LA Clippers: 1 Advantage Over Each Potential 1st Round Team

LA Clippers Advantage Vs. the New Orleans Pelicans: The Non-Zion Minutes

The last time the LA Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans faced off, Zion Williamson shot 13-16 from the floor en route to a Pelicans victory. When Zion’s on the floor, he can be nearly unstoppable, and he’s a force to be feared in the playoffs.

When Zion’s not on the floor? Well, the Pelicans suddenly become much more beatable. The non-Zion minutes are the ones that the LA Clippers will need to capitalize on in a potential playoffs matchup.

The Pelicans are a very slight positive when Zion is on the floor at a +0.4 net rating. For a team that’s 25-31 with a negative point differential, that’s a more impressive feat than it sounds like. But when Zion sits, the Pelicans drop to a -2.5 net rating.

The same can’t be said about Brandon Ingram. As good as he is, the Pelicans are a negative with him on the floor and a negative with him off the floor. The inverse is true for the LA Clippers’ superstars. When one of Kawhi or Paul George are sitting, the Clippers still have a positive net rating.

In a seven game series, the LA Clippers have to feel like Kawhi and PG are going to be able to keep it close when Zion’s on the floor. Then, when he sits, it’s time for the Clippers’ staggered rotations to do their job. It’s likely that at least one of the superstars will be on the floor when Zion’s off, and then we have the advantage.

This kind of thought creates a bit of negative deja vu for me, and for many fans of the LA Clippers. Last year, we kept hearing that the Clippers’ depth was going to be the difference in the playoffs, and that didn’t come true. But there are more players now on the bench that I trust in a long playoff series, and the minutes when Zion sits will be a huge advantage for the Clippers in a playoff matchup.