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LA Clippers: Ten takeaways from the first ten games of the season

Randi Geffner|
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: The LA Clippers stand for the National Anthem prior to the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 11, 2019 at STAPLES Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: The LA Clippers stand for the National Anthem prior to the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 11, 2019 at STAPLES Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 31: Montrezl Harrell #5 and Maurice Harkless #8 of the LA Clippers look on during a game against the San Antonio Spurs on October 31, 2019 at STAPLES Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 31: Montrezl Harrell #5 and Maurice Harkless #8 of the LA Clippers look on during a game against the San Antonio Spurs on October 31, 2019 at STAPLES Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

3. The Blacktop Team is Here to Stay

The 2018-2019 Clippers were all about scrappy, blacktop basketball, defying critics and odds to win 48 regular-season games and take the perennial-champion Golden State Warriors to six games in the post-season. Any fears that the team culture would change with the addition of Kawhi Leonard, the 2019 Finals MVP, have been squelched in the first ten games. Kawhi is as gritty as they come, his intense methodical grace is a seamless fit into the Clippers culture.

4. Zubac.  What a revelation

Ivica Zubac is playing lights out ball; who would have predicted that? And the fact that it happened at the expense of the Clippers’ neighbors across the hall just makes this revelation a tiny bit sweeter.

5. Montrezl Harrell is a Serious 6th Man Contender

OK, we knew this already. Montrezl Harrell placed third in the 6th Man of the Year voting in 2018-2019, behind the Clippers 6th Man Yoda, Lou Williams. What the first ten games have confirmed is that this was not a fluke. Trezz has played every game, every possession, like a beast.  Not only is his legendary connection with Lou Williams on display, but he and Kawhi seem to have found a rhythm that is magic to observe. We are a long way from 2020 free agency, but Clipper fans will no doubt be crowdsourcing funding to pay Harrell whatever it takes to keep him next summer.

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