LA Clippers reasons to be confident: The defense is getting scary
The LA Clippers are currently boasting a 110.7 defensive rating, which puts them as the 11th best in the league by defensive rating. Am I really going to put forward an 11th ranked defense as a reason to be encouraged going into the playoffs?
Absolutely I am. Before the All-Star Break, the Clippers had the 15th ranked defensive rating. In the month of February it was 21st in the league. See where I’m going with this?
The Clips have been getting more and more locked in on defense as Coach Lue’s playbook gets implemented. Since the All-Star Break, the Clips have had the 6th best defense in the NBA by defensive rating.
The offense has never been an issue for LA. Even just looking at the games before the All-Star Break, the Clippers had the third best offensive rating in the league. For the whole season, the Clips sit at the second best offense in the league.
The problem has always been “can the Clippers play defense at a high enough level to help the offense?” That was questionable to start the season, but the machine has been firing up as of late.
The Clips are now playing defense at a high level. Unless something radical changes in the next few games, LA will likely be sending a top 10 defense and a top two offense into the playoffs.
All love to Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams, but their absence can at least be felt on the defensive end. The pick and roll attack that the duo brought was certainly dangerous, but the defense had a low ceiling with those two on the court.
With the current roster (and again assuming health), one of Zubac or Ibaka will likely be on the court at all times in the playoffs. That alone will make a huge difference when the starters need some rest in the postseason.