LA Clippers: Stars at this specific position have absolutely lit up LAC so far

On Thursday, the LA Clippers had their season opener against one of the greatest point guards of all time in Steph Curry.

It went about as poorly as it could have when it came to trying to defend Curry. Curry went crazy for 45 points on 16 of 25 shooting. He nailed 8 of 13 threes, and even grabbed 10 boards.

There was some to like from what the Clippers showed in Game 1, even in a 113-115 loss, but adjustments needed to be made with the Clippers going up against another star at the point guard position in Ja Morant for their second game of the season against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Unfortunately, Morant dominated the Clippers, and handed the Clips back-to-back losses to start the season.

The LA Clippers have been getting absolutely torched by opposing point guards.

The LA Clippers surrendered 28 points to Morant on Saturday night, watching in awe as he hit 10 of his 19 shot attempts. Morant also dished out five assists, including one that essentially led to the dagger for the Grizzlies with 16.7 seconds left (three-pointer from Jaren Jackson Jr.).

It’s not that the Clips have bad personnel. In Morant’s eight non-transition field goals, three were against defense from multiple-time All-Defensive selection Eric Bledsoe, and two were guarded by a sold defender in Nicolas Batum. One of the Clippers’ best overall defenders in Marcus Morris Sr. gave up a bucket to Morant, and so did a bright young defensive player in Terance Mann.

The only shot not in transition that Morant scored off of someone who doesn’t have a lot of experience doing a good job guarding quality point guards was just one field goal conversion on Isaiah Hartenstein.

The Clippers have the talent to do a good job guarding great ballhandlers. They’re not pulling it all together, and it seems like the team may need some time to get used to playing together without Kawhi Leonard on the defensive end. The expectations from this team aren’t sky-high with their franchise player out, but the concerning part about this is that two of their next three games are against a team with an elite point guard in Damian Lillard.

It’s just two games, and the Clippers have been right in it in both games. The Clippers do need to hit the film room and find ways to improve against top point guards. They will continue to face ballhandlers of this caliber in the West.