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LA Clippers: Examining the Team’s Three Biggest Risks in 2019-20

By Jose Salviati

LA Clippers logo (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LA Clippers logo (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SAN ANTONIO, TX – DECEMBER 21: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball against Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers on December 21, 2015 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photos by Chris Covatta/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – DECEMBER 21: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball against Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers on December 21, 2015 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photos by Chris Covatta/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1 – Lack of Chemistry

Team chemistry is difficult to define but you know it when you see it. Sometimes its evident in a team by watching the bench players. Are they engaged, energized and cheering on their teammates? It can show up in post-game interviews when you see one player playfully photo-bomb another during an interview. The real test however is on the floor.

Teams that have chemistry tend to know where their teammates will be without having to look. That kinda of, lets call it, advanced vision, leads to crisp passes for buckets. It leads to the ball getting from rebound to bucket without ever hitting the floor. That type of vision is often what separates a great team from a good team. The best and most recent example of this is the Golden State Warriors.

A team doesn’t need chemistry to win games or even a Championship, but most teams with it have won.

The Clippers are adding four new players in the 2019-20 season, not counting their rookies. Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Rodney McGruder and Maurice Harkless. More importantly, two of those four will be starters, Leonard and George.

George is interesting because he played for the Oklahoma City Thunder last year. The Thunder led the league field goal attempts per game with almost 94. He averaged 21 shots per game. Will he be OK deferring some of those shots to Leonard? Leonard played with Pascal Siakam last who averaged almost 17 ppg while averaging only 12 shots per game. Will Leonard be content to let George hoist up shots?

Between George and Leonard they averaged 40 shots a game. The Clippers as a team last year averaged about 88. Will the team and coach be OK with those two accounting for 46% of their shots?

Is team chemistry an issue? Well, if not an issue then a consideration? Yes, it has to be for this team and all of them in the Association. What the Clippers have going for them though is a good coach in a good system backed by a good executive team. Combine that with two professional players in their prime who have played on new teams before and excelled in that situation.

So, given those facts, the chances the Clippers suffer from debilitating chemistry issues is low – 10%.

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