Jalen Rose and  Adrian Wojnarowski opined on the NBA Countdown that Game 3 between LA and Dallas was “the most important game in Clippers’ history.”  A bit of an exaggeration perhaps, but Game 3 was indeed a must-win outing for the Clippers. Fortunately, the squad met the occasion with the requisite sense of urgency, overcoming a 19-point opening quarter deficit and beating the Mavericks in Dallas 118-108. The Clippers now trail in the series 1-2.  

GAME SUMMARY

FIRST HALF

The Clippers began the game with Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris Sr., Ivica Zubac and Reggie Jackson. It was not a pretty start. The team was sluggish on defense and not connecting on offense. Two and a half minutes in they were trailing 8-0 care of Luka Dončić, professional switch-hunter. Dončić opened the frame with two threes and a deuce. After a quick time out by Ty Lue, Tim Hardaway Jr. nailed a three to extend the lead to 11. Paul George was first to connect for the Clippers with a field goal, but it was followed by another Dončić three. Mavericks 14, Clippers 2. 

It would get worse before it got better. The Clippers defense was slow on rotations and did not appear to be communicating well. The Mavericks three-point shooting was sizzling. Four and a half minutes in and Dallas was up 20-6 with five three-pointers under their belt.  

Then, enter the bench mob. Nicolas Batum, Rajon Rondo and Terance Mann made their second unit appearances and the impact was immediate. The pace in transition picked up, and the defense got tighter. With the increase in defensive intensity came offensive opportunities. Shots started hitting, confidence started oozing.  Within minutes the lead was cut to five. 

By quarters’ end, after trailing by 19, the Clippers trailed by only a bucket, 34-31.

The second quarter started with Rondo, Beverley, Zubac, Leonard and George for LA. 

Luka continued to shoot over Zu, and everyone else, with ease. The only area in which he really struggled in this game was free throws. Wonder Boy went only 7 for 13 from the line on the night.    

Paul George was absolutely fantastic.  Aggressive, and using his size to get to the rim. He carried the team offensively throughout the half. 

The Clippers did a solid job handling the Mavericks’ role players throughout the evening, and took particular joy in targeting Kristaps Porzingis. The slashing and backdoor cutting Clippers made KP such a liability on the floor that Rick Carlisle had to bench him for extended minutes throughout the game. Porzingis had just 6 points in the half; 9 points in the game.

At the break the Clippers led 63-61.  

STATS AT THE HALF

Paul George was sensational for the Clippers with 22 points on 10 for 13 shooting (2 of 3 from three), 2 assists and 2  rebounds.  

Kawahi Leonard was next best, contributing 18 points on 8 for 9 shooting (2 of 3 from long), 6 rebounds and 1 steal.  Reggie Jackson also logged double figures with 11 points, 1 assist and 1 rebound.

The Mavericks were led by Luka Dončić with 25 points, 4 assists and 7 rebounds.

The Clippers shot an admirable 60.5 percent from the field, but just under their regular season average from beyond the arc. The team connected on just 38.9 percent of their shots from long (7 of 18) over the opening two frames.

The Mavericks, on the other hand, continued their unreal shooting in this series, making 50 percent of their shots from the field, and 54.5 percent from three (5 of 7).

The Clippers fared better than the Mavericks on most other metrics. They outperformed Dallas with regard to fast break points (12 to 4), points in the paint (28 to 14), and rebounds (21 to 14). 

SECOND HALF

The Clippers started the second half with George, Jackson, Leonard, Morris Sr. and Batum (replacing Zubac). 

The Mavs came out hot from three, but the Clippers were able to maintain their composure, and consequently their lead, throughout the frame. Defensive intensity was present, and the players found ways to push the pace, penetrate and get to the line.  Three-point shooting performance also picked up.

For Dallas, Luka still got his looks, but defensively the Clippers were more successful avoiding the switch, which made Luka uncomfortable and forced him to turn the ball over. Dončić logged five turnovers by nights’ end.

With approximately 4 minutes left in the third, Paul George picked up foul number four and made a quick exit to the sideline.  By that time Mann and Rondo had returned to the floor, and honestly, the Clippers did not lose a step. At the end of three, the Clippers were holding on to a slight lead, 89-86.

The Clippers entered the final frame with Morris Sr., Rondo, Mann, Jackson and George. Both Dončić and Kawhi started the quarter on the bench but were back on the hardwood within minutes to close out the game. Although George had cooled off significantly by this point, Leonard was red hot. Halfway through the quarter Kawhi had accumulated 30 points on 12-16 shooting, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

Marcus Morris Sr., who had been struggling, hit a trio of three pointers from the left corner before fouling out to help the Clippers seal their victory. So happy to have Mook back in the saddle.   

Clippers win, 118-108.

FINAL GAME STATS

Clipppers:

Kawhi Leonard: 36 points; 3 assists; 8 rebounds; 1 steal; 2 blocked shots

Paul George: 29 points; 4 assists; 7 rebounds; 1 steal

Reggie Jackson: 16 points; 4 assists; 3 rebounds 

Marcus Morris: 15 points; 1 assist; 1 rebound; 1 steal

Mavericks:

Luka Dončić: 44 points; 9 assists; 9 rebounds; 1 steal; 5 turnovers

Maxi Kleber and Jalen Brunson had 14 points each. Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 12.

Team Stats:

The Clippers ended the game shooting 57.9 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from long. The Mavericks shot 44.2 percent from the field, and a remarkable 51.3 percent from long, hitting a total of 20 three-pointers by the time the final buzzer rang.

Points in the paint favored LA (46-24), as did rebounding (39 to 33).  The Clippers also performed better from the charity stripe, converting 17 of 18 attempts as compared to the Mavericks’ 12 of 18. Dallas was better with regard to second chance points, however, outscoring LA 17 to 6. 

GAME NOTES

Effective Change in the Starting Lineup

Fans were confused by Ty Lue’s substitution of Reggie Jackson for Patrick Beverley in the starting line-up. The swap actually made sense however, as Jackson started 43 games for the Clippers during the regular season, with much success, particularly on offense.  In the first two games of the series the Mavericks’ starters outscored the Clippers 54-36. Jackson was inserted for his offense, and actually did help keep the game from slipping away in the first quarter with some quality shots.  

Game Adjustments and Team First Mentality

Coach Lue made meaningful adjustments for this match up, utilizing the guys who were going to be successful and ensure victory regardless of the role they may have played during the regular season.  And kudos to the players for accepting and implementing those adjustments without egos getting in the way. Team first mentality wins every time.

Weathering the Dallas Storm

Dallas’ shooting in this series has simply been unreal. That did not change in Game three.  As reported, the Mavericks hit 20 threes on 50+ percent shooting. The Clippers are only one of nine teams to ever beat a team having such a spectacular performance. 

The Clippers are also the first team to beat the Mavericks this season and post season in a game where they led after the first quarter. Before this Game 3 loss, the Mavericks were a perfect 29-0 in such situations.

Bench Mob For The Win

Terance Mann and Rajon Rondo were difference makers in this game. Without their energy in the first quarter when the Clippers were down, the Mavericks would have emerged victorious.  No question.   

