Clippers Need Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan’s Best To Get Win Over Bucks
Following a crushing defeat to the Houston Rockets, the LA Clippers will travel to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks. This will be their first match-up of the season, with the next coming on March 15.
A game in Milwaukee is the perfect scenario for the Clippers to get back to their winning ways. After facing the top 3 teams in the West over the last 4 games, the Clippers can bounce back. Milwaukee, although a promising young team, is very much beatable. The Clippers just need DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin to play the way they know how.
The Freaks
Blake Griffin is still playing well. He is scoring, rebounding and assisting at great rates. The Bucks have their own big man making plays though in The Greek Freak. Giannis Antetokounmpo has only gotten better with age. What’s that? He’s only 22? Good grief.
Giannis is averaging 23.2 points, 5.4 assists and 8.6 rebounds per game. He just came off of his very first All-Star weekend. The kid deserves his nickname. His long spider-like body combined with his speed and leaping truly make him a freak of nature. Head coach Jason Kidd has allowed him to run point this year, making him a nightmare match-up.
The two forwards (Giannis and Blake) are in their own world right now. The pair are two of three players in the NBA averaging 20+ points, 8.5+ rebounds & 5.0+ assists this season. The other? Russell Westbrook. It’s definitely an elite class to be in, but for a 22 year old to be putting up those numbers is almost inconceivable.
RELATED STORY: The Importance of Blake Griffin’s Three Point Shot
Blake and Giannis are the only players 6’10” or taller averaging 5+ assists per game this season. The big men can make anything happen on the court. Stopping Giannis will be a big key for the Clippers, so expect them to have Luc Mbah a Moute on him often.
Rebounding
The whole team needs to rebound after their performance against the Rockets. Yes, that’s totally some double entendre. The team was out hustled and therefore out rebounded. The Rockets had 62 rebounds, including 19 offensive boards while the Clippers only pulled down 36 total.
Deandre Jordan
DeAndre Jordan is the main guy to focus on. He has the motor to grab every board on the court. He needs to make an effort especially on the offensive end. Look at this offensive rebound against Charlotte a few weeks back. DJ actually goes up for the ball and get the Clippers another possession.
Against the Rockets? He let Patrick Beverly net a higher rebound total. That has to change. Doc Rivers said the team may not be fully right yet, but rebounding is not something you need team chemistry for. It’s mostly effort. DeAndre Jordan needs to show up and start pulling down boards again.
Outlook
https://twitter.com/LAClippers/status/837346874965155840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Look, if Blake Griffin’s message after the last game was heard, the Clippers should walk away with a win. The team needs to buckle down and come together, with the playoffs sneaking up. Hopefully, Wednesday was a wake up call and the team strings together a few wins.
We have hoped for this in the past. Prove our doubts wrong Clippers.
The game tips off at 8pm Eastern/5pm Pacific on ESPN.
https://twitter.com/LAClippers/status/837732738278932482
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