The LA Clippers come up short on the second night of a back-to-back

In their second game of the year, the LA Clippers displayed a ton of promise behind a strong performance from the two-way superstar Paul George. Although head coach Tyronn Lue was without some of his best players, the Clippers played hard and came out with the win.

Furthermore, the LA Clippers could not find their way in their first back-to-back of the year. The Phoenix Suns would strike back every time it appeared the Clippers were attempting to make a run. Not only did this cause a shift in momentum, but the team could not find a rhythm throughout the game.

While the LA Clippers’ best player, Kawhi Leonard, did suit up, his contributions were not enough in the 21 minutes he played. As he only attempted six shots, Leonard dropped 11 points and six rebounds, making an impact in any way possible.

This game against Phoenix showed many similarities to the season opener regarding errors made. Despite turning the ball over 14 times, the LA Clippers missed six free throws shooting 70% from the line. In addition, Lue and his squad could not score the ball on the Suns’ turnovers. Thus the 17-point loss.

The LA Clippers take their first loss of the season in a game that could have resulted in a win.

Getting out-hustled by the Suns on the glass was another flaw made by the LA Clippers in the home opener. In addition, it was not just the rebounds. Starting center, Ivica Zubac, struggled offensively. By only scoring on one of his four attempts from the field, Zubac turned the ball over three times, finishing the game with a +/- of -8. This forced the LA Clippers into an uncomfortable position, leading to countless missed opportunities on both ends of the court.

Not to mention, critical rotational players like Luke Kennard and Norman Powell came across many troubles as well. With Leonard still working on getting back into shape, the depth of this roster will be expected to show up in games like this. The Clippers will inevitably lose if some of the team’s best players cannot find their shot.

Additionally, establishing a rhythm from three was also a difficult challenge the LA Clippers did not overcome. As a team, they shot 28.1% from three on 32 attempts. This number is unusual for a team with some of the best shooting talents in the NBA.

Moreover, fans should have nothing to worry about as the players showed extreme fatigue. Playing an NBA game through consecutive nights is never easy, especially against teams like the Kings and Suns. It is entirely understandable why Lue was unable to get the win. However, the LA Clippers must play better to compete for the first seed in the Western Conference.