LA Clippers Takeaway #2: They Rely on the Threes
For the LA Clippers, it was another case of dominance from behind the arc. They shot 17-29 for a blistering 58.6%, including the aforementioned 7-10 performance from PG and 4-7 from Nicolas Batum.
Ty Lue’s system has the Clippers bombing threes, and for the most part it’s been working. The Clips currently sit at second in the league in 3 point percentage with a very nice 41.7% as a team.
It’s hard to argue with this approach, with as well as it’s been working. But let me voice a little bit of concern that’s almost certainly just small sample size theater.
The Clippers are relying on the three ball a lot. Their fortunes have really come and gone with their three point percentage, for the most part. Look at it this way: the all-time record for a team’s 3 point percentage in a season is 42.76% by the 1996-97 Hornets.
The Clips have shot better than that number in four games, and they’re 4-0 in those games. Fair enough. They’ve failed to shoot better than that record in 3 games, and they’re 1-2 in those games.
Again, this is small sample size stuff. I’m sure there are going to be plenty of games where the Clips are missing threes and still pull out a win. I just want to see it to be sure. In the playoffs, in a seven game series, good teams will take away some of the easy threes.
Don’t take this as me criticizing the system or saying it won’t work. I’ll just breathe a little easier when I see the Clips pull out some of those ugly wins.