Clippers Beat Heat to Win 10 straight: Quick Thoughts

Here are three quick thoughts on the Clippers’ 104-90 win over the Miami Heat, their 10th consecutive win, a game in which they won without Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.

The Pablo-Cole show

You won’t believe this but two of the four best players in a Clippers win were Pablo Prigioni and Cole Aldrich.

Seriously.

It sounds crazy, but it’s the honest truth — poor Miami Heat.

Aldrich, stepping in for the sickly DeAndre Jordan, couldn’t have done a better DJ impression, though what the world really needed in all of this was Cole putting someone on a poster. Not exactly Jordan regading style but with Chris Paul being Chris Paul, Aldrich reaped the benefits that have allowed Jordan to become one of the most efficient players in NBA history. The results? A game-high 19 points (which would tie for 2nd-most points by Aldrich in a game) which included some dunks, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Prigioni, he was himself, but more of himself than we’d ever seen from him in the NBA. Remember how annoying Prigs was against the Clippers in Game 7 against the Rockets in the Western Conference semi-finals? Imagine that constantly through the 14 minutes played by the points guard. As expected, it wasn’t points from Prigs that was the show but his ability to be a complete pest on defense, especially near the inbounder — this play led to Prigs having 8 steals, becoming the first player in NBA history to have at least 8 steals in less than 15 minutes of play, and only the second player since 2013 with at least steals in a game (Robert Covington — 11/27/15).

The Clippers couldn’t ask for more from either player, with the two being the last signings of the summer and expected placeholders for when someone above them in the depth chart was forced out with injury. If the play, limited but effective, can sustain it’ll pay huge dividends in the postseason, unlike the last two seasons where the idea of the bench being on the floor was one coupled with pain, misery, and the realization that 9 out of 10 times it was going to go bad.

I Got Energy, Got a Lot of Energy

Drake line but it does an excellent job summing up just how the Clippers are beating up on teams without its best player: they, specifically the role guys, are playing with an energy that didn’t exist at the start of the season.

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Sir Charles In Charge

Playing this way is best for the reserves as they don’t have a mass of talent to lean on night-in and night-out. Instead, they could make it a task to make sure the other team isn’t playing harder than them, and from there the fruits of labor will generously spread, whether it be creating an open three or easy buckets via fast break — the Clippers’ bench has some talented dunkers (Johnson, Smith, Rivers, Lance) so this adds fire to the Lob City stewing flame.

As a whole, the Clippers ended the game with 18 steals, the most by any Clippers team since 2012, and 10 offensive rebounds, and if NBA.com or any other source kept up with it, the 18 and 10 would be coupled by numerous deflections made on the defensive end. Given the team’s usual lackadaisical nature, it was a nice sight to see.

I’ve said this before but what the Clippers have never needed from its reserves was a mixing of high usage players who’d just stand and watch each guy try and score on his own each possession down. What I’d site during this statement is the bench during Doc Rivers’ lone championship run with the Celtics in 2008. Eddie House could fill it up every once in a while but outside of him? Guys who could fill low usage roles, did the little things like defend and rebound, and muck the game up for the other team by use of energy. This group is growing closer to that, whether it be Prigioni, Aldrich, Austin Rivers, Luc Mbah a Moute, Wesley Johnson, or Josh Smith when he plays. Even if a marginal progression, it’s better than last year, and better than last year was all that was asked for from the Clippers in the offseason; it seems to finally be translating in real life so hopefully the energy remains.

Josh Smith doesn’t suck; who knew?

True story, but you wouldn’t think that as he’s been strapped to the bench as of late. But tonight, Doc Rivers had no choice as his starting PF-C were both out and the Clippers lack the depth to effectively replace the two while keeping Smith on the bench.

And as those who believe Smith is in a situation that doesn’t allow him to be the best him as Rivers continues the clown show of calling Smith out publicly for what he isn’t doing for similar offenders, Smith provided a strong 15 meaningful minutes.

Through that, you could see the effect Rivers’ act has had on the forward. Smith seemed hesitant on offense, passing up shots at a rate we’ve never seen from Smith (telling, because Smith isn’t necessarily known for his knack of NOT taking shots). That’s all Rivers, because the wrong move could send Smith back to the doghouse and eventually out the door via trade or release. Still, Smith provided when the call was made.

Next: Blake Griffin Injury Update: Clippers' star still can't run

Getting 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, and solid pick-and-roll defense is perfect for Smith given the circumstances. Even with Cole Aldrich’s continued solid play, there’s room for Smith in this rotation and hopefully this leads to regular minutes from the former dunk champion being a norm — the Clippers, summing the team up in the same, won’t be able to win as-is without it and what better to grow from than tonight’s performance.