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Three reasons we can trust the LA Clippers in these Playoffs

By Seth Kimbrell

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: The LA Clippers huddle ahead of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on April 01, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: The LA Clippers huddle ahead of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on April 01, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /
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LA Clippers Paul George
LA Clippers Paul George (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

LA Clippers reasons to be confident: The shooting is real

Very early in the season I expressed some concern about the way the LA Clippers were winning their games. I’m paraphrasing, but my basic argument was “the Clips are winning by being flamethrowers from deep. I want them to win in other ways, because this is clearly not the greatest three point shooting team ever like the pace suggests.”

And boy was I right. These Clippers are definitely not going to be the greatest three point shooting team ever. By percentage, they’re going to tumble all the way down to being… the second greatest three point shooting team ever.

Look, we’re not always right, yeah?

With more than 60 games down, it’s time to start recognizing that the Clippers’ shooting is real. As a team, the Clips are shooting 41.7 percent from deep, which is an absurd number and up from 37.1 percent from last year.

Must Read. 1 Advantage Over Each Potential 1st Round Team. light

Of the starting lineup that I assume the Clips will run out if healthy — Beverley/George/Kawhi/Morris/Zubac — Zubac is the only one not shooting threes at 39 percent or better. Three of those five, with Kawhi and Zubac excluded, are shooting threes at above a 40 percent clip.

I didn’t expect the Clippers to be such a dangerous team from deep, but it’s encouraging that they are. Three point shooting is the great equalizer in the NBA; a worse team can beat a better team by getting hot from three. It will be harder for any opponent the Clips play to exploit that when they’re going against the best shooting team in the league.

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