Mann was +18 in 19 and a half minutes. He logged 4 points, 2 assists, 6 rebounds and 2 blocked shots.

Rondo was a team-high +22 in 26 minutes and contributed 6 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds and 1 steal. More than that, he was a calming presence and leader on the floor, something the Clippers desperately needed.

Protecting the Ball

LA was markedly better at protecting the ball during this outing. Only nine turnovers, quality passing and no fumbling the basketball in the paint. 

Size Matters? Maybe.

It is unclear to what extent the large and loud crowd in Dallas contributed to the Clippers’ shaky start. American Airlines Center was packed with over 17,000 Mavericks fans for Game 3, the largest and most aggressive crowd the Clippers have seen in well over a year. It could not have been easy, and will be just as hard, if not harder, during Game 4.

NEXT UP

Playoffs Round 1, Game 4:  Sunday, May 30, 6:30 p.m.

Clippers vs. Mavericks Game Recap: Clippers Overcome 19-Point First Quarter Deficit, Beat Mavericks in Dallas
michelle uzeta

Did you have Nicolas Batum performing competently on your 2020-21 bingo card? With the clouds of his previous lucrative contract dissipated, Batum now finds himself outperforming his new minimum deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, as Batum’s offense has been a welcome addition for the franchise.

Just like every other team in the NBA, the Clippers have suffered a myriad of setbacks in reaching their ceiling early in the season: Marcus Morris, fresh off a 4 year, $64 million deal, is dealing with a knee issue and remains sidelined; Kawhi Leonard is playing with a mask following a mouth laceration; Luke Kennard is still adjusting to the game after not playing since early 2020; Reggie Jackson is still Reggie Jackson.

But just like we all expected, Nicolas Batum has emerged as a sound rotational player, averaging 10.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 0.9 steals in 29 minutes per game, filling in as the primary four while Morris heals. More impressive are his shooting splits of 51.6/45.7/93.8, a year removed from an abhorrent 34.6/28.6/90 season.  He’s coming off another strong game against the Phoenix Suns in which he hit 4-7 (57%) from deep, including a dagger three to repel Phoenix’s last push.

Despite the breaches in the rotation, the Clippers have catapulted to a 5-2 record, tied for first in the staunch Western Conference, and Batum’s offense has assisted that start.

Batum’s momentous output through seven games always circles back to his shooting. Last season’s abysmal production from deep in Charlotte rang bells of concern when Los Angeles picked him up. Would his shooting revert to his career average three-point percentage of 35.7? Or was last season a clear indicator the 32-year-old forward was destined for “washed” territory? This blistering start has put those concerns to sleep. Off this baseline out-of-bounds set (BLOB), the Clippers run an elbow stagger for Paul George to curl off of as Batum is situated just outside the initial down screen by Patrick Beverley. Beverley will leak out to the corner, and Batum will split between the screens as Serge Ibaka sets another one for Batum. Jae Crowder is caught ball-watching, allowing for George to stop his drive and find Batum for the open look. Splash.

Here’s another BLOB set later in the game. This time, it’s a wide pindown for Paul George, a play he’s commonly involved in. Mikal Bridges’ defensive prowess cuts off the dribble hand-off, but Devin Booker gets caught in a daze after Ivica Zubac’s down screen, permitting Batum to pop out for a three. Splash. Batum’s three-point resurgence hasn’t sparked just himself, but the entire squad. When Batum is on the floor, the Clippers are hitting their non-corner threes at a difference of +11.2%, ranking in the 92nd percentile, per Cleaning the Glass. That number will likely decrease under more minutes, but as the last two plays indicated, Ty Lue can trust Batum in these spots to convert.

Speaking of trust, how about Batum’s dagger mentioned earlier? Ibaka sets the high screen for George, but Deandre Ayton sticks to Ibaka rather than cutting off George’s lane downhill. That forced Devin Booker to collapse into the paint, freeing up the path to pass to an open Batum. Chris Paul cannot rotate in time. Splash. Batum is essentially a new toy dusted off from the top shelf for initiators like George and Leonard. With the abilities of George and Leonard to drive-and-kick, Batum’s offense, theoretically, is perfect. Per NBA.com tracking data, Batum is shooting 50% on catch-and-shoot triples; three-point attempts comprise 58.5% of Batum’s overall attempts.

Here’s Batum in action with George against Portland. LA runs a stagger screen for George, which flows into a George-Ibaka pick-and-roll set. Jusuf Nurkic shows high to prevent George’s downhill lane as CJ McCollum tagged Ibaka’s roll. That opened a window for George to hit Batum in the corner. Splash. Batum is usually on the court with one of George or Leonard in at all times, and we’ve seen the chemistry developing between George and Batum. Per pbpstats, Batum has played 158 of 202 minutes with George on the court. George’s expertise in setting Batum up has led to Batum possessing an eFG% of 63.2 with George versus a 57.1 clip without.

Moving to assists, Batum’s assists per game have steadily dipped since eclipsing at 5.9 a game in 2016-17 with Charlotte. Last season, he averaged 3.0 APG, not a stark difference to the 2.9 he currently averages. But there’s context to that; Batum didn’t play alongside stars like George and Leonard in Charlotte. Assists per game don’t always tell the complete story, either. Per nba.com tracking data, Batum is averaging 4.4 potential assists per game, fourth-most on the team. The typical ball-handling triumvirate of George, Leonard and Lou Williams spearhead that category.Still, Batum’s a ball-moving forward, a contrast to Morris, who often counters that trait. Per Cleaning the Glass, Batum’s usage rate of 11.3% ranks in the 9th percentile among fellow forwards. However, his assist-to-usage ratio is at a beaming 1:16, good for the 98th percentile. Batum’s excelled in this category dating back to his Portland days, but it’s a positive sign for a Clippers team hoping to secure a balanced attack with a variety of players. Batum’s offense has been superbly effective. The eye test definitely supports his per-100-possession offensive rating of 139 and a defensive rating of 113, a +26 differential, which would be a career-high if it sustains. Not only that, but his points per shot attempt mark of 135.6 ranks in the 91st percentile, a perceptible distinction from being in the 10th percentile a season ago, per Cleaning the Glass. While the Clippers wait for Morris to fully heal, Batum, even when he inevitably comes off the bench, is flying under the radar as one of the offseason’s best transactions by any team this season.

213Hoops is an independently owned and operated L.A. Clippers blog by Clippers fans, for Clippers fans. If you enjoy our content, please consider subscribing to our Patreon. Subscriptions start at $1 a month and support from readers like you goes a long way towards helping us keep 213Hoops sustainable, growing, and thriving.

Nicolas Batum’s offense has been a welcome addition
Sanjesh Singh

You’ve probably seen the meme where Spider-Man points at himself. If I could pick one picture to encapsulate where the Clippers currently stand, that’s my choice. Following a brutal game seven loss to the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Clippers are in a position where they can only blame themselves.

