In our first edition of the new season, Logan Rapp hosts a Slack Chat to discuss early impressions of the Clippers, team fashion and more.
Early Impressions
Logan Rapp: Seven games in and the LA Clippers are 5-2. Let’s do a super quick temperature check — what sticks out the most with you about this first stretch of games?
Ethan Smith: Kawhi Leonard and Montrezl Harrell have trouble when they are on the court together. It’s not blatantly noticeable but you can tell their game speeds aren’t the same.
Randi Geffner: Well, Kawhi obviously. It’s still a little surreal to see him in a Clippers uniform, on our court.
Kenneth Hawkes: The Clippers fortitude and chemistry shaking the league. It’s cool to see such a dynamic team come up top. Those losses were good too. I like how they worked for improvement rather than downing our ability as a team.
Paul Tooke: Losing to the Suns. I didn’t like that.
Nathan Jacobo: As of right now through the first seven games of the season, what stands out the most is having a superstar in Kawhi Leonard being able to carry the load for stretches in the 4th quarter.
The shots have not yet fallen for the likes of Patrick Beverley and Landry Shamet, but the defense has impressed over the last couple of home games.
Randi Geffner: That Suns’ loss was textbook Clippers. Taking a loss on a sure-win game. By the same token, we win games no one would expect, a la 2019 playoffs.
Logan Rapp: What’s struck me is that, somehow, Kawhi’s gotten better from last season. His passing in particular. And that’s caught on with the rest of the squad. Sometimes to a fault — more than a couple of times I’ve seen Pat Bev with a solid look for his floater but he instead kicks it out. I think that’ll smooth over with time, but the unselfishness of this team is really something to behold.
Nathan Jacobo: I’ve also been impressed with the play of Ivica Zubac as well, his body looks great, hands are fully recovered and he is starting to understand his role under Doc.
He and Kawhi are seemingly getting better at the pick-and-roll as each game progresses. All it takes is more reps.
Kenneth Hawkes: Yeah, Kawhi’s assists have more than doubled from last year’s average.
Logan Rapp: Zubac’s defense has also really improved. He’s changing people’s angles, deflecting shots. He’s showing why the trade for Muscala was so… whatever the hell that was.
Randi Geffner: Nate, agreed. Zubac seems like a whole new player. And it’s just icing on the cake that it was at the Lakers’ expense.
Ryan Snellings: Short sighted? Negligent?
Logan Rapp: All of the above, Ryan.
Paul Tooke: I’ve liked Zubac’s confidence in these games.
Logan Rapp: And also, like, just Kawhi, man. Being in Staples to watch Kawhi Leonard drop 38 was… a special moment. He just floats across the court. He’s on a completely different plane of existence, even among other superstars who are arguably just as elite. I’ve never seen basketball played like that before, certainly not up close.
Kenneth Hawkes: That game was incredible, I was there too. Kawhi looks unreal when he paces up and down effortlessly.
Randi Geffner: Same. It’s magical.
Matt Chong: Zubac getting a minute bump would make me very happy. Doc has mentioned lightening Trezz’s load at the ends of games anyway.