Comments on: Clippers Top Knicks 106-95 due to Kawhi Brilliance https://213hoops.com/clippers-top-knicks-106-95-due-to-kawhi-brilliance/ L.A. Clippers News and Analysis Tue, 14 Mar 2023 05:44:16 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.3.19 By: WhyNotTyler https://213hoops.com/clippers-top-knicks-106-95-due-to-kawhi-brilliance/#comment-42643 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 05:44:16 +0000 https://213hoops.com/?p=18499#comment-42643 Yes, this often is true. Not always though. Russ shoots 72.2% at the rim and 60.7% from 3-10 feet as a Clipper – vs a very tough schedule so far. His clutch turnover rate is equally impressive and the very opposite of the popular narrative.

So eye-test plays a role, yeah. However, double-checking is worth it before jumping to conclusions, see his plusminus, the non-Leonard minutes, the defensive team stats or on the Lakers LeBron without Russ vs LeBron together with Russ as other examples. A lot of false narratives out there based on subjective eye-tests without anything else.

Agreed on Gordon’s steadiness so far. All three of those guys have shown good restraint not just looking for their own shot but making (mostly) good decisions for the team’s offense, with Gordon being the steadiest over these 8 games, I’d agree with that.

]]>
By: WhyNotTyler https://213hoops.com/clippers-top-knicks-106-95-due-to-kawhi-brilliance/#comment-42642 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 05:34:28 +0000 https://213hoops.com/?p=18499#comment-42642 I think that depends whether or not PG and Kawhi or one of the two are also out there. Russ needs scoring threats around. Powell plus Kawhi can work. Only Powell and Morris with Russ is very shaky as you lack volume and reliable production.

Defensively, Westbrook needs two things: a rim protector and a wing defender who can guard elite players. The starters got that in abundance which is why I think a) that it works with Russ and Morris but also b) that they would be even better with RoCo for Morris in most matchups. Also c) whether it’s Russ or Gordon or Mann makes little difference over a larger sample size. Whoever is healthy and in good form that day. Same on offense but on offense I see matchups having a bigger impact.

]]>
By: WhyNotTyler https://213hoops.com/clippers-top-knicks-106-95-due-to-kawhi-brilliance/#comment-42641 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 05:25:06 +0000 https://213hoops.com/?p=18499#comment-42641 I agree that Russ isn’t consistent. Furthermore that he’s probably better playing 25-30 minutes.

Otoh, I’ve seen his clutch defense – he gets better, not worse late in games when we look at eye-test. He really digs in when the games are tightly contested. He also gets better with regards to turnovers, his clutch turnover percentage is a fraction of his average percentage.

He often has bad stretches offensively (first quarter last game or several fourth quarters with the Lakers where he took way too many shots and jump shots to make it worse), then great ones and mixed ones (e.g. no turnovers after the first quarter last game but struggling to finish and just one assist – plus one taken away because the refs didn’t see the goaltend vs Zu). It’s critical to sit Russ when one of two things happen: struggling to playmake in general (packed paint, defenders daring him to shoot, bigs covered and passing lanes jumped/his passing inaccurate; multiple out-of-control dribbles, especially when the play he was trying to make wasn’t a great decision) or poor shooting night for the team/few scoring threats around him and Russ shouldering the scoring burden inefficiently taking too many shots (all these factors usually coincide and it can be combined with the first situation of teams packing the paint). Warriors game was a prime example, first quarter Raptors was one as well but TL and Russ figured out a counter.

In all other situations Russ will either boost your offense or find other ways to contribute, he’ll be solid or better (Toronto again as an example, really good after the first quarter but Mann was even better so Terrance closed).

Totally agree on the switching. Early on, him and Nico messed up a couple of switches. That communication has improved. And a switching scheme (WITH a rim protector) is perfect for Russ (and EG and a ton of other Clippers) as this team is loaded with versatile defenders. Compare to Houston. While the second half of his season was way better, that was mainly about finding his offensive role, tweaking his shot selection, immediately attacking from an off-ball position and getting to gel with his teammates (same thing happened at Washington). However, stats will show you that overall, Houston was better when Russ played with Capela. The pairing was never problematic as Westbrook and a good defensive big/love threat has always worked well. Rockets just wanted to go all-in on shooting and spacing (which really cost them matchup versatility). Back to L.A.: Clippers have very similar personnel to that Houston squad. The big difference being that the stars are wings, not backcourt players. Second difference, they have recognized the importance of a big being on the court. You can’t go small all the time. In their first game with Russ, the small lineups were turrible, the big lineups very solid.

