Ewing is determined to make every minute count
Daniel Ewing played a key role as Sam Cassell’s backup early last season while Shaun Livingston was injured, and Ewing is the No. 2 point guard again while Cassell recovers from a heel injury.
Although the second-year player’s minutes are expected to decrease when Cassell returns, Ewing is determined to capitalize on his opportunity.
“I’m getting my chance to help the team right now, and I just want to do everything I can when I’m out there,” said Ewing, who had four points and two assists in Friday’s 116-105 loss to the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center.
“I’m just trying to get everybody involved, take good shots and get the offense going. If I do that, I know I’m doing my job and I’m helping this team. And when you’re doing that it just helps your confidence.”
Ewing had his best performance of the season in Wednesday’s victory over the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena.
With Livingston in early foul trouble, Ewing ran the offense well and finished with 12 points, five assists and five rebounds.
Livingston was impressed.
“It only makes the whole team better when you have guys who can come in and step up like that,” Livingston said. “It gives your teammates more confidence in you when they see you play the way he did.
“It just shows guys they can trust you in those tough times in games. That’s big when guys know that, so that was great for Daniel and us.”
*
Elton Brand has been among the NBA’s consistent rebounders in his career with an average of 10.3 a game, but he’s averaging a career-low 8.9 rebounds this season.
“I’m usually at around 10, so that’s only about one rebound a game, which is really not a lot to me,” Brand said. “We’ve got Tim Thomas playing a lot and Corey [Maggette] playing a lot, those guys are pretty big [small forwards], and they’re going to box out and rebound.”
*
TONIGHT
at Atlanta, 4 PST, Channel 5
Site -- Philips Arena.
Radio -- 830.
Records -- Clippers 15-18, Hawks 9-21.
Record vs. Hawks (2005-06) -- 2-0.
Update -- The Hawks have lost eight in a row. Atlanta swingman Josh Childress is sidelined because of a broken bone in his left foot.
*
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
