I’ll add 5 positives and 5 negatives in the games thus far:

Positives:

1. Nic Batum: Not only has exceeded expectations, he seems to be improving. Balsy last 3!
2. We are equally good home and away. In the Covid times, home advantage is not what it used to be. Putting the Mavs game aside, I think that all games are up for grabs for a determined Clippers team.
3. PG: He is a man on a mission. Much more decisive than last year. If he controls his turnovers, #MVPG is not a reach.
4. We are starting to be a super efficient 3PT team. (Bev: 48%, PG 49.2%, Lou 40%, Kennard 47.8%, Ibaka 40%, Batum 45.8%, Reggie 38.1%). Even Kawhi is at 33% in a bad shooting start.
5. Reggie: He is doing the right things. Not in all the games, he is still a liability defensively but definitely moving in the direction he is supposed to.

Negatives:

1. Kawhi’s shooting: He looks rusty. Bad shot selection at times and he seems to want to will shots in. May be the mask, but I think that he should just focus on to the many other things he does well and shots will follow.
2. Morris: What is taking him so long? He is practicing but we have not seen him yet, particularly after the big new contact. Is it a ploy to make Batum a solid rotation piece?
3. The ‘old’ new guys. Mann, Coffey and Fi could have been better at the start of the season. From what I expect, Mann will probably get some opportunities, Coffey will score in garbage minutes, but Fi is on his way out.
4. PatPat. He hasn’t found his role in this Clippers team. I hope he does because I think he can be an option in specific scenarios. He needs to get his 3PT% up, currently 2/9, 22%. If not I would like to see Oturu over him and Fi.
5. The Ibaka-Zu situtation. Ibaka is not as good as expected defensively (although his offense and spacing are top-notch). It’s not that he can’t defend, it’s just that he doesn’t seem as engaged at times. On the other hand, Zu hasn’t adjusted to the bech role. He is still efficient and goes to the line often, but I would like to see his rebounding back and more active defensively. This one is for Ty Lue to solve.

That said, it’ll still SUCK to see Lou traded, even though Hill would be the better option as a spot up shooter, fill in starter & defender..

My issue with Zu is the coverage they have him playing, & how POORLY he’s playing in it.. He ain’t getting a pass from me cuz alot of it is simply EFFORT! & guys aren’t getting blown by, they’re running pick n rolls ON Zu to death cuz he’s dropping so damn much.. Gotta stop blaming everyone but him.. I’ve never thought he was as good as folks made him out to be but rather a product of playing alongside 4 very good to elite defenders.. That’s why I wanted him with the starters.. I knew his flaws would show not playing with them & that’s exactly what’s happening.. Switching up coverages & getting Morris back will help immensely.. He’s quick enough & long enough to pick up most ball handlers right below the 3 point line & stop the drive while making the pass to the roller difficult.. The lack of size from the other guys doesn’t help but HE needs to do a better job in drop coverage, plain & simple.. Also, the guy doesn’t box out.. He doesn’t fight for position or nothing, he simply goes to a spot & pretty much hopes the ball bounces his way.. All these smaller guys shouldn’t be getting rebounds over him & I’m not talking Bev type rebounds where guys fly in but rebounds where they’re boxing him out.. He’s too big to play so soft, it’s frustrating to watch at times.. Give the guy more min with the starters, let the guy shine!

I think in the end it’s probably a big risk for minimal reward if it means trading Lou. You also have the distinct possibility Lou would opt to try and force his way into a buyout and stay in LA and try and get on the Lakers roster.

Would be a tough pill given how much Lou has given this franchise, and for that reason I doubt it would actually happen. Plus OKC might be able to get a better offer than an expiring Lou and maybe a 2nd rounder. But just something to think about.

Zu I would agree has had a disappointing start to the year. Perhaps we are being too hard on him because of the units he’s playing in, where he has to basically always help.

Mighty hard to jump out to defend perimeter players and/or rotate over to protect the rim after Lou/Reggie/Kennard just got blown by and yet also box out the guy he’s just switched off of to grab the defensive rebound. That being said, I’m less concerned about the numbers/box-score w/ Zu and more concerned with his effort level sometimes – he very clearly got outhustled by Derrick Favors, for example.

…and hopefully he gets his stitches out and ditches that hideous mask soon.