The LA Clippers dropped their second game in a row on Thursday night, falling to the Denver Nuggets 101-94. While this loss featured a comeback in the second half that ultimately fell short, the team’s play combined with their blown lead versus the Orlando Magic the game prior left fans feeling uneasy.
The team had won six straight games before these two losses so some of the concern is overblown but the Clippers do have real issues. Here are the top three problems the team is facing at this point in the season.
Problems facing the LA Clippers #3: Fatigue
While I think fatigue is a real problem for the LA Clippers, it’s also an issue the league as a whole is facing.
The schedule has been brutal for all teams at one point or another this season but lately, for the Clippers, it has seemingly been non-stop.
The team has played in 11 games since the All-Star Break. In those 21 days, there have been three back-to-backs. There’s just not a lot of downtime nor chance for the team to collectively catch their breath.
Other teams are tired and the Clippers aren’t using it as an excuse when talking about their play but we have seen nights where Kawhi Leonard‘s shots just start to fall short or the defense does not rotate quickly enough and execution starts to fail.
Luckily in the playoffs, this won’t be as much of an issue. There are no back-to-backs so every team will be on equal rest, making for a bit more of a level playing field. The Clippers might have to buy some guys rest over the next month as they gear up for the postseason but I do see this problem being the least of their concerns long term.