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An optimistic look at the LA Clippers through December

By Jordan German

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 6: The LA Clippers react during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 6, 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 6: The LA Clippers react during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 6, 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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The LA Clippers lost to the then 9-18 Bulls Saturday night in a shocking turn of events. The NBA fan base was in a frenzy that the mighty Clippers had finally shown their underperforming side. It was a very ugly situation, but what else is there? Well, where ever there is a way down, there is always a way back up.

I was originally very upset about that loss to the Chicago Bulls, it was embarrassing. To have a team that is supposed to be the title favorite be the first win against an over .500 team for the Bulls is bad. But, as I sat there, I listened to the words of the great Billy Crystal in his impersonation of Muhammad Ali. In his impersonation, he says, “… I ain’t got nothing to be sorry about. Everyone in life suffers a loss, you see. It’s the one that overcomes the loss and makes a success of himself that’s really doing something.” Considering that Billy Crystal has always been the famous LA Clippers fan, it rang true to me.

The LA Clippers lost in embarrassing fashion, but why does it matter? It’s December and the Clippers have played twenty-eight games out of eighty-two. As Crystal also said in impersonating Ali, “No matter what you is in life, no matter what color, no matter what religion, it’s never too late to start all over again.” In the case of the NBA, there is always time to start all over again until game number eighty-two. So, what have the Clippers done right? Why should the fans be proud?

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The stats through December

Excluding the Bulls matchup from Saturday, the LA Clippers are second in the Western Conference only trailing the Los Angeles Lakers at 23-3. They are 4.0 games back at 20-8 coming off that loss in Chicago. When it comes to league standings, the Clippers are currently leading the Lakers in PPG at 115.3, and they also come eighteenth in opponents PPG with allowing 108.0 per game. And very surprisingly, the Clippers are second in the league for total points with 3,113 of them.

In terms of field goals, the Clippers are third in the league in them and just trailing the Lakers by five field goals. With all those points and twenty wins, the Clippers are still second in the league in turnovers so far. It is incredible that the team that burns themselves with turnovers is averaging 115.3 points per game.

According to ESPN, the LA Clippers are fourth in the league for best attendance in total. In averages, the Clippers come in sixth. For the team that just ten years ago finished 29-53 and averaged 16,343 people per game, they are now 20-8 through twenty-eight and average 19,068 fans per game. No longer are there random people wandering in because it is cheap basketball, now there are bonafide fans cheering every night. To the loyal Clippers fans that remember those days, it means much more than any record.

Looking at the future

The LA Clippers are coming off six road games in nine days from December 6th to December 14th. On the road, they went 4-2 and they lost to the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks and the struggling Chicago Bulls. On the flip side, they toppled the Wizards by sixteen points, destroyed the Pacers on the back of Paul George, ousted the defending champs on the back of Kawhi Leonard, and then they capitalized off both their stars in Minnesota.

Over the next ten days, the Clippers have four games in total. Two against the Suns and Rockets at home and two back on the road against the Spurs and the Thunder. The Suns have struggled and lost two straight, the Rockets are just coming off a loss and have lost four of their last ten, the Spurs are coming off a win and have evened out the ship at .500 over their last ten, and the Thunder have lost their last two and four over their last ten.

It isn’t the hardest strip of games they have had, but they need to really capitalize. Having six days of rest out of ten is a gem considering their torrid stretch of six games in nine days. And luckily, after that back-to-back against San Antonio and Oklahoma City, there won’t be another back-to-back set until January 4th and 5th vs Memphis and vs New York.

Just for those here who like using the strength of schedule statistic to defend the Clippers, their strength of record is indeed higher than the Lakers and the Bucks. They come in with the sixth hardest schedule in the league and a rating of 0.68 while the Lakers are nineteenth with a ranking of -0.59. I’m not a big fan of that statistic, but do with it what you will. The Clippers are going to have to chug ahead despite those numbers, and that will make or break the season.

Focusing on the good side

There are plenty of things that the LA Clippers could improve upon and many things they will have to do to right the ship eventually and stay consistent in their winning. I could write a whole article on individual players that need to contribute more or what statistics need boosting, but that isn’t what basketball is about anyways.

No one steps on the court thinking about how they can help the team’s true shooting percentage, but everyone steps on the court thinking of ways to win. A solid defense, a budding offense, a fantastic shooting core, an impressive group of youth, these are the things that are valuable, not percentages. For the Clippers, they are capable of saying that they have all of those things.

Have all of those things been very clear yet? Not entirely. Certain youthful players such as Jerome Robinson could use some improvement in the G League before coming up to the team, and the defense could stand to be a bit more consistent, but that comes with time. Everything comes with time, and it really isn’t too late to start over until game eighty-two.

Next. LA Clippers barely escape Minnesota despite historic games from Kawhi, George. dark

The LA Clippers are second in the Western Conference with Kawhi needing load management for his knee and multiple key players missing. Even the depth has been blown to bits, but overcoming losses while lessening the losses is what defines a good team. That 4-2 road trip was a solid example of the Clippers being able to overcome adversity, and they can continue for as long as they need before the team is truly healthy. Going back to that second quote from the beginning of the article, it really isn’t too late for the Clippers to start over on their fortunes. No matter what the strength of schedule says, no matter what injuries the team takes, no matter what the media wants to portray, it isn’t too late for the Clippers to start all over again in resetting their fortunes.

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