Clipperholics
Fansided

Los Angeles Clippers: 3 takeaways from impressive 115-112 win over Houston

By Johaan Forbes-Anthony

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 21: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers celebrates after scoring a basket against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Staples Center on October 21, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 21: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers celebrates after scoring a basket against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Staples Center on October 21, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 21: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers goes for a layup against Isaiah Hartenstein #55 and Michael Carter-Williams #1 of the Houston Rockets during the second half of a basketball game at Staples Center on October 21, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 21: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers goes for a layup against Isaiah Hartenstein #55 and Michael Carter-Williams #1 of the Houston Rockets during the second half of a basketball game at Staples Center on October 21, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

2. The Clippers have an excellent mix of guard talent

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the Clippers have a plethora of guards on their roster, even after cutting a few more prior to the season commencing, but many were left wondering how Doc Rivers would use the talent at his disposal.

With Patrick Beverley and Avery Bradley starting for the Clippers in the backcourt, that has left Lou Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to come off the bench and while it remains to be seen how long that rotation will last, given the excellent start by the team’s first-round rookie, it’s been made clear to Clippers fans that the quartet has the potential to match it with the best backcourts in the league at both ends of the floor.

Gilgeous-Alexander was handed the task of defending arguably the league’s toughest player to guard in James Harden and performed admirably. While Harden used a wide array of his tricks to get to the hoop, the Kentucky product used his extraordinary length to bother the reigning MVP, helping keep him to 11-from-26 shooting from the field in the Clippers win. Impressively, Gilgeous-Alexander finished the game with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists of his own, recording a game-high plus-minus of +21 in 26 minutes, combining excellently with Williams (3-16 FG, +14 in 25 minutes) off the bench, with the pair entrusted by Rivers, playing the majority of the fourth quarter to help secure the win.

It seems like Coach Rivers has a good problem on his hands in the coming months.

Home/Clippers News