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LA Clippers: 3 stats that should improve with Paul George back

By Ryan Snellings

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers warms up before a pre-season game against Melbourne United on October 13, 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 Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers warms up before a pre-season game against Melbourne United on October 13, 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 Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – OCTOBER 24: Kawhi Leonard #2 and Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers look on on October 24, 2019 at Chase Center in San Francisco, 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – OCTOBER 24: Kawhi Leonard #2 and Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers look on on October 24, 2019 at Chase Center in San Francisco, 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Pick and roll

This one isn’t as apparent as the previous two statistics but it is definitely worth noting.

FiveThirtyEight put out an article a couple of days ago titled “Want To Confuse An NBA Defense? Have A Guard Set A Ball Screen.”

I highly recommend reading it as the majority of the first section actually focuses on the Clippers. The gist of the article is that the amount of pick and rolls using a guard-set screen has increased over the years due to just how efficient the play is.

With guards as a screener as opposed to a forward, team’s turnover rates are lower, the rate of drawing a shooting foul increases, shooting percentages increase and three-point attempt rates increase.

That all sounds pretty good, huh?

As I said, the beginning of the article focuses heavily on the Clippers using Patrick Beverley, Landry Shamet and Lou Williams as screeners and how the team has found a lot of success. Guess what position Paul George plays?

We won’t see this in his debut, but can you imagine the trouble defenses will have if Kawhi Leonard is handling the ball while Paul George is setting the ball screen? I would have to imagine they’ll have a whole lot.

When the duo joined the Clippers together, obviously their defense was the first thing talked about. However, with this wrinkle in the playbook, they could easily become an unstoppable offensive force.

Ten takeaways from the first ten games. dark. Next

Obviously a lot about the LA Clippers will change when Paul George takes the court tonight. Clipper Nation can’t wait to see their other star acquisition finally play and possibly help lead this team to its first championship.

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