Comments on: Player Grades on the 2025-2026 Clippers at the Quarter-Mark

By: khyber jones

khyber jones — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:15:07 +0000

I cringed at the inclusion of SGA at the time. My kids and I watched a lot of his rookie season games at Staples Center and it was remarkable to me how this young guy became the team’s clear team’s point guard as a rookie as the season progressed. The team’s performance in March that year was one of the most enjoyable moments as a Clipper fan. Only thing he was missing at that time was a consistent 3 pt shot but it looked like he could get any shot he wanted in the mid range area.

I was excited about getting PG but worried about the cost. I think all LAC fans were just hungry for a shot at the title and Kawhi had captured the imagination of basketball fans around the world with one of the all time great postseasons by an individual player. If it were not for the injury vs Utah, we might’ve had a shot at 2 chips but I think every LAC fan knew at the time that we were giving up a guy who was more likely to be an all star than a flop.

By: khyber jones

khyber jones — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:04:38 +0000

I’m a bit more optimistic that the team is beginning to recognize how running things through Zu is the key to staying competitive in games. Where LAC needs to make adjustments is in positioning shooters on the floor around him and Kawhi when they get into the paint and draw coverage. It means taking Dunn off the floor for about half of his current mins and using him more strategically and trusting the young guys with scoring talent (Sanders, Christie, Miller) more and also playing Bogi at the #2 more to perhaps start games. That’s a tough ask of Lue, but we’re at that point in the season where we can foresee LAC losing 15 of 20 games the same way they’ve lost the last 3 without better offensive production from the #2 spot and from role players when 1 of Kawhi, Harden, Zu are off the floor.

We can also see that Harden + Kawhi are increasingly more efficient off of screen assisted plays than 1 v 1 shot creation plays. Getting the team to run more structured offense was CP3s basic criticism and I think he was right, even if abrasively so. That’s Ty Lue’sc challenge.

Perhaps LAC makes a trade to get someone Zach Lavine (+ some draft capital for taking on the contract) and that makes the game easier for Lue to manage. In the absence of that type of move, Lue has to have a different approach.

By: khyber jones

khyber jones — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 23:57:33 +0000

When a team is this bad, the grades are going to be harsh. I disagree with the Zu grade, however. I think he’s been just as good as last year, but the even worse play from the 2nd unit 5s and the poor 1st unit offense which often puts him at a disadvantage to go along with low iq defense by Dunn, Collins and perhaps lazy defense due to fatigue from Harden have been contributing factors. Kawhi also paces himself defensively. Thought he was really good vs Houston but he’s been uneven at that end.

I think with better offensive execution, a better solution for the 2nd units from Lue, and a few less low iq plays on loose ball/open floor situations this team would be pretty close to .500.

LAC just doesn’t have enough shooting from the role player guards/wings and the backup #5 situation has been disaster.

By: mlslaw1

mlslaw1 — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 22:52:00 +0000

Please don’t take this the wrong way but how did you feel way back when the SGA/KL/PG transaction went down? Did you at all think that was a positive move?

By: Scott Johnson

Scott Johnson — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:22:40 +0000

be comforted by the odds that Frank would probably have msifired on those 1st round picks anyway.

By: KingAlfonse

KingAlfonse — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:46:21 +0000

Seeing OKC and SGA being so dominant and knowing we just gifted them a dynasty while the front office who made the move is still employed is one of the most demoralizing things I can remember as a lifelong sports fan.

God bless my fellow Clips’ fans and 213hoops gang but I’m done w/ this franchise and the NBA. We had our guy and the draft capital to support him. Just absolute idiocy which is still being rewarded while we’re all being punished.

By: John Maclean

John Maclean — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:43:15 +0000

I agree with all of these appraisals Rob, and thanks once again for not sugar coating anything and holding people accountable.