LA Clippers: Takeaways, expectations and fears at the halfway point
As the LA Clippers surpass the halfway point in the 2019-20 season, Ryan Snellings, Brian Cullen, and Joseph Raya-Ward evaluate their progress.
At the halfway point in the season, the LA Clippers sit at 28-13. There have been some high highs and some very low lows in the first 41 games of the season.
An opening night win over the Los Angeles Lakers, even without Paul George, had fans excited to see this team’s potential. We knew it was only a matter of time before George would return and we would see a fully healthy team take the court. Little did we know, a plethora of injuries to the team would mean the full roster would not suit up together until Christmas Day.
That day brought another win against a strong Lakers team but since then, the team has been up and down. Recent struggles versus the likes of the Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks, and Golden State Warriors have left a bad taste in fan’s mouths. Despite the recent downward trajectory, the Clippers are still sitting near the top of the West.
Kawhi Leonard is obviously the main push behind the Clippers’ success. Leonard has missed 11 games in order to manage his knee injury but is obviously the top of the pecking order. His 25.8 points per game lead the team, as does his 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals. Surprisingly his most impressive quality this year has been his passing, especially his connection with center Ivica Zubac. Kawhi’s 5.1 assists per game are a career-high for him and a welcome sign considering the Clippers supposedly needed more playmaking to start the year.
Paul George, when available, has also been stellar. His 23.5 points per game are obviously important, but it’s the high volume of threes he shoots (and makes) that fit so well next to Leonard. George has only appeared in 26 games for the team and is currently rehabbing a hamstring strain with no timetable to return.
Patrick Beverley has been his normal self while Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell have continued their rampage off the bench. The two are likely each others’ only competition for Sixth Man of the Year. While they have received some flack from fans for their defensive play, the duo still has been instrumental in the team’s success.
With half of the season behind us, Ryan Snellings, Brian Cullen, and Joseph Raya-Ward will give you their takeaways, second half expectations and what scares them most going forward.