Lowe Post Podcast discusses LA Clippers strengths and weaknesses

The LA Clippers were recently under the spotlight of the ESPN podcast.

On the most recent episode of The Lowe Post podcast, host Zach Lowe and guest Kirk Goldsberry get deep into a discussion of the LA Clippers and the team’s strengths and weaknesses on the cusp of the NBA’s return to action.

The pair heap high praise on the Clippers, with Lowe going as far as naming the team his pick to win the NBA championship this year. They get into more detail, and the entire podcast is worth a listen, but we’ll break down some of their major points here.

LA Clippers’ strengths.

Lowe and Goldsberry have a lot to say on the Clippers’ depth and versatility, pointing out that the team can throw various different lineup options on the floor depending on matchups and other factors.

The varied ways the Clippers can attack offensively was a topic of discussion, focusing mainly on how the team can use Paul George and Kawhi Leonard in isolation to break down the opponent’s starters and how Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell can provide pick-and-roll offense from the bench.

The team can also control the pace seemingly at will, as they are built for the halfcourt game, but can push the pace when needed. To Lowe’s surprise, he mentions that the Clippers rank in the top ten of the NBA when it comes to pace.

They mention that the team can go big or small and can even “out Houston Houston” when it comes to an ultra-modern small-ball lineup. There aren’t many teams in the league that can throw a lineup on the floor for which the Clippers don’t have an answer.

Matchups may be the key for the Clippers in what lineup combinations they do play down the stretch in games, and the team has the luxury of a roster that is adaptable and a head coach that is willing to be flexible and adjust his game plan accordingly.

The Clippers’ weaknesses.

Lowe and Goldsberry admit that they’re nitpicking when it comes to finding weaknesses and areas for improvement with the Clippers. One of which is that the team hasn’t had much time to gel together in its final form. They’ve only played 12 games since adding Marcus Morris, Reggie Jackson’s only suited up nine times for the Clippers, and newly acquired veteran reserve big man Joakim Noah is yet to play for the team. However, their locker room culture, a great leader in head coach Doc Rivers, and time together in the NBA bubble should help rectify that situation sooner rather than later.

Another nit-pick of weakness the pair found with the Clippers was their point guard position. They get into a discussion about the Clippers having one point guard (Patrick Beverley) who excels on the defensive end of the floor, and another (Lou Williams) who excels on offense, but if they suffer an injury to either they become thin at the position. This ignores both the Clippers’ acquisition of Reggie Jackson, who started to integrate nicely into the Clippers rotation before the shutdown and the presence of second-year guard Landry Shamet, who can play both guard positions on offense and is solid if not spectacular on the defensive end of the floor.

The Clippers’ X-Factors.

The discussion turns to the Orlando bubble and the fact that the Clippers might not be as hurt as other teams in terms of losing out on home-court advantage. We’ve discussed this idea here before and while the thought is a bit insulting to Clippers fans the Staples Center isn’t exactly the most feared away arena for opponents of the Clippers. Hopefully, this will change in the near future when the team has an arena of their own to call home.

JaMychal Green was mentioned as an x-factor for the team, specifically in his relative success in guarding Lakers’ big man Anthony Davis. While stopping Davis is a difficult task for any defender, Green has seen a nice level of success in his head-to-head matchup with the All-NBA forward.

When it comes to the Clippers’ head-to-head matchup with the Lakers, the absence of Avery Bradley was mentioned as a positive factor for the Clippers in any potential playoff meetings. The Clippers are 2-1 against the Lakers this season with their loss coming in a game where Bradley got hot and hit six three-pointers, giving the Lakers a much-needed boost. His absence will give the Clippers one less weapon they need to focus on defensively.

We’re getting closer to the return of NBA action each and every day and the Clippers are primed to be one of the teams to beat. Get ready for an exciting finish to an already roller-coaster of a season.