LA Clippers Pregame Question #1: How will the Clippers Respond Defensively Against the Wizards?
Last Sunday was a rough defensive performance from the LA Clippers in their loss to the Nets. The Clippers allowed the Nets to shoot 44-for-92 on field goals. Both Harden and Irving were shooting at a high-level; Irving scored 28 points by shooting 12-for-26, while Harden had an electric performance from start to finish as he scored 37 points shooting 13-for-25 from the field and 4-for-9 from the three-point arc. The Clippers allowed too much spacing for Harden to create his own shots and score consistently.
This type of defensive performance from the LA Clippers cannot happen against the Wizards tonight. In the last five games, the Wizards are playing at a high-level on the offensive end of the court; in the last five games, the Wizards are fourth in the NBA in points per game (122 points), eighth in assists per game (25.6), and eighth in field goal percentage (48.7%).
Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal, who is a 2021 NBA All-Star starter, is averaging 33.4 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game, 5.4 assists per game, two steals per game, a field goal percentage of 53.1%, and a three point shooting percentage of 34.3% in his last five games. The Clippers will need to contain Beal while on defense to avoid another huge performance like Harden. They will also have to watch out for Wizards point guard Russell Westbrook who is averaging 20 points per game in the last five games.
The LA Clippers are coming into this game with the fifth-ranked defense in the NBA in points allowed per game (108.8). They will have to be more efficient in stopping more electrifying guards from tearing apart the Clippers’ schemes like the Nets did on Sunday night. This will be a big game for Leonard, George, and Beverley as they will be the main difference-makers on defense against Beal and Westbrook. This game will also be another opportunity for role players to rebound with a better defensive performance against a hot Wizards team.