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J.J. Redick’s recent consistency is a great sign for the Clippers

Clippers guard J.J. Redick (4) and Pistons forward Cartier Martin chase after a loose ball during the first half of their game Wednesday in Auburn Hills, Mich.
(Carlos Osorio / Associated Press)
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After a slow start, J.J. Redick seems to have found his scoring touch.

In the last six games, he’s scored in double digits and averaged 14 points a game.

In the team’s 112-96 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday, Redick scored 13 points. When he’s making shots, other players get more opportunities because the defense has to space the floor instead of crowding the team’s superstars. After the Clippers beat the Jazz, Blake Griffin credited his 28-point performance, in part, to Redick.

“When we have Jamal [Crawford] and J.J. [Redick] in there like that, it spaces the floor,” Griffin said. “That’s really what I look for. Especially late in games, that’s what they do. And we have them spread out pretty well and they knocked shots down, so that was huge.”

Redick struggled with his shot early this season, but he never became discouraged, crediting the law of averages. So far his theory has proved true.

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He had a game against the Memphis Grizzlies in which he scored only five points in nearly 24 minutes on two-for-10 shooting. Against the Orlando Magic, he scored three points in 21 minutes, shooting one for six from the field.

But he also had a 30-point performance against the Portland Trail Blazers, during which he shot a nearly flawless 11 for 13 from the field.

What’s promising for the Clippers is that in the team’s last half-dozen games, he’s shown consistency. He doesn’t need to score huge numbers, but if he’s a constant scoring threat, that makes a big difference for the team.

The Clippers have won eight of the 12 games in which Redick has scored at least 10 points.

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