Five takeaways from the Clippers’ 93-73 exhibition loss to Toronto

Woe, Canada. The Clippers looked like lost foreign tourists for much of their second exhibition game Sunday, falling against the Toronto Raptors, 93-73, before a sold-out crowd at Rogers Arena. Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said it best when asked what he liked about his team. “Not much,” he said. Here are five takeaways from the game:

1. Lance Stephenson’s play is prompting plenty of snark. The swingman probably should have stayed off Twitter after a second consecutive substandard showing to start his Clippers career. He missed all four shots and went scoreless, bringing his two-game shooting totals to a ghastly two for 14. Rivers said afterward that he expected Stephenson to be more of a playmaker than a scorer, but Stephenson didn’t exactly thrive in that department either, collecting one assist along with one turnover. Is there reason for concern? “It’s the second preseason game and we’re just figuring each other out,” Stephenson said. “I’m not going to put too much pressure on myself and come in and try to do everything.”

2. Introductions continue to be in order for the second unit. Break out the nametags. No one seems to know what anyone else is doing or what their intentions are. The collective numbers of the bench said it all: 27 points on 10-for-35 shooting to go with 18 turnovers. No one scored more than six points. “I thought the second unit got frustrated all game,” Rivers said. Shooting guard Jamal Crawford, who had more turnovers (seven) than points (six), suggested the reserves were being too passive and unselfish. “I think some of our turnovers came off of just trying to get it and move it to the next guy,” Crawford said before adding that the bench needed to establish a pecking order for scoring options. “We’ll figure out who we want to go to and go from there.”

3. Wesley Johnson had a game that Lakers fans would recognize. There was good and bad, but mostly indifference. There was a slapdash pass that was stolen. Some strong defensive moments. A 4-foot jumper. A missed three-pointer. And lots of time spent on the court when it was difficult to remember he was even there. Rivers said his vacillating use of Johnson as a small forward and a power forward, not to mention a starter and a reserve, would make Johnson’s adjustment to his new team more difficult. Veteran Paul Pierce does not seem to be struggling with the same issues. “Paul is better at it right now clearly because Paul knows how to play,” Rivers said. “Wes is trying to figure out how to play with us and how to play.”

4. The Clippers have a center who can make free throws! Reserve big man Cole Aldrich, who made his Clippers debut after sitting out the exhibition opener with a sprained ankle, made both of his free throws, something fans of the team appreciate based on the comparative shooting skills of starting counterpart DeAndre Jordan, who missed both of his attempts Sunday. Aldrich is a 78% career free-throw shooter, so the Clippers will be happy every time he heads to the line.

5. Bring the NBA back to Vancouver! We’re not going to name any names (Memphis), but there are certainly less desirable NBA destinations (Sacramento) than Vancouver. Rivers essentially said as much. “Without saying too much, I miss Vancouver may be the better way of saying that,” Rivers said of a city that has not hosted an NBA team since the Grizzlies departed for Memphis after the 2000-01 season. “It’s just a great city, it really is. It’s vibrant, it’s just nice. It deserves a team, obviously, along with Seattle. Or let’s just get one team in one of the two. I would be happy with that.”