The Good LA Clippers don’t always show up, but when they do, they put on a show. Tonight, after a drowsy 15-minute overture, they showed up and were masterful.
A once-again complete and healthy roster made good on its considerable promise for almost everything but the first quarter, downing the Suns, 102-92, in Phoenix.
The Clippers flashed every weapon in the arsenal. They defended like maniacs, in both their zone and their switchy man-to-man. They moved the ball like the 2013 Spurs. And they rained fire.
If you’re reading that and reading the score and thinking something does not compute, know that the game tipped a little after 6:00 PM but the Good Clippers didn’t. The Meh Clippers did. The Clippers that stand around a lot. And while they stood around, the Suns passed their way to a few early threes and a lead as large as 11. But save for a light scare in the mid-fourth quarter, it was all Clippers from there.
Kawhi Leonard was the domineering superstar we’ve become accustomed to. He stood out during the languid opening quarter, teaming with Patrick Beverley and Phoenix’s shooting struggles to keep the contest close enough. His 24 points were judiciously spaced, timed for the choicest moments. His rebounding (14 total) was beastly. His passing (5 assists) was superb, including a slashing one-handed bullet to Beverley in a corner. His deep shooting (1-7) was the only bit lacking and dampened his overall conversion rate (7-17), but geez, do you want perfection?
Many Clippers took star turns, including Beverley, who canned three of five three-pointers and once rotated with himself to defend two Suns at once.
Paul George only managed a pedestrian box-score line, but took on significant playmaking duties for stretches of the second half. George looked sprightly while dusting Deandre Ayton off the dribble on multiple occasions, and if that doesn’t sound like much of an accomplishment, well we’ll get back to Ayton’s feats a little later.
Marcus Morris Sr. and Reggie Jackson both looked comfortable in their newish roles, contributing in auspicious but harmonious ways. Morris defended ably and demonstrated his off-ball offensive value, making half of his eight attempts from deep. Jackson put his massive wingspan to profitable defensive use and scored nine of his 12 points in the fourth quarter to help hold the Suns at arm’s length.
Now, back to Ayton, who is and never will be Luka Doncic, but tonight was his own kind of superlative. He looked utterly unstoppable for long stretches, eating switches and exploding for lobs. Ayton’s damn-near unique combination of size, bounce, and fluidity put most every pass near the rim in play. It also endangered the Clippers’ own attempts at the rim. His three blocks felt like seven. His dancing feet snuffed out drives from shiftier players. Ayton was every bit as good as his 25 and 17 would indicate.
Devin Booker, first-time All-Star, wasn’t as productive as his younger, larger partner, but what he lacked in accuracy (5-19 FG, 1-8 3PT) he made up for in playmaking. He recorded 10 assists and was Phoenix’s only starter to record a positive plus-minus. Once he realized he couldn’t shoot — a problem that was a little-bit bad luck and a lotta-bit Kawhi Leonard and Paul George — he passed, a decision that keyed Phoenix’s offense through its best stretches. He and Ricky Rubio, who also assisted on 10 scores, kept an impressively rotating offense in operation.
Ultimately, the Suns were doomed by their bricklaying — 26.5% on 34 three-point attempts — and a Clippers squad that is frightening when motoring at full chat.
The Good Clippers came to Phoenix, and game-by-game, they’re putting the NBA on notice.
Notables:
- Ivica Zubac was pulled in the early first quarter with two fouls, but earned a handful of desired minutes in the fourth. His work on screens and on defense were noteworthy again.
- JaMychal Green finished scoreless, but his presence was critical to some of the Clippers’ best stretches. His minutes at center put the Clippers five-out and influenced some of the Spursiest moments.
- Dario Saric started for the injured Kelly Oubre Jr., and the Suns sure missed Tsunami Papi’s outside touch. Saric clanked all three of his deep attempts.
