The Los Angeles Clippers have embraced the “unction” tag, but it may ultimately cost them as teams begin to expose their main weakness. True to their nickname, the Clippers have looked slow and sluggish, resulting in a 2-2 start to the season.
“Unction” Clippers Are Being Exposed on Their Weaknesses
The Clippers have the oldest roster in the NBA, and it sure looks like it. The Clippers’ stagnant offense was initially exposed in their season-opening loss to the Utah Jazz. They bounced back with wins over the Trail Blazers and Suns, led by strong scoring from James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.
Against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday, the Clippers again showed what happens when their stars falter late and no one steps up offensively. Leonard shot 44.2% (7-of-17) but disappeared in the third quarter, when the Warriors outscored them 32-14. Harden started strong with 18 first-half points but faded in the second, missing all three shot attempts.
The Clippers’ 10 assists, far fewer than their usual 23 this season, highlighted how motionless their offense becomes when Harden and Leonard can’t carry the load.
The Rest of The Team Needs to Step Up
The Clippers’ third-quarter lineup without Harden, Leonard, and Ivica Zubac proved costly, allowing a 10-2 Warriors run that exposed Los Angeles’ flaws on both ends. Without their stars, Los Angeles’ offensive — and defensive — weaknesses were on full display.
Last season, Norman Powell averaged 21.8 points off the bench to ease the load on Harden and Leonard. This offseason, the Clippers traded him for Bradley Beal, who has yet to make an impact after scoring just 11 points in two games before being sidelined with back soreness.
John Collins, whom the Clippers acquired in the Powell trade, has been one of the few bright spots for the team this season. However, head coach Ty Lue is still working to integrate the forward into lineups alongside another marquee addition, Chris Paul. So far, Paul’s minutes this season show that the veteran has moved past his days as a dependable bench facilitator.
The Clippers’ big men also need to step up, albeit in other ways. Zubac is matching last season’s 16.8 points per game, but his pick-and-rolls with Harden have lost their effectiveness. Zubac remains effective inside and as a passer, but he must prove he can lead the offense without Harden and Leonard. Brook Lopez, his replacement, offers outside shooting and needs to assert himself to earn steady minutes in Lue’s rotations.
Do The Clippers Still Look Like Contenders?
What this Clippers team most definitely doesn’t lack is maturity. It’s still early, and their weaknesses look solvable once the team adjusts and gets comfortable with one another. Yes, their title chances still revolve around the consistency and health of Harden and Leonard. However, the rest of the team should be capable enough to prevent stretches of static offense.
They have time to regroup before facing the Pelicans on Friday, and a healthy Beal should help speed up his and the other recruits’ adjustment.
The Clippers still haven’t lived up to expectations as contenders. The next few games will test how Lue can maximize the abundance of talented veterans at his disposal.
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