Rowan Kavner

LOS ANGELES – For many players, going from starter to reserve can be demoralizing.

That’s not the case for Wesley Johnson, or for any of the Clippers’ backups, despite many of them realizing they could be starting elsewhere.

“It’s bigger than me,” Johnson said after serving as a key cog of a bench unit sparking the Clippers’ 35-point comeback victory in Thursday’s preseason finale. “We’re trying to do something historic here. We want to win. That’s everybody’s goal, so everybody’s buying into it.”

Johnson started three games early in the preseason before serving his role as a bench player as the regular season drew closer. Head coach Doc Rivers has seen a more comfortable player in Johnson since the switch.

It’s something with a small sample size Rivers wants to continue to evaluate, but he can see better spacing with the backup group when Johnson’s on the floor. Johnson didn’t take a shot the first three quarters of the comeback victory Thursday only to go 4-for-4 in the fourth quarter, unafraid to shoot, not hesitating as he pulled the trigger.

“We’re starting to build that chemistry in practice,” Johnson said, “and when they moved me down there it was a comfortable fit.”

No complaining. No bickering about what his role will be. Johnson knows he may start some games, and he may be part of the bench unit. He doesn’t seem to care, which appears to be a theme among the Clippers’ reserves.

“It’s about what’s best for the team,” said Austin Rivers. “Wes knows he could go somewhere and start. I feel like I could go a lot of places and start, to be honest, the way I put in my work this summer. Josh (Smith) could start a lot of places. Paul (Pierce) started his whole career, he’s not complaining about it.

“Just think, he’s a Hall of Famer, he hasn’t said a word about it. If he’s not complaining, I’m sure not complaining. It’s about the team.”

The Clippers have preached patience with so many new faces on the backup unit, but Austin Rivers felt something click in practice a couple days ago, and the reserves haven’t slowed down since.

On Thursday, the reserves showed why they could be starting elsewhere.

Pierce went 7-for-11 and 5-of-7 from deep, while Austin Rivers went 6-of-11 and 3-of-5 from 3-point range. Smith added three field goals, four rebounds, four assists and a swat on Damian Lillard as the Clippers finished their comeback.

And, of course, there was Johnson’s 4-for-4 night, helping turn a nine-point deficit after three quarters into a six-point win.

“It’s all about confidence,” Pierce said. “That’s with everybody. A lot of guys have a lot of talent in this league, but guys’ confidence waivers. Maybe it’s due to minutes, things that go on off the court. You never know with guys, but (Johnson) knows he has the talent. That’s the reason we brought him here, that’s the reason he was a high pick in the draft.”

Pierce didn’t want to blow up the preseason finale into more than it was, calling it a great tune-up for the regular season.

But he sees a group around him buying in to whatever role is asked of each player on a given night, whether starting or coming off the bench.

“Everybody understands the big picture,” Pierce said. “Everybody wants to win. You’ve got a lot of guys on here who’ve made a lot of money in their careers, signed contracts. You’ve got to ask yourself, ‘What’s left?’ For me, it’s to win another championship. You ask other guys, and they say the same thing.”

Those other guys he’s referring to then look at Pierce, an NBA Finals MVP and 10-time All-Star willingly coming off the bench, and realize there’s nothing to complain about.

“I think when people come into situations where they’re traded and their role is minimized, some people can’t cope with it,” Smith said. “But we all want to be here. We’re playing for a purpose, and we’re willing to sacrifice.”