The LA Clippers, sans Kawhi Leonard, host the Milwaukee Bucks tonight. Here are three things to watch for during the game.
The Milwaukee Bucks and reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo visit Staples Center tonight to take on the LA Clippers who will be without Kawhi Leonard. With no Leonard, the Clips will be in a tough battle. Here are three things you should watch for during the game.
1. How does the defense perform?
The Clippers defense has been mediocre at best this season. In fact, they sit at 16th in defensive rating. The team has been decent at not giving up points in the paint with an average of 42.9 per game, good enough for 8th in the NBA.
With Giannis coming to town, they will be tested. The Bucks rank second in the league in offensive rating, but it’s not in the paint where they are effective. Coach Mike Budenholzer had done well surrounding Giannis with shooters. Milwaukee actually generates 38.2% of their points from deep. With no Kawhi, wing defenders like Patrick Beverley and Maurice Harkless are going to have to be at their best.
Stopping Giannis is a task in itself. Again, with no Kawhi (or Paul George, for that matter), it looks like the onus will fall on Harkless. The Greek Freak has averaged 27.7 points per game and is shooting 61.2% from the field.
He has looked a little less afraid to shoot but is still mainly a threat inside. He has scored 81% of his points from 2 point range with another 21.6% coming from the free-throw line.
This really might be one of those nights the Clippers don’t particularly worry about him and try to just shut everyone else down.
2. Does the shooting slump end?
As a team, the Clippers have been pretty darn bad at shooting the ball. Much like last year, they aren’t doing so at a high clip, but they aren’t effective when they do.
Through seven games, they are shooting 34.4% from three, only attempting 29.9 per game. Although that shooting percentage is middle of the pack, it’s the players bringing it down that is surprising.
- Patrick Beverley – 12.9%
- Landry Shamet – 31.7%
- Lou Williams – 32.3%
If I told you to start the season that all three would be worse at shooting from deep than Patrick Patterson, I would’ve been laughed off the face of the earth.
Now, it has only been seven games and thus a small sample size. Because of that, the law of averages suggests all three should catch fire at some point, right? I’m not sure if that night is tonight.
Milwaukee is holding its opponents to 35.1% shooting. They also are allowing the fewest three-point attempts in the league. If their three-point defense is good and we aren’t making the few we do shoot, tonight could be a slog.
3. Big Production
If the guards aren’t hitting, this game will fall onto the big men, specifically Ivica Zubac and JaMychal Green. Yes, I just typed that about the 2019-20 Clippers.
Zubac has looked great this season, especially the other night versus Utah where he was unafraid of Rudy Gobert. He has also done an amazing job of protecting the paint. Granted, the below stat is a few days old, but just take it in context.
With Ivica Zubac on the court, the Los Angeles Clippers are giving up 29.6 points in the paint per 100 possessions. With Zubac off the court, they're giving up 46.9. Rim deterrence matters.
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) October 29, 2019
If the Clippers want to slow the Bucks, Zubac staying out of foul trouble and staying on the court could be key. Yes, he has a Sixth Man of the Year candidate in Montrezl Harrell backing him up, but for everything the Clippers gain on offense with Trezz on the court, they will lose on the defensive end.
JaMychal Green also needs to keep up his lights out shooting. He has hit an outstanding 54.8% of his shots from deep. Not only does that lead the team, but is first in the NBA among players who attempt more than four threes per game.
No, this fiery pace won’t continue, but he should still be a consistent threat. Green’s shooting will fit in perfectly when George and Leonard both take the court and many want him to slide into a starting role. Tonight will be another chance to prove that he deserves to take that step.
The game is on ESPN tonight at 10:00 pm EST/ 7:00 pm PST. As always, we will be live-tweeting during the game and make sure to check back here tomorrow for our takeaways!