But, first and foremost, I want to acknowledge Michael Malone and the rest of the Denver Nuggets players and coaching staff. Coming back from a 3-1 deficit twice in the same postseason is a feat accomplished by no one in NBA history. All credit goes to Denver, but we have to remember that Denver can’t achieve this if L.A. had closed them out earlier in the series.

Game 5

After the Clippers defeated the Nuggets 96-85 in game four, both teams began the first quarter of game five pretty tight. In the second quarter, the Clippers started to pull away. Lou Williams made baskets inside the arc and Landry Shamet and JaMychal Green hit some key triples off the bench to provide the starters with critical help.

An and-1 from Marcus Morris Sr. saw the lead extend to 56-40, which would be the largest lead held by the Clippers. L.A. went into the second half with a twelve-point cushion, but the Nuggets made the necessary adjustments to make a run. Denver didn’t take over right away, but following crucial baskets from Paul Millsap, who arguably turned in his best game of the bubble, Denver set themselves up to make an all-or-nothing run in the fourth.

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray needed to step up on the scoring end, and needless to say, they rose to the occasion. The one-two game between Jokic and Murray clicked at the right time, and Denver flipped the score to take a six-point lead with five minutes remaining. Kawhi Leonard hit some big threes and earned trips to the free-throw line to slow the game down, but the game fell in the hands of Michael Porter Jr., who drilled the biggest shot of the game. Denver outscored L.A. 38-25 in the final 12 minutes.

The Clippers sat on a 16-point lead but watched it slowly evaporate as Denver outplayed them on both ends of the game to force game six.

Game 6

This game gave the Clippers a second chance of closing the series out, and the Clippers started the first half strong yet again. A dominant 16-2 stretch to end the second quarter was exactly what the doctor ordered, but the Clippers were too stubborn to take the medication. Despite Paul George and Leonard taking over the end of the second and setting themselves up to finish Denver off, they allowed Denver to take advantage of their poor tactics on both ends of the court.

After scoring 34 points in the first quarter, the Clippers managed just 35 points in the entire second half. Sixteen of those came in the third quarter when Denver made their huge run to trail by just two to enter the fourth. George took responsibility for 10 of those points, but he didn’t receive any help and Denver hunted the Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams mismatches to burn the Clippers on defense.

A similar theme from game five appears in this one: if you fail to keep your foot on the pedal, you’ll be passed up. You can’t offer a team like Denver the chance to see light, otherwise, they’ll climb out of the dark hole and bury you instead. Once Denver regained momentum, they grasped it with both hands and rode it to victory.

George and Leonard couldn’t carry the load themselves, whereas Jokic and Murray, though doing their jobs efficiently, were supported by Monte Morris, Gary Harris, and others who stepped up because of the momentum switch. The Clippers ended up being the team who lost by double-digits and did the one thing they couldn’t afford to do: go to game seven.

The uncertainty of a game with colossal implications is one the Clippers couldn’t afford to participate in, yet their own mishaps led them tumbling into a game where momentum didn’t favor them.

Game 7

Just like the last two games, both teams kept the score tight, except Denver didn’t allow L.A. to go on a run to end the first half. The Clippers maintained the edge, but the storyline of blowing a significant lead wouldn’t materialize on post-game headlines.

However, the Clippers’ inability to score in the second half did. L.A. only managed 33 points in the second half of a win-or-go-home game. Whichever way you put it, that’s inexcusable. Fifteen of those came in the fourth quarter, where the Clippers showed zero fight; they were ready to go home. It was a relatively low-scoring quarter, but Murray and Jokic opened the floodgates just enough to drown their desiccated opponents.

Obviously, it didn’t do the Clippers any favors that their two stars shot a combined 10-38 from the floor. That’s 26% in a semifinal closeout game; there’s no justifying that type of performance. The two notably scored zero points in the fourth quarter. It’s also why L.A. couldn’t let game seven occur. You never know if the worst-case scenario for your team would happen in the biggest game of the season, but you don’t have to ponder those thoughts if you closed out responsibly.

And if Harrell is your leading scorer after 48 minutes, something went drastically wrong. Denver didn’t completely suffocate L.A. on defense either, because L.A. had open looks. But, you saw George clanking an open corner three off the side of the backboard, which made up one of his nine missed triples from the game. Again, you need to avoid game seven if you can prevent it.

Other Factors

In-game decisions made by Doc Rivers played a massive role in L.A’s downfall as well. Giving Harrell numerous minutes when Ivica Zubac and Green were much better players/matchups definitely cost L.A. points. Harrell’s inability to be a defender at any decent level saw Jokic and company torch Harrell. This stat certainly supports the eye test:

Montrezl Harrell and Nikola Jokic went head-to-head for 35 minutes over the final three games of this series. The Los Angeles Clippers were outscored by 47 points in those minutes.

— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) September 16, 2020

Patrick Beverley fouling out early in game six played a large part, too, as L.A. lost his versatility on both ends and needed to play Williams more often. Beverley quietly turned in arguably the best performance from a Clipper in game seven, but it’s going to be swept under the rug now due to the loss.

Landry Shamet quietly disappeared and couldn’t help offensively either. Shamet’s best asset couldn’t be weaponized efficiently against Denver, as he shot 4-18 (22%) from deep in the series. He played limited minutes in game seven due to injury, but it’s hard to imagine him making a positive impact anyway.

Mike Malone, to put simply, out-coached his counterpart. When Harrell and Williams shared the floor, Denver attacked L.A. with pick-and-rolls, resulting in open looks. Because Lou Williams struggled often and Beverley dealt with foul trouble, Reggie Jackson saw minutes too, which certainly didn’t help the defense any. If Leonard and George couldn’t score, Rivers didn’t have a reliable third option, yet he kept insisting that Harrell and Williams would solve those issues. It might’ve worked in the regular season, but the bench duo was unsurprisingly exposed when it mattered most.

The Clippers are now 0-8 all-time when they’re about to clinch a conference finals berth, fittingly ranking them first in that category, per Elias Sports. Just like their blown 3-1 lead in 2015, the blame falls on the entire Los Angeles Clippers organization. With the expectations coming into the season, the lasting effects of this loss could be incalculable.

213Hoops is an independently owned and operated L.A. Clippers blog by Clippers fans, for Clippers fans. If you enjoy our content, please consider subscribing to our Patreon. Subscriptions start at $1 a month and support from readers like you goes a long way towards helping us keep 213Hoops sustainable, growing, and thriving.

The Los Angeles Clippers Can Only Blame Themselves
Sanjesh Singh

Though the Los Angeles Clippers have procured a dominant 3-1 series lead over the Denver Nuggets (despite the historical jest associated with that record), the Montrezl Harrell dilemma needs to be sorted out fast – and soon. Simply put, Harrell needs to produce more than points with his minutes.

As the season’s Sixth Man of the Year, Harrell deservedly played 27.8 minutes a game during the regular season. Those minutes led to Harrell averaging 18.6 points per game, a stat which holds a weighty load of determining who takes home an award that rewards exceptional play off the bench.

However, during the regular season, Harrell accomplished much more on the court than merely putting the ball in the hoop. He averaged career-high numbers in offensive and defensive rebounds per game (7.1 total) while providing interior defense with 1.1 blocks per game and boasting a defensive field goal difference percentage of -9.9 on shots less than six feet from the rim.

