The final 28 regular-season games could be viewed as a new beginning for the Clippers, something of a do-over given their five new players, a near-full strength Kawhi Leonard and elevated expectations.
“We got a chance to be really, really good,” All-Star point guard James Harden said. “Really, really good, a really good team.”
Is that wishful thinking on Harden’s part or a real possibility?
The handful of players the team added before the All-Star break is expected to provide additional offensive flair to an established lineup but whether they can make a significant difference and lead the team deep into the playoffs remains to be seen.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said it will take time to integrate the new faces into the rotation, but he is, nonetheless, excited at the prospect of starting anew when the season resumes Thursday night in Milwaukee, the first of a seven-game road trip (though two games are against the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena).
“It’s good for us to start over, I think offensively,” Lue said. “(We need to) just to get better and do the things we need to do that’s necessary to win games. Just be better at executing what we’re trying to do.
“It’s going to take a little bit of time as far as rotations and how we play guys together and things like that. But from a basketball standpoint, I’m kind of excited about it.”
Guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, versatile Ben Simmons and backup center Drew Eubanks are expected to see significant minutes off the bench, while the other two newcomers – veteran guard Patty Mills and Marjon Beauchamp will play as needed.
Bogdanovic, a point guard known for his defensive ability and court vision, will be counted on not only on the defensive end but offensively as a facilitator. He said he didn’t think it would take long for the new players to adjust to their teammates.
“They did such a good job in helping all of us in this transition,” he said. “I mean the first day they were there ready with all sets, all plays, all defensive stuff, Coach Jeff, Coach Ty, so everybody, all assistant coaches, they were on point and when I moved here, I didn’t feel anything in transition. … They are giving me such confidence to play here, and I really like this team.”
Simmons, a 6-foot-10 former All-Star wing, had a solid debut, recording 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and one blocked shot, with zero turnovers in his debut against the Utah Jazz last week. He can play at least four positions.
“I’m excited man, I mean Ben brings a skill set that we don’t have other than myself, his passing ability and his speed pushing the ball in the offense to get guys involved,” Harden said.
Leonard returned to the lineup after a lengthy recovery from knee issues, long after the Clippers had established their identity as a defense-first team. The Clippers are limiting their opponents to 108.3 points per game, the second-best mark in the NBA.
“I thought the first 35 or so games without Kawhi, the guys did a great job with just coming together collectively, especially on the defensive end and some guys had career years so far,” Lue said, singling out guard Norman Powell and center Ivica Zubac.
Still, Leonard gives the Clippers an added dimension on both ends of the court. He is averaging 16.3 points on 46.4% shooting, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 steal in 15 games and only recently topped the 30-minute mark in games.
“Overall, for me it’s just a fresh start,” Leonard said, adding that he will leave others to judge how well he is playing.
“That’s up to other people that rate me or assess what I’m doing, but I’m still getting in a mix of things and learning JVG’s (Jeff Van Gundy’s) concepts on the team. … It’s just a learning process for me to keep going and just want to keep getting better.”
So now, Bogdanovic and Simmons, along with Eubanks and a healthy Leonard give the Clippers a legitimate shot at possibly a higher seed and a deep postseason run.
The Clippers, who closed their first 54 games by winning three in a row and six of 10, sit in the No. 6 spot in the congested Western Conference.
“I think every team needs to, wants to come out the All-Star break and be playing with (a high intensity),” Harden said. “If we want to get to where we want to go, the time is now. We added some shooting, we added some defense and obviously with a healthy Kawhi we’ve got a chance to compete with anybody. So, I think for us, it’s just finding out how we want to play and attacking it.”
CLIPPERS AT BUCKS
When: Thursday, 5 p.m. PT
Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee
TV/radio: FDSN SoCal/570 AM