It’s been a rough few weeks for Josh Smith.
The Clippers forward lost his spot in the rotation just as his team started to play its best basketball of the season, a combination that will probably keep him tethered to the bench even with Blake Griffin sidelined for at least another week.
On the plus side, Smith apparently can still call on Clippers Coach Doc Rivers as a character reference.
Rivers praised Smith for wanting to play in the fourth quarter of the Clippers’ 130-99 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night at Staples Center.