Through 10 playoff games, Harrell’s production has plummeted to questionable numbers that make you ponder whether he should play at all. In 18.6 minutes a game in Orlando, Harrell is averaging 10.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 0.6 blocks on 57.4% shooting (6.1 attempts). Unsurprisingly, those figures are all inferior to his regular-season numbers.

Before we dive into the film, it’s imperative to outline the external factors and challenges Harrell is facing. Following the death of his grandmother and the countless emotions that come with a significant loss, Harrell’s feet never got wet with any warm-ups or scrimmages. Harrell re-entered the bubble and dove straight into the deep end, with his Orlando debut coming against Dallas in game one of the playoffs. Whereas most players shed their rust in the 11 scrimmage and seeding games, Harrell encountered the challenge of finding his form in a playoff atmosphere – and that challenge is burdening him.

Let’s start by acknowledging Harrell’s scoring ability, which has been his best asset to the Clippers so far. Harrell is going to score in the paint: that’s a given. The downside in the playoffs, however, is that a decline in efficiency is hurting his overall effectiveness.

Against Dallas, these issues weren’t as prominent; Harrell attempted 5.2 shots a game, converting on 61.3% of them. With the Mavericks high-powered offense, you knew scoring wouldn’t be an issue. Despite the Clippers possessing one of the better defenses in the league, they needed players not named Kawhi Leonard or Paul George to score. Still fresh to the bubble, Harrell provided L.A. with an option down low.

In this play, some of Harrell’s distinguished strengths shine. The Clippers clear out the interior for George to penetrate, with Harrell roaming the baseline as you often see with L.A.’s big men as one of George, Leonard or Lou Williams attacks the paint.

Tim Hardaway Jr. forces George to drive left, allowing Luka Doncic to collapse for a double-team. George’s only option is to split the double and get the ball to Harrell. Harrell bobbles the pass, but keeps it inbound and goes to work. Hardaway Jr. and Doncic collapse on Harrell, but Harrell utilizes a strong two-handed dribble to establish authority. He uses his body to create space and goes up strong for the finish.

Against Denver, Harrell’s baskets have a similar theme – he will attack the paint using brute force and score over anyone. It doesn’t matter if there are two or more bodies in his way: he’s fearless in the paint, as the play above illustrates.

But the Nuggets pose a more resilient, tougher defensive threat in the frontcourt than Dallas did, and that’s causing more problems for Harrell offensively. He’s attempted 7.5 shots per game in this series, but is finishing just 53.3% of those looks. Harrell’s shooting in game one and two is why that percentage is anchored down, because he’s 10-13 overall in the last two games.

In spite of that, his points per shot attempt (PSA) in this series sits at 118.4, according to Cleaning the Glass. Including the six games against Dallas, Harrell’s PSA is at 116.4, ranking in the 38th percentile. Considering his figure against Denver is just two points higher, it’s not a notable rise. For comparison’s sake, in two regular-season games against Denver this season, Harrell attained a PSA of 146.4. His shooting numbers may captivate on paper, but there’s plenty of room to progress.

Transitioning to Harrell’s rebounding numbers, it’s not astonishing that they’ve declined in the playoffs. During the regular season, he ranked fifth on the team in defensive rebounding percentage (min. 20 games played). With a DRB% of 16.3, Harrell trailed Ivica Zubac, JaMychal Green, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard in that category. You can add Joakim Noah and Johnathan Motley, but they didn’t have larger enough sample sizes to qualify.

If it wasn’t for Harrell’s offensive rebounding, his overall rebounding numbers would fall further. In the regular season, Harrell’s ORB% was 9.9, a fairly stout number. In the playoffs, it has plunged to 4.9%. It’s yet another glaring example of how Harrell has failed to regain his regular-season form.

In this clip, the Clippers clear out on the left so Leonard can work on an iso. Gary Harris’ stance propels Leonard to drive with his left. Paul Millsap adds a brilliant contest, leading to a rushed attempt from Leonard. What bothers me is that Harrell watches Nikola Jokic pull down the rebound when he easily could’ve gone to contest it. You’re down ten with seven minutes remaining in the fourth – make a play! The odds are against Harrell, but the lack of effort was very perceptible.

To highlight two rebounding stats, Harrell’s fgDR% is 9.8, placing him in the sixth percentile, according to Cleaning the Glass. His fgOR% is 4.5, which sorts him into the 29th percentile. To compare, he ranked in the 73rd percentile for fgOR% and 19th percentile for fgDR% in the regular season, per Cleaning the Glass. Already a bad defensive rebounder, he’s been truly absent in that facet during the postseason.

Let’s shift to the area of Harrell’s most consequential struggles – defense. I have watched this clip on an infinite loop, and I have no idea what Harrell is doing. Harrell falls asleep mid-pick and roll, allowing Mason Plumlee to walk to the rim while he stands on the perimeter guarding oxygen. L.A. is fortunate that the play resulted in a missed corner three because that should’ve been an easy two points.

Even when the rebound comes to Harrell, he smacks the ball off Reggie Jackson’s face as it rolls out of bounds under his legs. That wouldn’t be the only thing to roll right past him in the clip.

Jokic will positively affect the game on paper and on the court. But when you give the “Joker” a quality look like this, maybe we need to reevaluate who the real joker is.

Harrell can’t shoulder all the blame here, but a portion of it falls on him. The point of a pick-and-roll is a switch to hunt a mismatch. Jackson goes over the screen, but he needs to let the switch materialize. Harrell doesn’t need to drop here. Monte Morris is angling towards the sideline; Harrell can pursue Jokic on the perimeter.

It doesn’t help that the Clippers lose this battle 9 times out of 10, barring a missed shot. Jackson and Harrell have struggled mightily on defense, and though Jackson’s minutes have decreased, Harrell is heading in a similar direction.

This is poor blitz defense on a high pick-and-roll between Jamal Murray and Jokic. Leonard and Green invite Murray to split them with a pass. But Harrell needs to be held accountable for not coming to help. As the low man, Harrell needs to slide to the rim the moment Jokic catches the ball; he has to force Jokic to kick it out, rather than letting him walk in for a dunk.

Another interesting stat brings us back to a number I emphasized earlier – Harrell’s DIFF% on defense. On shots less than six feet from the rim, Harrell didn’t allow effortless baskets during the regular season. Harrell’s DIFF% of -9.9 shows that Harrell had some ability to protect the rim. In the playoffs, that number has taken a stark jump to +3.1%. Players have a better chance to score at the rim against Harrell now than they did in the regular season.

Despite the modern NBA rewarding offense more than defense, rotations shorten and defenses tighten down the stretch of these vital games. Winning a title will always come down to defense, at least to some extent. Montrezl Harrell can score points down low, no doubt. But since he’s stumbling everywhere else, the Clippers have to have some doubt about his ability to be a pivotal player when the game is on the line.

