LA Clippers and their critics need to relax right now
Expectations are higher than ever for the LA Clippers this season, and the sense of urgency has never been greater for Chris Paul and Co. But relax.
After getting off to a fast start this season with a 14-2 record, the LA Clippers have fallen into a funk by going 2-5 in their last seven games. Following their latest 115-98 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, the NBA world is asking what on earth happened.
The core of guys have been together for three year prior to this season with J.J. Redick signing on in the summer of 2013.
The overreaction from the sports world has been large, but maybe this is what the Clippers needed. The game was also played in December, not in April or May when more is on the line. The season is about a quarter of the way completed. We are not in the playoffs, even though this could be a playoff matchup we see come April.
The Clippers came out and laid a goose egg against the Golden State Warriors, but that does not mean the season is over and, no, the Clippers don’t need to look into trading Blake Griffin (5-of-20 shooting with seven turnovers was ugly, but not that ugly). They just need to play the way they were playing earlier in the season.
Just relax
In the words of Aaron Rodgers, “relax, we are going to be ok.” When Aaron said this his team was ranked 28th in offense and 1-2 in the 2014-2015 season. Just like the Green Bay Packers of the NFL, the Clippers are still early in the season where they can make changes and mental adjustments needed to compete with the Warriors. The Packers proceeded to go 12-4 and make it to the Conference Finals.
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The loss to Golden State is not the end of the world. And while the Warriors unsurprisingly have wins over some impressive opponents, so do the Clippers.
Both teams know each other well and the Warriors were able to stop ball movement, turning the LA Clippers’ offense into a lot of dribbling, isolation plays, and low percentage shots. Not to mention hurried passes and unsettled post play from Griffin.
The Clippers were not able to get out on fast breaks because they couldn’t get steals, and the early turnovers just provided that many extra possessions.
Blake’s uncharacteristic turnovers into occupied passing lanes hurt a lot too, yet it also wasn’t the only reason why the Clippers lost. Blake averages 2.7 turnovers a game, and seven was easily a new season-high. It killed momentum, and once the Warriors play faster and go on a run to get ahead, it’s hard for anyone to come back.
Next, a look at other elements of the Clippers’ attack that won’t always be such a weakness.