LA Clippers: 3 reasons fans shouldn’t worry about the team’s start
![NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 14: Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on November 14, 2019 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 14: Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on November 14, 2019 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/a93161e6a4e3547cf1f79a8806c19e634047c0379a664edef6a67e28058fecc9.jpg)
With the LA Clippers dropping two games in a row, fans seemingly want to panic. But it’s really not that bad. Here are three reasons you shouldn’t worry.
I arrived home last night during halftime. I threw the TV on and saw the LA Clippers were down 72-59 and thought, “Hmmm. That doesn’t seem great.” I shot Garrett a text asking to give me a brief rundown of the first half. His summation:
- Paul George is a f****** cheat
- McGruder is going off
- We can’t defend worth a damn without Kawhi Leonard and Patrick Beverley
Albeit short, his summation made sense. The Clippers were without two of their top three defenders. Their third best, Paul George, was playing his first game of the season on a minutes restriction.
I sat and watched the second half, which included the Clippers making a comeback, despite not pulling out the win. It was a solid effort, especially considering Paul George, who had not played basketball since April, came out and scored 33 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out four assists.
Considering that neither Kawhi Leonard nor Patrick Beverley played, this was the second game of an away and away back-to-back, and that it was George’s first real game with his new teammates, I wasn’t too broken up about the loss. Then, I made the mistake of checking Twitter.
Y’all are crazy.
I saw every reaction possible. “I’m sick of load management.” “We can’t defend anything!” “Jerome Robinson sucks! Play Terance Mann!” “Terance Mann sucks! Play Jerome!” “We don’t have any shooters!”
Thankfully, there was some sanity sprinkled into the Clipperholics’ mentions. Yes, there are some legitimate concerns, such as Ivica Zubac‘s lack of minutes considering how great he has been and questionable shooting/defenses for stretches, but c’mon. We are eleven games into the season.
Before Clipper Nation goes all in on the panic button, here are three reasons why we shouldn’t freak out just yet.