213Hoops is an independently owned and operated L.A. Clippers blog by Clippers fans, for Clippers fans. If you enjoy our content, please consider subscribing to our Patreon. Subscriptions start at $1 a month and support from readers like you goes a long way towards helping us keep 213Hoops sustainable, growing, and thriving.

Montrezl Harrell Needs To Produce More Than Points
Sanjesh Singh

After coming away with game 3 to secure a 2-1 lead in the series, the LA Clippers will look to take a commanding lead against the Denver Nuggets in game 4.

GAME INFORMATION

Where: The Bubble (Orlando, Florida) 

When: Wednesday, September 9th @ 6:00PM PT 

How to Watch: ESPN 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPS

Nuggets (Home) : Gary Harris — Jamal Murray — Jerami Grant — Paul Milsap — Nikola Jokić

Clippers (Away): Patrick Beverley — Paul George — Kawhi Leonard — Marcus Morris Sr. — Ivica Zubac 

INJURIES

Nuggets:  Will Barton Out (Knee), Vlatko Cancar Out (Foot)

Clippers:  None  

THE BIG PICTURE

The Los Angeles Clippers lead the Western Conference Semifinals 2-1 after a nail-biting 113-107 game 3 victory over the Denver Nuggets Monday night. The Nuggets look to even up the series on Wednesday.  The Clippers hope to end the night one game closer to a trip to the Western Conference Finals.

THE ANTAGONIST

The Nuggets are a talented team, led by ridiculously skilled offensive juggernaut Nikola Jokić. In Game 3, Jokić had a near triple-double, putting up 32 points, snatching 12 boards and dishing out eight dimes against Los Angeles. The Joker was equally effective in the paint and from behind the line, seemingly scoring at will. The stellar performance was not enough to prevent the Denver loss, however, as the Nuggets’ supporting cast failed to produce, particularly in the closing frame. Jamal Murray (5 of 17) and Jerami Grant (5 of 14) struggled from the field all night, and Gary Harris and Michael Porter Jr. failed to connect meaningfully down the stretch.  

The Nuggets also had twelve turnovers in the match-up, contributing to the loss, with Jokić contributing seven.

KEYS TO A GAME 4 VICTORY

• Win the Transition Game (Again)

The Clippers would have lost Game 3 had they not tightened the screws on defense and created opportunities for points in transition.  Los Angeles outscored Denver 30 to 12 in fast break points; exploiting the Nuggets’ missed shots and turnovers. Nineteen of those points were logged in the second half, pushing the Clippers to victory.

• Keep Attacking the Rim

In Game 3 the Clippers were much more aggressive in attacking the basket and generating trips to the free throw line. Los Angeles converted 20 of their 26 trips to the line, compared to Denver’s 8 of 10, for a 12-point advantage. 

• Reduce Turnovers

On the not-so-great stat line, the Clippers committed 17 turnovers in Game 3, with many occurring on fumbled passes in the paint between guys in very close proximity. Look for the over-passing in the lane to be remedied in Game 4.

• Contain Jokić 

The Clippers do not really have an answer for Jokić. Fan favorite Ivica Zubac hasn’t had great success in that matchup, he’s been too slow to effectively close out on 3-point attempts and despite his best efforts, just gets bullied and worked over on the block. (Not to mention, Zu has not yet found a way to avoid falling prey to Jokić’s sketchy arm hook and flail combo.)  Recently crowned Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell and JaMychal Green have also struggled with containing the much bigger Jokić.

213Hoops editor Lucas Hann took a look at where the Clippers were and weren’t successful defending Jokic in the pick-and-pop in game 3 in a new film room article. 

The Clippers did, however, have success slowing Jokić with effective double teams at the end of both halves.  Credit Lou Williams with working his ass off.  Sweet Lou had two key steals during the Clippers 12-2 run to close the first half and was part of the stifling team defense that held Jokić to four points in the fourth quarter.

If the Clippers can sustain that kind of defensive intensity for 48 minutes, it will be a problem for the Joker and Denver. 

• Neutralize Murray

The Clippers were very effective in neutralizing the Nuggets second star, Jamal Murray in Game 3. The squad’s depth came in handy in disposing of Murray; they were able to throw multiple defenders at him, including newly minted All NBA Defensive Team members Pat Beverley and Kawhi Leonard. (Congratulations, fellas!)

Murray struggled significantly against the Clippers’ half-court defense throughout the game, and ended the night with just 14 points on 5 of 17 shooting. He did, however, star in this fantastic game highlight….

PREDICTION

It is a must-win game for Denver, but the Basketball Gods are with LA. Clippers by 8.

LA Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets: Game 4 Preview
michelle uzeta

The Los Angeles Clippers finished off the Dallas Mavericks after six wildly entertaining games, and though each team suffered roster setbacks, the Clippers received dependable performances from their center Ivica Zubac on both ends of the court.

Despite being the team’s starting center, Zubac doesn’t usually play starting caliber minutes. Instead, Sixth Man of the Year candidate Montrezl Harrell sees the larger portion of the center minutes. But, as this series marked Harrell’s first time playing basketball in months, he reasonably needed more time to shed off the rust, which led to Zubac featuring more often.

Zubac played 25 minutes a game and averaged 11.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks while shooting 65.8% from the field on 6.3 attempts. Looking efficient and composed, Zubac knew his role, stuck to it, and shined for a team that needed him to.

Before we jump into the clip, it’s imperative to acknowledge the net rating Zubac posted this series: +25.6. His offensive rating reached 127.2 and his defensive rating hit 101.6. That’s an absurd differential considering the playoff atmosphere Zubac was playing in.

In this play, Paul George is telling Kawhi Leonard to get to his spot while Trey Burke frantically calls for a switch. Catching Burke off guard, Leonard easily gets into the paint forcing Maxi Kleber to contest. Zubac finds his spot, shows great patience and puts it in with the left hand. A good combination of footwork, patience, awareness, and finishing from the big man.

On shots less than five feet from the rim, Zubac converted on 22-34 attempts, a rate of 64.7%, which is just under his overall field goal percentage.

The combinations I listed above come back into play in this clip as Zubac somehow turns this possession into points at the rim. Without Dwight Powell and Kristaps Porzingis, scoring down low became a simpler task to accomplish. However, Dallas actually defends this play really well despite Lou Williams’ quickly slashing towards the rim.

Tim Hardaway Jr. cuts off the incoming screen, forcing Williams to slash –  which Williams won’t turn down. Justin Jackson has the pop from JaMychal Green covered and either corner is nearly impossible to kick it out to. That leaves Williams with either taking a contested layup over Kleber or finding a rolling Zubac.

Williams attempts to lob it to Zubac but Kleber’s deflection disrupts Zubac’s momentum. Somehow, Zubac locates the ball mid-air with a contested catch, maintains good footwork, displays patience with the pump fake and scores despite the contact. You can put it any way you’d like, but that’s outstanding from Zubac.

Zubac played 33 minutes in game six, his highest total in one game this series. As he did all series, Zubac turned in another A-grade performance with 15 points (6-8 FG) and 11 rebounds.

Watching the film on Zubac’s baskets throughout these games, Zubac ate Dallas up when their defense broke down. Zubac would either roam the baseline behind the hoop or stay along the edges of the paint if he wasn’t being utilized as a roll big.

