No. 3 explanation for postseason disappointment from the LA Clippers: Rajon Rondo trade backfiring
When the LA Clippers traded three-time Sixth Man of the Year Award winner Lou Williams, two second picks, and cash for Rajon Rondo, it was expected that Rondo would continue his playoff prowess with the Clips.
Well, that idea failed pretty miserably. Rondo was a complete non-factor in most postseason games for the Clippers this year.
Rondo went from averaging 13.3 points per game in the postseason, nine assists per game, 5.9 rebounds per contest, and 1.8 steals per game over his career in the playoffs to 4.2 points per game, 3.8 assists per game, 2.6 rebounds per contest, and 0.4 steals per game in the playoffs for the Clippers.
He went from shooting 44.4% from the field in the playoffs with the other teams he played postseason basketball with to 34% this postseason.
It was bad, and what makes it worse was that Williams did pretty well in the playoffs considering the minutes he was awarded. He only played 15.4 minutes per playoff game, yet still averaged 7.7 points per game and was efficient; shooting 45.5% from the field and 43.3% from three.
Lou Williams this playoffs: +11
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 25, 2021
Rajon Rondo this playoffs: -27 pic.twitter.com/1bsI77nB4J
It’s safe to say that the trade hasn’t worked out so far. Rondo was so bad that Ty Lue didn’t even let him play the last three games of the Western Conference Finals.
This season was by no means disappointing as a whole, but the Western Conference Finals didn’t end the way it could have. If these three areas are addressed, the Clippers may very well see a different outcome next year.