Do the Clippers need to upgrade at small forward?
No Clipper has had a more tumultuous season than Al Thornton. After a wretched early stretch, Thornton was banished to the bench at the beginning of November in favor of Rasual Butler. Whether it was the demotion, an improved diet or the recognition that he’s not a very good jump shooter, Thornton reinvented his game on the fly. For the first time in his career, he began to move with purpose off the ball and work aggressively in the post. These adjustments boosted his offensive efficiency. With Butler struggling to find his 3-point stroke through most of November, Thornton was reinserted into the starting lineup in short order. Thornton’s progress has plateaued in recent weeks, a period that’s coincided with Butler’s draining 48.3 percent of shots from beyond the arc. With Butler the superior defender, Dunleavy has been opting for Butler over Thornton in crucial spots. Dunleavy’s ambivalence over the course of the season might be the product of cold, hard truth: Neither Butler nor Thor