If George, Leonard, Williams or another creator penetrated the paint, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Zubac getting to his spot, waiting to pounce on the opportunity to score against a collapsing defense. You saw a similar instance in the first clip with Leonard getting inside; this time, it’s George.

George, in isolation, gets a step on Luka Doncic with a slick jab step. Kleber comes to assist, but Zubac remains wide open with Dorian Finney-Smith not covering him. George slips the pass between the defenders and Zubac finishes it off with a reverse slam.

Moving to the rebounding aspect of Zubac’s game in this series, he almost met his regular season average. Zubac averaged 7.5 rebounds in the regular season and grabbed 7.0 rebounds in this series. That average dropped because Zubac averaged only 4.0 rebounds a game in the two losses Los Angeles took (in which he played fewer minutes).

Zubac grabbed 11 rebounds in game six, his highest single game total in the series. This specific rebound was arguably the most impressive. Zubac defends Doncic on the perimeter fantastically, forcing Doncic to move the ball as he nears the baseline. Zubac then goes back near the rim and grabs the rebound.

If Zubac doesn’t do what he does on this play, it’s an easy putback for Finney-Smith. Zubac is initially guarding the perimeter but as Doncic attempts to drive, Zubac tags Finney-Smith’s run into the paint.

Zubac uses his body to box out Finney-Smith and is in prime position for the rebound following the miss. Just simple, fundamental basketball from Zubac that potentially saved points.

Zubac isn’t known to be a tremendous rim protector, as he has averaged just under one block a game throughout his career, and blocks are still the go-to measure for rim protection. During this series, he’s just around the same mark of 0.8 blocks. It’s not eye-popping, but it’s still solid. We know about Zubac’s offensive impact in the paint, but he also provided a solid interior presence on defense as well.

Zubac isn’t known for his athleticism either, but he makes up for it with instinctive play.

In this clip, Doncic attempts to slither his way to the basket as his teammates roam the left perimeter. Doncic is able to back Zubac down further to the rim, but Zubac does great to alter Doncic’s momentum. Doncic tries to use his footwork to create separation, but Zubac reads the footwork. Zubac gets caught for a split second, but is able to recover for a block.

Now this was one of the more interesting situations Zubac found himself in. A one-on-one situation late in the shot clock against Hardaway Jr. on the perimeter? Sure, Zubac will take it.

Zubac drops back, giving himself enough room as Hardaway drives downhill. Hardaway appears to trip mid-Eurostep, making it easy for Zubac to swat it away.

While the Clippers were still trying to get healthy, with Pat Beverley out and Montrezl Harrell clearly not himself, L.A. could count on Zubac whenever he saw the court. Landing Zubac in essentially a swap for Mike Muscula is one of the more underrated moves in recent NBA history.

Keep your eyes on Zubac going forward, as his role on both ends will be critical in the success for the Clippers in the playoffs.

Ivica Zubac’s Play on Both Ends Helped Clippers Advance
Sanjesh Singh

After playing 20 minutes against the Dallas Mavericks in game one, Patrick Beverley hasn’t played since due to a recurring calf injury. Reggie Jackson has been next up off the bench, but as recent performances against Dallas indicate, Jackson needs to play less, not more.

Game One:

Though the Clippers currently lead the series 2-1, the absence of Beverley is evident on both ends of the floor. As I detailed in a previous piece, Beverley sticks to his role and excels in it. He plays tremendous, physical defense and spaces the floor at a solid clip.

Jackson’s veteran experience failed to show up in 16 minutes of playing time coming off the bench. Jackson went 0-5 from the floor, including a missed shot from deep. He recorded three rebounds and an assist but also picked up two fouls in that span.

In this clip, Trey Burke cuts off Jackson’s path to come around the screen, forcing him to drive towards Boban Marjanovic. Jackson attempts a floater over the towering center only to get blocked from behind. Ideally, you’d want Jackson to look for a kick out pass as the lane to Paul George is open, but Jackson’s narrow focus leads to a block. 

Kristaps Porzingis’ ejection made life easier for the Clippers’ defense as they were able to pull out a victory despite shooting 34% from deep. Beverley’s 20 minutes were scattered throughout the game and he played critical crunch time minutes, but Jackson’s series was already off to a rough start. Combine that with his poor play in the seeding games, and the call to have Reggie Jackson play less was already mounting with Clippers fans.

Game Two:

Jackson got the nod from Doc Rivers to start as Beverley didn’t play due to his calf injury. Offensively, Jackson was L.A.’s best three point shooter on the night, going 3-5. Jackson converted on a pullup three for his first make and then roamed the arc for catch-and-shoot attempts on his other two makes.

Jackson’s attempts reminded me of Beverley’s role on offense. Beverley would let the creators create, and when he needed to shoot, he’d shoot. Jackson got to his spots and supported the main cast with triples, but where he really struggled was on the defensive end.

Besides Lou Williams, the Clippers don’t have a reliable backup point guard. Even then, Williams doesn’t play the same role as Beverley. Unfortunately, the defensive drop-off from Beverley to Jackson is significantly steep and the Clippers paid the price in game two.

This play shows Luka Doncic driving down the lane, and a quick hesitation crossover throws Jackson off balance. Jackson fails to recover and it’s an easy layup for Doncic. Jackson’s lack of lateral quickness is on display here. Because of Doncic’s driving abilities and his own defensive weaknesses, Jackson should’ve left more room between him and Doncic to close off the drive. Jackson made it too easy and the help defense arrived late because the play unfolded so quickly.

Doncic has obtained multiple favorable matchups in pick and roll situations and a similar one occurs here. Late in the shot clock, Doncic combines with Porzingis deep in the half court. Situational awareness plays a big role here. Jackson allows Doncic to catch the high pass rather than getting in his grill and disrupting it. Doncic gets space from the screen to make a move and Ivica Zubac cuts off the dribble drive.

Jackson needs to tag back to the “roller”, as there’s not enough time for a roll and Porzingis prefers to pop anyway. Luka reads the defnse immediately and makes the pass to Porzingis who has enough time to get set and shoot. With Zubac also pointing towards Porzingis, Marcus Morris Sr. is the one who closes out. Unfortunately, he was too late, and Kristaps drained it. All that wouldn’t have been necessary if the roller was stopped from initially slipping out. Porzingis is the better three point shooter than Doncic, and though it’s just a difference of four percentage points, you’d take your chances with the 31% shooter in Doncic than Porzingis who is a 35% shooter. Doncic and Porzingis combined for 51 points in this game and you’d have to believe that figure would be lower if Jackson’s defense was adequate.

Game Three:

Doc Rivers made the switch to bring Jackson off the bench and have Landry Shamet start in his place. Jackson played 17 minutes in this game and strictly stuck to catch-and-shoot attempts. Jackson hit 2-4 threes, which isn’t a bad figure, and tried to do less on offense.

