No. 2 discouraging sign from how the LA Clippers played without Paul George: There was no new playmaking bucket-getter
When Paul George was announced as out for the game, the LA Clippers knew that somebody would need to step up as a scorer.
A SCORER, not a shooter. Luke Kennard nailed seven of 12 shots, and four of six from three. The Clippers still couldn’t get it done.
The Clips needed someone to go out and create consistent buckets, and couldn’t find that. They needed someone that can create off the dribble consistently and be a bona fide playmaker. That’s not to say that Kennard is solely a spot-up shooter, but he doesn’t have the handles and athleticism to replicate a No. 1 offensive option.
It’s nothing against Kennard, or any of these guys. It’s just that the Clippers needed that type of playmaker, and didn’t have it.
Sure, Terance Mann went eight of 13, and he certainly loves to create off the dribble. That being said, he only hit one of five threes. Nobody on the entire roster put up 20 or more points, and it was against a bad team.
If PG misses more time, the Clips aren’t going to win games with everybody under 20 points.