Clippers Must Continue Riding Supporting Cast Throughout 2015 Postseason

Put your hand up if you expected Austin Rivers to be the clear-cut story of the night during the Los Angeles Clippers' blowout victory over the Houston Rockets in Friday's Game 3.

Now, put those hands down. You're either lying or have a crystal ball in your possession that would make my job a whole lot easier, in which case you should drop me a line. Please and thank you.

Before LAC's supporting cast exploded in a 124-99 rout of their Western Conference competitors, it was often a punchline. Rivers more so than most, as his putrid showings early in his NBA career have left him with an unfortunate reputation. He's usually the subject of social media derision, not a player who can come off the bench and leave to a standing ovation after he'd inspired "Aus-tin Riv-ers" chants from the Staples Center crowd and poked fun at James Harden with the stir-the-pot celebration. 

But, as Sports Illustrated's Gabriel Baumgaertner wrote earlier this week, the Duke product is forcing the world to put aside prior feelings and respect the efforts he's giving. Rivers didn't ask for this type of treatment, his play certainly hasn't merited it lately, and he's doing his darnedest to earn a tabula rasa for next season. 

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Here's the problem with all of the arguments above [about Rivers' punching-bag status]: Austin Rivers is crucial to the Clippers' playoff success. He earned a game ball from team captain Chris Paul after his pivotal performance in Game 4 against the Spurs. His defense in Game 1 against the Rockets (primarily on star scorer James Harden) was a key reason the Clippers stole a game nobody thought they’d win. Like him or not, his contributions will partially determine the Clippers’ fate in the postseason.

Yes, Austin Rivers means that much to an NBA title contender. Challenge if you wish, vomit if you please.

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Baumgaertner penned those lines before Rivers put on a show in Game 3. Just like the rest of us, he had no idea the coach's son would end up recording 25 points (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field), six rebounds, two assists, one steal, one block and only two turnovers, highlighted by a 15-point third quarter that left no doubt about the eventual outcome.

And again, if Baumgaertner did know this was coming, I'd very much like access to his tea leaves.

This importance isn't just going to wither away now that Chris Paul is back in the lineup. Nor is the vital nature of the rest of the supporting cast. 

Let's say Paul works his way back to 100 percent after pulling his hamstring in Game 7 against the San Antonio Spurs. He's no worse for wear, and he'll just reassume his place as a key cog in the starting five, serving as the spark plug for the Association's most dominant offense. 

Even in that situation, the Clippers can't rely on just Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. That's one heck of a Big Three, especially with Griffin playing like he did in Paul's absence during Games 1 and 2 of this series with the Rockets, but it's not a recipe for long-term success. Not against a Houston squad that will surely show some resiliency during the rest of this second-round battle, and certainly not against whomever LAC might face next. 

The supporting cast is just more important than ever. And if it plays like it did on Friday night, the Clippers are going to be a serious threat to take down the Rockets and then work their way past either the Golden State Warriors or Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference Finals. 

After all, Rivers wasn't the only standout. As ESPN.com's J.A. Adande astutely observed, the game's leading scorer didn't even make headlines, thanks to the exploits of the midseason addition to the LAC backcourt: 

J.J. Redick would actually add to that total, scoring more points than he ever had in a playoff game and doing so while consistently playing some solid defense against Harden.

The other former Blue Devil's previous high during the NBA's second season was 22, and that came last April against the Warriors. But the sharpshooter finished with 31 points, which actually came close to beating out any mark he'd ever recorded during his regular-season career, as the best remains a 33-spot against the Dallas Mavericks last January. 

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

This was only the fourth time that he'd scored more than 30 points in a single game, and the two we haven't mentioned came in 2012 and 2013—both while he was with the Orlando Magic.

But this wasn't just a Mike Krzyzewski lovefest. Other players from different collegiate backgrounds stood out in a positive way during Game 3.

Jamal Crawford kept making shots, as he's done all series. Glen Davis earned cheers from the crowd whenever he trotted onto the court, and while he didn't have big numbers, he still provided a nice boost of energy and tough play.

Hell, even Spencer Hawes got off the pine and not even during garbage time, as that's when Lester Hudson, Hedo Turkoglu and Dahntay Jones got some run. Hawes actually played important minutes Friday night. ESPN's Arash Markazi noted Doc Rivers' comments:

To emphasize how rare that's been lately, the floor-spacing big man had only appeared in three of the Clippers' other nine playoff games this year, playing a total of 11 minutes and scoring just two points. On Friday night, he doubled his total playoff playing time and recorded two points, three boards, two assists and two blocks, helping LAC outscore Houston by 20 points while he was on the floor.

This is the type of well-rounded production the Clippers need going forward. 

The NBA playoffs are always a grueling ordeal. They come on the heels of a tiring 82-game campaign, and no matter what, it takes 16 wins to hold up the Larry O'Brien Trophy. There are going to be injuries, and there's going to be fatigue. Overcoming those ill effects is crucial, and it's a lot easier to do when your fans don't need to hold their breath as soon as the starters need to catch theirs. 

Just imagine if the Clippers get by the Rockets and play the Dubs in the penultimate round. Golden State routinely brings plenty of quality players off the bench—most notably Marreese Speights, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston and Leandro Barbosa—and every member of the starting five is dangerous.

A shallow rotation isn't going to work against that type of opponent, and that's assuming it even works well enough to hold on to the series lead against Harden's Rockets, who aren't going to be sitting back, twiddling their thumbs and accepting their fates prior to Game 4.

With all that in mind, this is now the ideal time to keep building trust.

Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images

Confidence is so vital in these situations, and this is now a fantastic start to build upon. But beyond that, the situation is perfect for continuing to get strong contributions from the entirety of the supporting cast, as Paul's lingering injury lessens his role with the team and thrusts more import onto shoulders that don't typically carry so much responsibility.

With a 2-1 series lead and stolen home-court advantage against an opponent that has been inferior throughout the year, the Clippers can afford to keep taking these chances. Even if they don't work, forcing Doc Rivers to scramble for other answers, they're now playing with a cushion.

It's Paul, Griffin and Jordan who typically draw all the headlines. It's Paul, Griffin and Jordan who typically do the vast majority of the heavy lifting. 

But this is playoff basketball now, and the stakes are only getting higher as we move further away from the 82nd game of the regular season. 

Now, it's everyone else who helps determine just how deep this team can advance. 

Note: All stats, unless otherwise indicated, come from Basketball-Reference.

Adam Fromal covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @fromal09.