In this clip, Dallas forgets Jackson exists in the left corner and it’s a wide open look. Jackson has plenty of time to take the shot. Jackson didn’t attempt anything besides three pointers and it worked in his favor. Through three games, Jackson is 6-18 (33.3%) overall and 5-10 (50%) from deep. Though both are small sample sizes over the course of three games, it’s not surprising that when Jackson sticks to a specific role, he tends to see better results.

The Shamet-Jackson swap worked on both ends. Shamet only managed two points in 18 minutes in game two, but answered the call with 18 points in 27 minutes in game three. Shamet’s presence tied things better defensively than Jackson as well.

The Clippers won’t have an ideal replacement for Beverley when he’s hurt. Maybe Doc gives the youngsters in Rodney McGruder and Terence Mann a run, but Shamet’s performance in game three gives some hope that the team doesn’t need Jackson to play heavy minutes when Beverley is unavailable.

Jackson can be serviceable when he glues himself to a limited role – the less he tries to do, the better. Until Beverley is back, the Clippers need Jackson to do less in his minutes: just hit threes when the opportunities come. That’s the best way Jackson can make an impact for his team.

For now, with Landry Shamet playing well, Reggie Jackson should play less for the Clippers to be at their best.

213Hoops is an independently owned and operated L.A. Clippers blog by Clippers fans, for Clippers fans. If you enjoy our content, please consider subscribing to our Patreon. Subscriptions start at $1 a month and support from readers like you goes a long way towards helping us keep 213Hoops sustainable, growing, and thriving.

Reggie Jackson Needs To Play Less for Clippers to Thrive
Sanjesh Singh

The Los Angeles Clippers have experienced an up-and-down bubble so far, going 3-3 with good wins and head-scratching losses. With the adversity the squad has faced, the mixed results aren’t too shocking (though a loss to the Brooklyn Nets in their current state is pretty appalling.) However, the Clippers have received steady performances from JaMychal Green, whose critical floor spacing as a small-ball center has opened up the offense.

On paper, Green’s numbers have slightly decreased from last year when he split time with the Memphis Grizzlies before coming to the Clippers. Green is playing one more minute a game than he did last season with the Clippers, but his shooting numbers have declined.

In 24 games with L.A. last season, Green shot 48.2% (6.8 attempts) from the field, 41.3% from three (3.3 attempts) and 81% from the charity stripe (0.9 attempts). Through 61 games this season, those figures have dropped to 42.8% from the field (5.6 attempts), 38.1% from three (3.8 attempts) and 75% from the stripe (0.8 attempts). As a result, Green’s points per game went from 8.7 last season to 6.8 now.

However, JaMychal Green has stepped up his game in the Orlando bubble and his ability to provide floor spacing plays a big role in finding open looks for himself as well as others.

Green literally has the green light from anywhere on the court since the bubble games commenced. Through six games, Green is shooting 14-27 from beyond the arc, a rate of 51.8%. He’s taking good looks and is drilling them with confidence.

The players are still developing chemistry and rhythm as they haven’t played meaningful basketball in months, but Green looks like he hasn’t missed a second.

In this play, the Clippers run a top pick-and-roll with Lou Williams as the initiator. Green typically comes off the bench with Montrezl Harrell as his frontcourt partner, but because Harrell hasn’t played yet, Patrick Patterson is next up. Patterson revived his career in L.A. following two unimpressive seasons in Oklahoma City and his floor spacing opens this play up further.

The Clippers empty the interior with Green serving as the roll big and Patterson standing in the left corner. Williams utilizes Green’s screen effectively as he makes Trey Burke trail him. Kristaps Porzingis needs to stay in front of Williams so Williams makes the read to Green, who popped out to the right. Porzingis can’t recover in time and it’s three points for Green.

The acquisition of Marcus Morris has its pros and cons, but his floor spacing comes into play here. Again, the Clippers don’t have an interior presence. Green leaks out beyond the arc, attempting to lure Porzingis away from the paint.

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are the playmakers on the court. Leonard is able to penetrate the defense after catching the ball, which pulls in four defenders. Dallas is left scrambling when Leonard gets inside and it’s up to Leonard to take advantage of it starting with a pass.

He uses his claw to fake it to Morris, but kicks it out to Green. Green and Landry Shamet play catch causing Burke to run around and the ball movement ends up with Porzingis closing late again. Porzingis gets caught watching the ball and Green drills the big basket late in the game.

What’s another advantage that comes with Green’s floor spacing? Trailing in transition. He can be used as a trailer when coming up the court on either a rebound or made field goal. It’s a simple method to give your big man easy looks and it paid off here.

Much of getting a good look in transition comes down to the defender. Will the defender close out strong? Will the defender not take the bait in case the trailer passes the ball? Can you catch the defender unprepared?

George looks like he wanted to do more with the ball here. However, some stellar defense from Gary Trent Jr. forces George to pass the ball before a traveling violation occurs.

Green never thinks about passing. He has room because Jusuf Nurkic provides it by not closing out strongly. Nurkic is also caught ball-watching for a second too long that allows Green more time to have a clean release. In the end, it’s a good shot from the 6’8″ big.

Green won’t entertain you with fancy passing but his floor spacing also unlocks open looks for his teammates. The dangerous aspect to Green’s game is that you can’t leave him open – his percentage is too respectable to disregard.

The Mavericks double George to prevent the ball going to Leonard as the other Clippers roam the arc. Because of the double on George, there’s bound to be an open Clipper. Green cuts backdoor and kicks it back out to Morris, taking advantage of the two-vs-one situation on Luka Doncic’s hands. It helped that Dallas showed minimal effort to recover.

I have no idea how the Clippers pulled off this win without multiple key players, but they somehow accomplished victory. The biggest play that led to the win was this clutch shot from Rodney McGruder, who’s not a good long range shooter.

However, the open look McGruder gets is largely due to the defense respecting Green. Terance Mann easily blows by Nurkic in the opposite corner, which draws in Carmelo Anthony, Green’s defender. Anthony has to prevent the possible layup attempt, but it leaves CJ McCollum in a rough situation.

McCollum rotates to prevent Mann from going to Green, leaving Mann to pass to McGruder. It’s the difference between having the hot hand in Green shooting or a player who doesn’t shoot many threes in McGruder. Green commanded McCollum’s attention, granting McGruder sufficient time to nail a clutch triple.

Green’s stable play in the seeding games have been a pleasing sight for a team not at full strength yet. Once the missing pieces start filling in during the playoffs, Green will continue to hold a key role in the rotation. He sticks to his strengths whether he’s playing power forward or center.

There’s a reason Green has a net rating of +8.4 and a true shooting percentage of 76.3 in five games in August. Expect the floor spacing of JaMychal Green to contribute to more Clippers’ success in the near future.

 213Hoops is an independently owned and operated L.A. Clippers blog by Clippers fans, for Clippers fans. If you enjoy our content, please consider subscribing to our Patreon. Subscriptions start at $1 a month and support from readers like you goes a long way towards helping us keep 213Hoops sustainable, growing, and thriving.

JaMychal Green’s Floor Spacing has Opened Up the Offense For the Clippers
Sanjesh Singh

The Los Angeles Clippers came into Orlando with numerous concerns surrounding some of their key players. While this might be concerning, it also means the Clippers’ best basketball is still to come.

