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Takeaways from the first quarter of the LA Clippers’ season

By Brian Cullen

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 1: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers stands at center court during the game against the Washington Wizards on December 1, 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 - DECEMBER 1: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers stands at center court during the game against the Washington Wizards on December 1, 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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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 14: Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers reacts during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on November 14, 2019 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 14: Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers reacts during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on November 14, 2019 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Joseph Raya-Ward

Likes: Rim Protection

In the off-season, it was assumed that the Clippers would have issues defending the rim. With their center rotation being only Ivica Zubac, a young and unproven big man, and Montrezl Harrell, undersized to play the five, the team was supposed to struggle to defend the paint. Through the first quarter of the season, that has not been the case.

Among players who have played all 21 games this season, Zubac and Harrell rank second and third in Defensive Field Goal Percentage within six feet of the basket. Extend that to ten feet and the results are the same. Both players have shined around the rim both offensively and defensively. The offense was not projected to be a problem, making their excellent defense a more than welcome surprise.

If both players continue this level of play into the playoffs, the Clippers are shaping up to be an incredibly tough defense to score against.

Dislikes: Zubac’s Minutes

Not to beat a dead horse here, but I’ve been on the record saying that Zubac deserves to be playing more. As of this writing, Zubac has only played in nine of the Clippers’ twenty-one fourth quarters. He is averaging 2.1 minutes in the fourth for those games.

As I noted before, Zubac has been incredible defensively for the Clippers so far. His per 100 possession stats have also been eye-popping. This season, Zubac is averaging 23.9 points and 19.1 rebounds per one hundred possessions, while posting a net rating of +21. His one drawback has been his fouling, where he is averaging 2.5 fouls in just 16.1 minutes per game. For reference, that works out to 7.3 fouls per 100 possessions.

Zu has definitely earned more than the 16.1 minutes he is getting per game this season. While the team has still been successful, I think that Doc giving Zu more responsibility in the regular season can be greatly beneficial to the team come playoff time. Young players need reps to develop good habits, and the only path to more game speed reps is more minutes.

What I Want to See: Survive the Roadtrip

Eleven of the Clippers’ next twenty games are on the road, including nine of their next twelve. While the Clippers have a franchise-best 12-1 record at home so far this year, they are only 3-5 on the road. While some of that has to do with early season injury management for Kawhi, the team has still struggled away from home.

If the Clippers are able to survive this next stretch of games, they will avoid both media scrutiny, and a need to make up games in the second half of the season in order to secure home court through at least some of the postseason. While being the top seed is more than likely not a priority for the team, their early success at home should be a motivator to get a top two or three seed by season’s end.

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