LA Clippers: 3 Takeaways from Clippers’ 4-2 Record This Season

LA Clippers Takeaway 3: Clippers Show Lack of Focus Often Times

While the Clippers are playing like an elite team on both sides of the ball, they have some weaknesses early this season. In the horrible 124-73 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the Clippers allowed a field-goal percentage of 49.4% (43-87).

Shooting guards Tim Hardaway Jr. and Josh Richardson were both 4-for-8 from the three-point arc. They allowed Luka Doncic to take high efficient shots early and often. On the offensive side of the ball, the Clippers were taking inefficient and rushed shots as they had merely a 34.2% field-goal percentage, including 12.1% (4-for-33) from the three-point arc.

In the 128-105 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, the Clippers’ defense held point guard Damian Lillard to 0-for-8 from the three-point arc. At the same time, they allowed shooting guard CJ McCollum to scoring 25 points as well as shooting 7-for-11 from the three-point arc. The Clippers’ defense was so focused on Lillard, they put less pressure on McCollum.

That trend continued in the next game in the 106-100 loss at the Utah Jazz. The Clippers suppressed star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell and small forward Bojan Bogdanovic to shooting a combined 3-for-14 from behind the three-point arc.

While they held down two high-quality scorers, they allowed veteran point guard Mike Conley to have a highly productive game. Conley scored 33 points on an 11-for-20 shooting performance as well as 7-for-14 from behind the three-point arc.

The Clippers are a highly talented defensive team, but they have a consistent pattern of allowing an area open for the opposing team to capitalize. They will have to learn to adjust defensively if they want to avoid losing to teams they shouldn’t or in big moment situations in key games.