Here’s just a quick summary of some of the setbacks the Clippers have faced. Ivica Zubac and Landry Shamet arrived to the bubble late due to having positive COVID-19 tests. Marcus Morris came late as well, and is expecting the birth of his son soon, which will cause him to depart the bubble again. Montrezl Harrell and Patrick Beverley, who were already in Orlando, both left due to family emergencies. Lou Williams also departed the bubble to attend a family funeral in Atlanta, but a stop for wings made him quarantine for ten days upon returning.  

The Clippers don’t have to worry about losing their playoff spot in the Western Conference, but since basketball hasn’t been played in four months, it’s imperative to have the main rotation in form sooner rather than later. Team chemistry, conditioning and shaking off the rust is top priority for a team primed to make a deep run in the playoffs – and keep the best seed possible. 

The three scrimmage games every team in Orlando played was designed for that purpose. For the Clippers, however, the scrimmages primarily showcased the young guys they have at the end of the bench – and Joakim Noah. Terrence Mann, Amir Coffey and Rodney McGruder played hefty minutes due to the shorthanded roster, which is good for them, but didn’t help the Clippers get into their real rotations. 

Fortunately, the Clippers got reinforcements with Zubac, Shamet and Beverley returning for the Los Angeles Lakers matchup. However, Montrezl Harrell still isn’t with the team as he grieves the death of his grandmother, Williams’ quarantine just ended, and he looked quite rusty in his first game back – he’ll need more time to get back up to speed.

Still, the Clippers are improving after not playing in so long, and as the players find their rhythms, it’s clear that the best is still to come for the squad. 

A two-point loss to the Lakers isn’t bad at all considering the circumstances. You can point to any missed shot by the Clippers as deciding the outcome, but the game was winnable. Beverley, on a minutes restriction, scored 12 points in 16 minutes. Zubac got into foul trouble and saw 15 minutes of action where he only scored two points. Marcus Morris went scoreless in 19 minutes, Shamet couldn’t buy a basket, and Reggie Jackson’s decision-making on offense looked rough.

Still, the Clippers knocked down 16 threes on 36 attempts, good for 44.4%. That’s a tremendous rate to hit on opening day, with Paul George’s six triples playing a big role in that success. Kawhi Leonard started off slow but got into a rhythm as the game went on and finished with 28 points. The two stars did their jobs, but they needed assistance. 

Against the New Orleans Pelicans, George and Leonard received help and it showed on the scoreboard. Following a successful game from deep against the Lakers, the Clippers somehow managed to top that rate. The Clippers shot 25-47 from deep, good for 53.2%. Again, George was the forefront of the team’s success by hitting on 8-11 attempts, but the players who struggled on opening day began to assert themselves against the Pelicans. 

Morris hit a three en route to nine points, Shamet knocked down two threes for his only field goals, and Zubac grabbed nine rebounds in 24 minutes. Beverley, who started but was still on a minutes restriction, provided his usual consistent presence from deep going 3-5 for nine points. Jackson came off the bench to lead that unit, scoring 15 points in 20 minutes and knocking down 3-4 threes. 

The hot shooting from the entire team proved to be too much to overcome for New Orleans and illustrated how dangerous the Clippers can be when the players are at their best. That level of shooting for L.A. is definitely unsustainable, but considering the fact that Williams and Harrell didn’t play, it could’ve been worse for the Pelicans. 

The scorching hot shooting for the Clippers cooled off massively against the Phoenix Suns, but games like that happen every now and then. George and Leonard struggled to hit their shots despite being the team’s leading scorers. As a team, the Clippers shot just 8-29 from deep, a clip of 27.6%. That could lead to believing the Clippers were blown out by their opponents, but that wasn’t the case. Though the Suns were the team on fire from three (17-32, 53.1%), it took a tough turnaround jumper at the buzzer by Devin Booker to win. 

In good news, Morris and Zubac were a combined 13-17 from the floor, with Zubac grabbing 12 rebounds. Zubac notably arrived in Orlando late, and to see him put up a performance that was desperately needed (besides the late crucial turnover) gives the frontcourt additional versatility going forward while JaMychal Green continues to be a perfect floor space at center. 

Williams made his return following his 10-day quarantine, but he naturally didn’t play as well as he could’ve. Williams grabbed six rebounds and dished out six assists, but he couldn’t provide the points off the bench that he’s known for. With Beverley leaving the game early, the Clippers should be relieved that Williams is back now rather than later, as Beverley’s injury is one to watch going forward. 

Now that Williams is back, it’ll be interesting to see how Doc Rivers gets him going. Williams won’t have his main PnR partner in Harrell available yet, but as mentioned, Beverley’s injury sets the team back in some areas. With Beverley being out, more of the ballhandling and playmaking duties will fall on Lou, which could be rough as he gets into shape, but will be good for him in the long term. 

It may take a few games for Williams to find his footing again. One key thing for Lou will be hitting his outside shots (he didn’t hit one against the Suns). He’s not elite from the arc, but he’s a respectable threat and with Beverley’s shooting currently out of the equation, Williams will need to step up on that end as well as providing his usual scoring inside the arc. 

The Clippers play the Dallas Mavericks next, and that’s a team that hasn’t looked sharp defensively. Guards have been scoring with ease against them, making it a good opportunity for Williams to shine.

When Harrell makes his return to the bubble, there’s no doubt the Clippers will see a big boost in energy and interior scoring. Due to the recent passing of his grandmother, we could be seeing Harrell with more energy and passion than ever. Writing that sentence alone gives me goosebumps.

https://twitter.com/MONSTATREZZ/status/1290734117907308548?s=19 

Harrell’s presence in the paint would’ve been vital in a game as against the Suns where nothing fell from deep. Green’s spacing has provided the Clippers with an alternative if having Zubac or Noah on the court isn’t ideal, but nobody can match Trez’s ability to score and create in the paint. His scoring and energy simply isn’t replaceable. 

The Clippers losing two games by four points in the final seconds against two good teams speaks volumes to how great they can be when Williams and Harrell return. The Clippers haven’t been fully healthy for the most parts of this season, but they’re getting close to it (despite Beverley’s injury). Once that happens, the chemistry and execution should start to pick up as well.

Reintegrating Williams and Harrell into the rotation should serve the team better than giving Patrick Patterson and Shamet minutes right now, even with Lou and Trez being rusty. With those two back, the Clippers not only get stronger on paper, but also gain new dimensions on the court that will make a huge difference in games against competitive teams. Other Western Conference opponents should fear the opportunity to play a Clippers team that hasn’t reached their best in Orlando yet.

213Hoops is an independently owned and operated L.A. Clippers blog by Clippers fans, for Clippers fans. If you enjoy our content, please consider subscribing to our Patreon. Subscriptions start at $1 a month and support from readers like you goes a long way towards helping us keep 213Hoops sustainable, growing, and thriving.

The Clippers’ Best Bubble Basketball is Still to Come
Sanjesh Singh

Patrick Beverley’s Defensive Identity Makes him an Underappreciated Prototype
Sanjesh Singh