November 27th – December 3rd (2W-2L)
Game 1: [Denver Nuggets] – [L 104-113]
Key Statistics:
Former Clippers Reggie Jackson and Deandre Jordan combine for 56 points, 18 rebounds, and 18 assists
Gave up 18 offensive rebounds, 54 PITP
Paul George 6 points, 2/13 from the field.
Key Takeaways:
Following the best win of the year, this was the worst loss of the year. The Nuggets were without Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Jokic. On top of that, Denver’s other starters MPJ and KCP shot a combined 6/27 (22.2%).
Letting Reggie Jackson and Deandre Jordan do what they did in this game is nothing short of embarrassing. 20 points combined in the 4th quarter. They did most of their damage in the pick&roll which highlights how awful the p&r defense of the Clippers really is.
Embarrassing.
Game 2: [@Sacramento Kings] – [W 131-117]
Key Statistics:
Kawhi had 34 points shooting 77.8%, his second 30pt game in a row.
Zu was a team-high +23
28 assists, compared to 18 in the previous game. Only 4 turnovers, a season low.
60 PITP
Key Takeaways:
A great game to follow up after the last embarrassment. Timely offense, with all 5 starters in double-digit scoring. Great energy game to compete and shut down this young and fast-paced Kings team.
Game 3: [@Golden State Warriors] – [L 114-120]
Key Statistics:
Shorthanded Warriors still put up 44 bench points.
58 PITP
Key Takeaways:
This was a tough game to explain with stats, it was the lack of energy that killed this game for the Clippers. Hard to say what needs to happen for this team to show up every game. This was the second half of a back-to-back, but every game matters.
Game 4: [Golden State Warriors] – [W 113-112]
Key Statistics:
31 assists. The team does not lose when they move the ball this much.
56 PITP (5th game in a row with 50+ PITP)
Key Takeaways:
The Clippers stole this one, and it was incredibly necessary. Commends to the team for fighting till the end.
The Clippers with their first double-digit comeback of the regular season behind heroics from Paul George.
It was a bad shot. Even though what kept the Clippers in the game was ball movement, they still went to iso ball and relied on difficult shots in the clutch. It worked this game, but there have been 5 other games that have been lost doing the same thing with Paul/Kawhi taking that same shot.
Big Picture:
Kawhi still feels passive, and Ty Lue saying it’s tough to ask star players to change the way they are playing falls short—it’s the coach’s job. The team’s 10-game grace period is over, yet no identity is in sight. Their top-10 defense is deceptive due to their lackluster schedule thus far. The pick&roll defense is weak, and Harden’s deflections don’t compensate for his lackluster on-ball defense. PJ Tucker had a quote talking about “There’s not enough basketballs on the planet for this team” He’s absolutely right when there are so many possessions where 3 people are standing around, not touching the ball, or having to force contested shots. Speaking of PJ Tucker, he’s out of the rotation, fair enough, but Kobe Brown isn’t much of an improvement. The core issue is energy, and a lot of that has to do with the slow offensive pace that leads to unpredictable performances. Too many unanswered questions. Ty Lue needs to drop the excuses and find solutions.
What to Expect Next Week:
2 Games, Wednesday vs Nuggets, Friday @Jazz
These are must-win games. The Clippers are finally back in the play-in picture. These are games to prove that they belong as a playoff team. The Nuggets might be finally healthy after over a month of struggling with injuries, The Clippers have to treat this like a game 7 of the finals. No more room for excuses; Harden and the team must click. After last week’s embarrassment against the Nuggets, they need the fire. Kawhi, PG, and Harden must play aggressively. The Jazz, who are unpredictable, often rise to competition, but they’re likely to end as a sub .500 team. These “should-win” games are “must-wins.”
West Coast Hoops 