After being one of the top teams last week in power rankings across the web, the LA Clippers find themselves dropping. The team lost three games this week, two of which were without Paul George who is dealing with bone edema. Let’s see just how far the Clippers dropped.
ESPN Power Rankings: LA Clippers #3
ESPN has the Clippers down from the top spot to the third. ESPN notes that the Clippers are just now finding out how difficult life is without Paul George and that the team badly needs Patrick Beverley back. They’re right.
PG being out can slightly be offset if the Clippers get Beverley back from his eight-game absence. The team needs more defense in the backcourt and Reggie Jackson and Luke Kennard starting together just won’t provide that.
Bleacher Report Power Rankings: LA Clippers #8
Bleacher Report gave the Clippers a big fall from grace. Given that they lost to two of the top teams this week in the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics, it makes sense.
Bleacher Report does say that they feel the losses highlighted the team’s need for a true point guard, something I’m not sure they agree with. Even more surprisingly, they note that the Derrick Rose trade hurts them since he is now off the market. Call me crazy, but I don’t see Rose as a true point guard and getting Beverley back will curb some of this trouble.
CBS Sports Power Rankings: LA Clippers #5
CBS also has the Clippers dropping in the power rankings with the troubling week and Paul George’s injury looming over them.
They do note that Lou Williams is starting to look like himself, something that will obviously benefit this group especially if George is out for a long time. There are a lot of what if’s going forward and it’s hard to argue with the drop here.
NBA.com Power Rankings: LA Clippers #4
NBA.com lofts the scariest criticism of all at the Clippers: They aren’t good in the clutch.
"Overall, they rank 12th defensively and in the clutch, they rank last, having allowed 90 points on 67 defensive possessions with the score within five in the last five minutes. Brooklyn, Boston and Sacramento combined to shoot 12-for-22 in the clutch against the Clippers last week, with six of those 12 buckets coming in the restricted area. Only three of the Clippers’ own 22 clutch field goal attempts came in the restricted area."
Yikes.
Luckily, the Clips have an easier week coming up and can hopefully knock out some wins while PG rests up. If all goes according to plan, those stats won’t matter as the team will have the games well in hand by the time clutch time rolls around.