Diamond Stone is Making Progress

Since being sent down to the NBA Development League on January 31, Diamond Stone has played in three of the four games that the Salt Lake City Stars have played. More importantly, Stone has played relatively well. His box score lines for the three games:

Against the Northern Arizona Suns: (20 minutes)

17 points (7-12 FG), 3 rebounds, 1 block (3 turnovers, 4 fouls)

Against the Reno Bighorns: (25 minutes)

20 points (8-14 FG), 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 3 steals (3 turnovers, 3 fouls)

Against the Los Angeles D-Fenders: (20 minutes)

22 points (9-14 FG), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block (1 turnover, 2 fouls)

The good news, aside from efficient offensive production is that Stone’s fouls are down. Even if he isn’t playing perfectly, he’s learning to do so within the parameters of the rules. His prior stint in Salt Lake City would witness foul trouble for Stone in about the same playing time as he has seen in these three games. But there’s definitely a lot of room for him to work on. Dude is listed at 6’11’’ but is barely getting any rebounds. Granted, two of Stone’s three games has seen his starting point guard produce a triple double, but the lack of rebounding can be traced even back to his collegiate days. There are also plenty of plays that highlight Stone’s room for better IQ... like not chucking an air-ball three-point attempt with 18 seconds left on the shot-clock. For now we will see how he continues to develop and whether or not Doc Rivers will let Stone return to the Clippers for any form of playing time.