the Clippers. However, he still has a lot of work to do, and it's all related to what the Pacers know very well about him.