On ‘not another skill he provides’ – it’s really relative to alternatives and the playing situation. Take the Wolves game: Russ had a good assist-to-turnover ratio. Rest of the team was horrendous being put in ball handling, passing or playmaking situations. Knicks game 1st quarter: the quarter where Russ had all his turnovers. And yet the second unit couldn’t score or break down the Knicks defense. In that case, you rather live with for example 3-8 shooting or the turnovers as long as Russ gets you extra possessions, a few assists, a 50/50 rebound here, a steal or deflection there. It’s always relative to how others perform. Again, Raptors game: he was better than vs the Knicks. But so was Mann so he should play over him. If he’s worse he shouldn’t. Either happened multiple times already. That’s why I wouldn’t make a general statement with regards to playing time for X or Y. Trying to take my own advice and dialling back my criticism on RoCo vs Morris (in spite of thinking that’s a little more lopsided than Russ/Gordon/Mann where on any given night one could outplay the other two).

Anyhow, in my opinion the team is trending in the right direction when it comes to playing style, in particular on defense and with regards to shot distribution/balance/versatility on offense. Huge game coming up, beating the Dubs or not should determine what seed they can challenge. Guess 4th if they win and 5th-6th if they lose.

]]>
By: WhyNotTyler https://213hoops.com/clippers-top-knicks-106-95-due-to-kawhi-brilliance/#comment-42639 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 03:48:14 +0000 https://213hoops.com/?p=18499#comment-42639 My main focus is usually either Russ or something I observed in the previous games (mostly coaching wrinkles and team offense or defense) in order to figure out whether it’s a pattern/by design or small sample size theatre. I’ve paid a bit more attention to Morris though and as implied, he was mostly also a part of a functioning offense. I’m a bit down on his energy level sometimes (the first Quickley 3 I described for example, he gets screened away too easily) and I miss the edge he used to have.

That being said, haven’t paid enough attention to detail to make safe statements about his overall game yet. When performing though, him and Russ fit the starting unit’s defense. The same can be said for Mann or Gordon, when performing. Encouraging: starters with Zu are +13.something per 100 possessions (Russ has already played more minutes with this lineup than with ANY Lakers lineup, which is pretty wild). Starters with Plumlee were a clear negative but the difference shouldn’t be that big over a larger sample size. Did they play vs the Warriors? I guess so. Let’s see what they can do with Zu back (and vs Steph).

With all those guys mentioned, I think all are pretty much equally viable options when they play decent. I’ll try to play closer attention to Morris, his strengths and weaknesses (I think Aaron Gordon was the main matchup that killed him where RoCo should definitely have played). Let’s see

]]>
By: Bradley Curry https://213hoops.com/clippers-top-knicks-106-95-due-to-kawhi-brilliance/#comment-42637 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 00:34:08 +0000 https://213hoops.com/?p=18499#comment-42637 Agreed! I wonder if it’s because he’s fresh from not playing much. But I would definitely like more RoCo, but I get that Ty is in a pinch to integrate 3 new rotation players with not much time left.

]]>
By: mlslaw1 https://213hoops.com/clippers-top-knicks-106-95-due-to-kawhi-brilliance/#comment-42636 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 00:17:04 +0000 https://213hoops.com/?p=18499#comment-42636 But I have to say that when given the opportunity, RoCo opens some eyes with some very solid play. Active on D and he can take a beating too.

]]>
By: mlslaw1 https://213hoops.com/clippers-top-knicks-106-95-due-to-kawhi-brilliance/#comment-42635 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 00:14:34 +0000 https://213hoops.com/?p=18499#comment-42635 Applause for bucking the popular trend here with a cogent argument; i.e. facts.

]]>
By: mlslaw1 https://213hoops.com/clippers-top-knicks-106-95-due-to-kawhi-brilliance/#comment-42634 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 00:13:06 +0000 https://213hoops.com/?p=18499#comment-42634

Marcus Morris is, he’s willing to take the beating at the 4

And I think that’s exactly Ty’s thinking. Save Kawhi from some of that beating. Method to his madness?

]]>
By: mlslaw1 https://213hoops.com/clippers-top-knicks-106-95-due-to-kawhi-brilliance/#comment-42633 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 00:08:54 +0000 https://213hoops.com/?p=18499#comment-42633

I’m afraid with all 3, we’ll lose every single game.

I think we all agree with that JBugs–but do you think Ty does?

]]>
By: mlslaw1 https://213hoops.com/clippers-top-knicks-106-95-due-to-kawhi-brilliance/#comment-42632 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 00:05:22 +0000 https://213hoops.com/?p=18499#comment-42632 Eye test: hard to overcome Russ’ TOs, failure to finish some layups (hard to finish with control when ur going so fast/hard) and his being a non threat from deep. PO teams will game plan for him and it mite not be a pretty picture.
But don’t get me wrong–I like his assists/rebounding and he certainly tries to defend. But, as Austin Reeves implies, Russ plays “crazy,” at times. He certainly has some skills that Mann should emulate — passing, rebounding — but, on balance, I like Gordon’s steadiness for those minutes.

]]>