Patrick Beverley isn’t winning any individual awards with the Lakers this season. Except Flop of the Year.
Terance Mann knocked the ball out of Beverley’s hands as Pat Bev tried to drive on Paul George and his old team, the LA Clippers. Beverley fell down as if a sniper had targeted him from the rafters of the Crypto.com Arena, and grabbed his head in fake pain.
TNT broadcast Stan Van Gundy called it out immediately.
“Pat Beverley going down like he got hit in the head,” Van Gundy narrated during the replay. After a pause he added, “He did not get hit in the head. That was a pretty good acting job.”
Acting was all Beverley had to fall back on in a 133-115 loss where he scored just three points on 1-8 shooting. And despite Beverley’s All-Defensive Team pedigree, his Lakers gave up 77 points in the first half, wasting a 46-point masterpiece from LeBron James.
Showing an undaunted spirit and zero self-awareness, Beverley also yelled at Kawhi Leonard after he thought Leonard flopped on a foul call. Unfortunately, Beverley’s mind games don’t work on a cyborg like Kawhi.
Even after the Lakers’ third loss to their crosstown rivals this season, Beverley is going to remain undaunted–fighting, scrapping and flopping for any possible edge. George said as much after the game.
“Pat takes a personal challenge,” George told reporters after the game. “Pat is 3-0 in his mind against us.”
And even when the flop is embarrassing, teammates love Beverley’s do-anything spirit.
“Regardless of the competitive side of it on the court, we have a strong relationship,” George continued. “That’s my guy.”
